The Paladin’s Tale



The tower bell’s echoes rang in the breeze
As I approached the manor on the plain;
I’d heard tales of the baron’s life of ease,
And more rumors of his ill-gotten gain.

The drawbridge and the gate were open wide,
Extending to me an invitation;
Yet, intuition struck me once inside,
That my skills would face initiation.

The portcullis met the ground in a rush;
There’d be no turning back…the game’s begun!
The voices around me fell to a hush,
And dark clouds surrounded the noonday sun.

In the courtyard, I saw the baron’s throne,
And the figure upon it filled with glee;
His guardsmen were animated from bone,
And a young dragon towered over me.

“Welcome to my humble domain, young squire…
We were hoping a new playmate would drop by;
I hope you’ll give us the sport we require,
Then for dinner my pet will have squire pie!”

“Well met, foul demon; I know it is you
Who slew the baron and took on his guise;
Thus, I will render to you your due,
And your demons, like you, will feed the flies!”

The skeleton warriors surrounded me,
Their eye sockets scarlet pin points of hate;
Beyond their number, I did plainly see
The “baron” anticipating my fate.

I wielded a sword of the Spirit’s might,
And a shield of faith in my God’s power;
Facing these awful creatures of the night,
My salvation was my helm this dark hour.

The horde charged forward…I met them head on,
Carving Righteousness’ path through fleshless bone,
‘Til the last of the skeletons was gone,
Sent back to the pits from which they were grown.

The dragon arose and flew toward the sky,
Scorching nearby clouds with its brimstone rain;
In menacing circles did this beast fly,
His countenance meant to cause fatal pain.

With the breastplate of truth about my chest,
The beast’s true form I was given to see;
Incensed at my calm in facing this test,
The dragon roared, and flew to devour me.

The roar became shrill, with terrible screams,
Yet I gave no ground to this delusion;
Swinging my sword, I reflected sun beams
That dissipated this foul illusion.

The demon within the baron attacked,
Leaving behind the noble’s lifeless shell;
He aimed to harass, annoy and distract,
Overwhelm, destroy, and send me to Hell.

His weapon was the hopeless fate of Man,
Embodied in his reckless fall from grace;
I countered with new hope’s divine plan,
Which rescues and prepares for us a place.

Despite the terrible clash of forces,
I felt secure with each swing of my sword;
The demon’s power came from dark sources,
But mine was greater…it comes from the Lord.

Thus, I banished the monster to the pit,
His final screams left ringing in my ears;
The manor’s servants took control of it,
Charged with ushering in more peaceful years.

My quest is complete…my work never done,
Yet for the night, I will now take my rest;
I’ll rise once again with the morning sun
And go forth to conquer the next day’s test.

© 2003 by Robert E. Blackwell