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"Naga and the Serpent"
A poem of The Slayers,
by Shunsuke -|||
Part the fourth
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XIII: The Bastion Within The Beast
A blinding fire rained down from above
But Naga's first magics were more than she'd need
Tested again, the heat was no danger
Only the lightest of warmth through her charm did it bleed
The dragon it sensed she was more than she seemed
A relished the battle, a test of its mettle
The dragon incensed, though, when it felt
Lightning from above, on its scales it did settle
Curious and curiouser, its own magic cast
The wyrm left no scars upon Naga's fair self
Furious and furiouser, aside its spells cast
Magic was for naught, 'twould slay her itself!
Swiftly descending, the dragon it dove
A smile on its lips until 'twas surprised
The girl stood stock still, still with a smile
With the sword in its belly, intestines incised!
The burst of the pain did it cloud the wyrm's mind
Could no longer fly, and fell hard to the ground
Confused and confounded the dragon it heard
A spell it knew well, the girl's voice did it sound
The mystics and charms of elementals strong
The bane of the fire breathing and of the cold
Struggled for purchase, for its defense, but
Could not for the blade in its belly's fold
Once more Naga's magic struck from the clouds
Once more did answer to her true call
Once more did a sword pierce inside the beast
And once more in pain did the wyrm fall
And with a gath'ring of grey sky, so far up above
Came a thund'rous blast, so aurally violent
And with unearthly noise, exploded the beast
And with the light's flash, all now lay silent
XIV: Wings And Shadow
Amid the foulness of the newly slain foe
Lay a man, soaked with blood, the beast's and his own
Crying in pain, howling like a babe
In the filth, the waste, he lay there alone
Aroused from her pain by sounds from without
Naga rose to her feet, to search for her friend
Wept she did she see him, lain on the ground
And his proud body, the wyrm did it rend
Naga knelt down beside him, and lifted his head
He gasped, he screamed; she called out his name
It pained her heart to see his torn body
And pained him to be this way, to his shame
His eyes wide with pain, dilated and delirious
A rasping noise was his bated breath
A she cradled him within her arms 'bove her knees
Both surely knew, 'twas his certain death
Ciaran: "Cry not, my love, for you have set me free,
No longer do I moisten the belly of the beast
No longer do I rot, nor does it feast
No longer need I fear for my love: thee"
Naga: "No! I do not want to hear of such talk
Only true love, of what we will soon share
Stay close, without - I could not ever bear
I do, I do, with rings, in white I walk"
Ciaran: "Nay, Death it soon shall call upon me here
Kiss me now whilst I still may taste your lips
My eyes, Naga, no longer see your face"
Naga: "Oh why! My sweet Ciaran, kind and sincere
Never will I bear your child with my hips
I will surely miss your sweet, strong embrace"
Kissed upon his lips replied he with a smile
Her weeping ceased for a moment; recognized:
His eyes, his cheeks, his fingers, his hair
His love always there, she at last realized
She knew of no spells, not of healing nor curing
She knew not of how to raise the dead to the living
She knew of no means to stop what was certainty
She knew only how to comfort, and that was she giving
They talked of their conquests, their travels and deeds
They cherished their mem'ries, of wishes and dream
They shared their true souls, left naught to regret
They spoke in what time was left, nary enough it would seem
Rocking him slowly, she counted his breath
Only with time, his wounds would they mend
Their tears with blood mixed, dropped, cleansing soil
She counted one more; he at last reached the end
XV: A Pyre In Victory
In the forest beyond, fields once overrun
Cross a stream of cold water, so bubbly and clear
Naga came to a place that she felt would be right
Many leagues from whence lost what she held dear
>From sticks and from deadwood she gathered for days
When she felt enough, to the pile would return
Carried wood on her back, the work cleansed her soul
And said her farewell, her love did and would burn
She sat next the fire, saw her love burn to ash
Alongside her clothes, naked sat the young mage
To be reborn anew, not the sweet virgin child
But to write her own legend, to begin a new page
>From off of his back she had took his wool cloak
That it should be he who warmed her at night
>From within his sack took forth his knife
That he should protect her, to wield in a fight
>From his belt took a buckle and leather adorned
Made a diadem full of magic, round her head it did band
>From his jerkin 'twas her costume, of leather was made
To provide her some modesty, sewn by her own hand
>From his buckler she then took the metal plate
Pried off with her dagger, and took it apart
Punched holes with her awl, and sewed to her clothes
She fabricated a brooch to wear o'er her heart
Adorned in his clothes, from head to her boots
Everything that she touched, a remembrance of he
That her first love did not soil her, nor did he join her
To mock those who desired, forever celibate be
The sun slowly rose, its pace matched her stride
To begin a new journey, alone she now must
She burned all her past, left ashes to ashes
With each pace anew, her boots prints, dust to dust
XVI: Grains
The grains, they ferment, the brew it glows warm
Harvest time has past, the days they grow short
They will soon depart, and light will come again
Time is of the essence, when Death comes to hold court
Children we were all once, and many are still,
Heed this mindful lesson, and tell those who care
And put a damnation upon those who do not
For the wyrm is within them, so mind you, beware!
Take up the tale, and remember it well
Stoke up the fires and gather them all
Share out the mead and forget winter's storms
Let the warmth of the story make storytellers all
For it is not of me, it is not of them
'Tis only of now - embrace it whilst here
It is not of things that will not last
We have only so much time - love what you hold dear
Watch thou for the skies, and ye men in your hearts
And watch for the signs, the jealous and the lusting
Ugliness is not evil, only the feelings it cradles
For the greatest of evils bears a face so trusting
Beasts of evil they be, both within and without
The nature of desire, good judgement forsaken
Both with will and for honour must we winnow our lusts
Let only paths of righteousness be taken
Be not that which must be struck down,
Be that which carries the light of good deed
Carry not the sword of anger and strife
But the shield of kindness, of those in need
The battle is fought, not with swords but with words
'Tis a war with ourselves, and our hearts must win out
Not bemoan, nor regret, nor to ever hold back
But to dare speak the truth, and let love leave no doubt
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End
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