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(Created page with "By Stheno - April 2020 On the dark and distant moors, a lone fire set to burning. As around the flames, yearning, sat a camp of only four. One: the trapper, young and strappi...") |
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On the dark and distant moors, a lone fire set to burning. | On the dark and distant moors, a lone fire set to burning. | ||
As around the flames, yearning, sat a camp of only four. | As around the flames, yearning, sat a camp of only four. | ||
One: the trapper, young and strapping. | One: the trapper, young and strapping. | ||
Two: the navigator, lost. | Two: the navigator, lost. | ||
Three: a petty thief and cut-throat. | Three: a petty thief and cut-throat. | ||
The fourth a woman of the moss. | The fourth a woman of the moss. | ||
With eyes kind and old hands lined, she had happened on the band. | With eyes kind and old hands lined, she had happened on the band. | ||
Sensed their troubles with a look, and sat down to understand. | Sensed their troubles with a look, and sat down to understand. | ||
"Ole matron, where ye come from? We been thirstin' for a while. | "Ole matron, where ye come from? We been thirstin' for a while. | ||
Honest folk for honest work. We been walkin' now for miles." | Honest folk for honest work. We been walkin' now for miles." | ||
Here the others quickly nodded. | Here the others quickly nodded. | ||
They were cold and damp with mist. | They were cold and damp with mist. | ||
"Be ye a witch or wise woman? | "Be ye a witch or wise woman? | ||
Apothecary? Herbalist?" | Apothecary? Herbalist?" | ||
She just smiled and shook her head, muddy in her ivory cloak. | She just smiled and shook her head, muddy in her ivory cloak. | ||
She warmed herself by the fire and looked deep into the smoke. | She warmed herself by the fire and looked deep into the smoke. | ||
"I'm a servant of the wilds, come to help my fellow man. | "I'm a servant of the wilds, come to help my fellow man. | ||
Though you ventured out for gold, did you venture with a plan?" | Though you ventured out for gold, did you venture with a plan?" | ||
They told their story all at once, | They told their story all at once, | ||
with voices overlapping. | with voices overlapping. | ||
"The axle broke." | "The axle broke." | ||
"The blade blunted." | "The blade blunted." | ||
"The clouds came out. | "The clouds came out. | ||
"The traps kept snapping." | "The traps kept snapping." | ||
Her face grey, the woman sighed. She had heard this tale before. | Her face grey, the woman sighed. She had heard this tale before. | ||
"Luck left you at every turn, until you lucked upon the Moor." | "Luck left you at every turn, until you lucked upon the Moor." | ||
At her back, the sun was setting. Or was it rising? | At her back, the sun was setting. Or was it rising? | ||
Was it risen? Was it climbing through silver veils of fog? | Was it risen? Was it climbing through silver veils of fog? | ||
When she spoke, her eyes were shining | When she spoke, her eyes were shining | ||
as she told them of the wealth | as she told them of the wealth | ||
that dear Nature was supplying | that dear Nature was supplying | ||
to keep Pri'alysh in perfect health. | to keep Pri'alysh in perfect health. | ||
"You can hunt the grouse for days. They are fat with silken down. | "You can hunt the grouse for days. They are fat with silken down. | ||
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. |
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