Difference between revisions of "Open Window"

You can oil your swords with blood. You can drink from fertile ground."

You can oil your swords with blood. You can drink from fertile ground."

"Fill pillows with fine feathers!" Now the trapper had the gist.

"Fill pillows with fine feathers!" Now the trapper had the gist.

"And the snakes can't taste too bad. Help ourselves, if ye insist."

"And the snakes can't taste too bad. Help ourselves, if ye insist."

"One long night here can ply your trades,

"One long night here can ply your trades,

so you needn't want for much.

so you needn't want for much.

You pile your wagon with the spoils,

You pile your wagon with the spoils,

and I will lift it from the muck."

and I will lift it from the muck."

Together they doused the fire, and the moors did light provide,

Together they doused the fire, and the moors did light provide,

like the wisps that haunt the fog to ask travellers inside.

like the wisps that haunt the fog to ask travellers inside.

Shadows prowled on the edges, but the cut-throat waved his blade.

Shadows prowled on the edges, but the cut-throat waved his blade.

"You can line your den with pelts," said the woman, unafraid.

"You can line your den with pelts," said the woman, unafraid.

"Warm your children with the black furs,

"Warm your children with the black furs,

string a necklace with the teeth.

string a necklace with the teeth.

Look no further than the Moor,

Look no further than the Moor,

and what it chooses to bequeath."

and what it chooses to bequeath."

As the morning mist shimmered, it was easy to succumb.

As the morning mist shimmered, it was easy to succumb.

Cold hunger in their bellies, and already counting sums.

Cold hunger in their bellies, and already counting sums.

The three friends thanked their fortunes, and not one had stopped to think

The three friends thanked their fortunes, and not one had stopped to think

how a frail old woman would lift their wagon from the brink.

how a frail old woman would lift their wagon from the brink.

Opportunity had smiled when

Opportunity had smiled when

they were tired of their poor frowns.

they were tired of their poor frowns.

They would return to Loramere

They would return to Loramere

to earn a living in the town.

to earn a living in the town.

What would they each buy first? A pretty necklace for the wife?

What would they each buy first? A pretty necklace for the wife?

A faster herd of horses? A sharper hunting knife?

A faster herd of horses? A sharper hunting knife?

Deeper in the foggy curtain, their breath began to mist.

Deeper in the foggy curtain, their breath began to mist.

The old guide stopped their journey at the bottom of the cliffs.

The old guide stopped their journey at the bottom of the cliffs.

There she raised her fists to the sky,

There she raised her fists to the sky,

spoke in a soft and unknown tongue,

spoke in a soft and unknown tongue,

beseeched something they had not seen,

beseeched something they had not seen,

that once sung could not be unsung.

that once sung could not be unsung.

At the top of the climb, an obelisk of mirrored white

At the top of the climb, an obelisk of mirrored white

yawned above their heads and into the thin clouds, out of sight.

yawned above their heads and into the thin clouds, out of sight.

"Yelest," she called aloud. The obelisk began to howl.

"Yelest," she called aloud. The obelisk began to howl.

A ghastly moaning from the spectres in their ragged cowls.

A ghastly moaning from the spectres in their ragged cowls.

The first man looked to the second.

The first man looked to the second.

The second looked to the third.

The second looked to the third.

The third ran back across the moors,

The third ran back across the moors,

having lost, like sovereigns, his words.

having lost, like sovereigns, his words.

"Yelest! Yelest! Come divest me of the rest! Shed my form

"Yelest! Yelest! Come divest me of the rest! Shed my form

and rend my breast! Take my skin and steal my breath! In the storm

and rend my breast! Take my skin and steal my breath! In the storm

of your unrest! In the fury

of your unrest! In the fury

of undeath! Take these men that luck

of undeath! Take these men that luck

has left! Every coin they could have kept!

has left! Every coin they could have kept!

Free them from the weighty flesh! And

Free them from the weighty flesh! And

raise them up as soaring spirits in the safety of your sept!

raise them up as soaring spirits in the safety of your sept!

For this chance, we have wept. A chance to serve you, sweet Yelest."

For this chance, we have wept. A chance to serve you, sweet Yelest."

[[Category:Bardic Winners]][[Category:2020 Bardics]]

[[Category:Bardic Winners]][[Category:2020 Bardics]]