In my mind a long dream ago
Lived a proud, valiant hero
None could stand before his flashing singing blade
Many contests had been won
By this handsome, noble son
Honor and riches at his feet by Kings were laid

Unrivaled in might is he
But there was one enemy
Who in death was still determined not to yield
Love, which makes life far less grim
Was snatched from the heart of him
By this evil one upon the battlefield

He fought a mighty sorceress
In dyed human skins she dressed
A Priestess of Set, steeped in the blackest art
Their fight lasted night and day
To kill her he finally found a way
His sword blessed my Mitra, plunged into her heart

There was a heavy price he paid
On him an awful curse she laid
As her blood formed pools of crimson on the ground:
“Know that before my life is done
final victory I shall have won
you will wish that it were you that death had found!”

“O mighty Set your servant pleads
one last time your help I need
seal this Hero’s heart inside a chest of glass
‘A life that loves him he must take
if this spell he hopes to break’ ”
death silenced her and she lay still on the grass

Time seemed to slow and then stand still
Blinding pain he began to feel
It were as if his chest was being ripped apart
Then on the spot the witch had died
Stood a glass chest and there inside
The Hero saw and somehow knew it was his heart!

This tale might well have ended here
He could not kill one he held dear
Better it were his life that should be sacrificed
With a great sword to break his heart
In the glass chest, life would depart
His very soul would have to pay the witch’s price

Courageously he’d do the task
He prayed to Crom, one thing he asked:
“Let not my soul to the vile Serpent God be fed
to feast with you and warrior Kings
old battle cries again I’d sing
the Serpent Stair I’d walk, each step crushing it’s head”

it was then the Grey God spoke
his voice could fell the tallest oak:
“My wandering son, Crom has not forgotten you
I have heard your fervent plea
My mountain throne you need not see
Great adventures you have to live before life is through”

The Hero said with lowered voice:
“The witch has left me little choice
an innocent life to save my self, I will not take!”
Crom’s laughter was like thunder
“Little man did you not wonder
if by other means this spell you’d somehow break?”

“‘Life can be taken from one who’s giving
it to you freely, yet remains living’
this simple riddle I’m sure you soon will solve”
and at that the man awakened
just seconds had the vision taken
his fate around a riddle he knew revolved

So with a purpose he took the chest
a heartless warrior on a quest
to find a way to free his heart enclosed in glass
This riddle’s meaning he would unravel
if to the Earth’s end he’d have to travel
he vowed to release his heart when a year had passed

For a solution he taxed his brain
having already endured great strain
sheer exhaustion made the simple seem complex
Recalling a lesson he was taught
When his sword master said: ‘Worry not,
Relax, then mind a body will be easier to flex”

Finding a place to camp that night
He thought of the vision and the fight
The aid of a clever mind he now must seek
He’d fought with many side by side
But only in one could he confide
With great wisdom he could trust this one to speak

Dawn found him on the King’s Road
It led to Pelias’ dark abode
More like a castle was this mighty wizard’s home
Luxury the old mage loved
Only knowledge he placed above
In his library the whole world his mind could roam

“Thrice welcome!” Pelias said
“Yours is the face of one nigh dead
I’ll wager the reason can be found deep in your mind
A puzzling riddle is what I see
And a heart you’re desperate to free
Methinks the answer won’t be too difficult to find”

Pelias served a sumptuous plate
With heartless gusto the Hero ate
The Lotus wine made him glad he had come here
Meanwhile the wizard took a look
In a powerful and ancient book
Called Skelos, its legend caused trembling and fear

Failing that he then communed
With bat and raven and messenger Loon
For a clue to this riddle that Crom had told
He came up empty just as before
Wait! What is that upon the floor?
A book of love potions with pages faded and old

‘Love is Power, Love is Might’
read the title, he hoped its right
and that it held the key to break the witch’s spell
he read until it got quite late
Then he began to meditate
How much time he spent like that was hard to tell

With many thoughts his mind did whirl
suddenly, there appeared a girl
A beautiful woman she was love personified
The riddle’s answer he began to see
There was a possibility
Her love could free the heart from the chest it was inside

Pelias must solve this problem now
Where to find the girl and how
True love between the two could really grow
The wizard said: “I have a plan
Your total trust I need O man
If we’re to succeed and strike the final blow!”

“A certain woman you must find
but that’s not all I have in mind
for there’s a journey froth with danger you must make”
The Hero said: “Death is a friend
close to me he’s always been.
Just what is this mission I must undertake?”

Pelias said, taking a deep breath:
“To defeat the witch you must cheat death
and save a woman who’s held somewhere in the East.
What is the peril? I don’t know
But take this shield and it will show
What stands in your path, be it man or even beast

The Hero took the enchanted gift
A normal man could scarcely lift
He swung it easily and strapped it on his arm
“There is just one more thing”
Pelias said, “Here, take this ring
A Talisman to shield you from demonic harm”

The wizard thought with crafty glee:
‘another use it has, you’ll see
and what that is I’m sure you’ll finally figure out’
“I’ll carry it if you think I must
but cold, hard steel is what I trust
give me foes of flesh and enemies to rout!”

Pelias helped the Hero plan
And drew a map upon the sand
Of the lands that he would have to travel through
The man would save the lovely maid
To break the spell the witch had laid
If through a thousand armored warriors he must hew

The morning sun was cold and pale
The Hero donned his black chain mail
Strapped on sword and shield and packed all that he’d need
To Pelias he bid farewell
And ready to enter the jaws of Hell
He rode toward the East to find his destiny

Copyright ©2004 Anthony Hall