Return this man to Huma's breast Beyond the wild, impartial skies Grant to him a warrior's rest And set the last spark of his eyes
Charging atop my destrier through the great breach in the Wall, I shook off the growing feeling of shame that gnawed at me for what happened with Mythos. At that time I could just not deal with whatever it was that I saw there -- whether it was a legitimate misunderstanding or not.
That would have been scandalous back home.
These thought were pushed back as I drew my bastard sword with my free hand and neatly cleaved the nearest attacker's head from his shoulders.
I must have killed a double dozen foes this day -- all without being unsaddled, amazingly enough. My surging forces turned the tide, as the enemy put up a token resistance before their leaders at the rear pulled back, and the armies fled. My fighting came natural -- instead, my mind raced over the events before -- searching for the right words to try to convince Fayne of his role in things, then Mythos... I'd wished I'd said something to her before I'd left, but I was somewhat secure in the knowledge that she'd stayed in Amber.
Free from the smothering clouds of wars Upon the torches of the stars Let the last surge of his breath Take refuge in the cradling air
We pulled the troops back onto our side of the wall, which even then the Rangers were beginning to try to shore up. The breach was huge -- I had no idea if Evander or anyone else could patch it before the Chaos troops could rally.
My runners were able to send word to Luke, who after some time finally made his way to me. The day had been won -- just barely, thanks to the rest of the Paladins and I -- as well as a few assassins who made their way to the rear of the Chaos armies. Of course, he told me who it was, but I'd already guessed that Mythos wouldn't be able to hang back.
As Luke calmed me by saying that the wound was not serious, we'd noticed the large gathering of Paladins to our side.
*****
"It was the same poison that Lord Merlin was attacked with," said a nameless acolyte.
Jenner lie on the ground in front of us, his chest perforated with several arrow wounds. The wounds bled darkly and reeked of a chemical I could not place; I ordered the arrowheads taken back to Amber for examination. Luke excused himself; I took the moment to close Jenner's eyes, smooth back his hair, and wrapped his tattered cloak around him, tightening his hands around the grip of his blade lying on his chest.
I regarded him for a long while. Of those I had met in this strange land, of those who were purported to be my family, he was the most honest... the most human of them all, with his faults and quirks, and his look upon all life, and not only those Amberites around him.
He was my grandfather, and he was my friend.
Above the dreams of ravens where Only the hawk remembers death Then let his shade to Huma rise Beyond the wild, impartial skies
I looked up again; Luke had returned, bearing the look of a man who knew there was little he could do.
"I will tell my grandmother," I said softly, and he nodded.
As he left again, the young men of the Paladins gathered around, stricken with grief from losing the man who had formed them, and who had led them. I realized that the loss was not mine alone. Looking them eye to eye, I put my hand over Jenner's heart, and began to sing...
Return this man to Huma's breast Beyond the wild, impartial skies Grant to him a warrior's rest And set the last spark of his eyes Free from the smothering clouds of wars Upon the torches of the stars Let the last surge of his breath Take refuge in the cradling air Above the dreams of ravens where Only the hawk remembers death Then let his shade to Huma rise Beyond the wild, impartial skies
Back to Paragon of Virtue
Ahead to 20
Back to Diaries
Back to Jared uth Wistan
poem copyright Michael Williams, TSR