THE SEARCHER (entry 1)

The Princess walked freely in the kingdom

No evil stepped out.

She walked the street knowing that respect abound.

She loved the children and families too.

No matter where she walked evil was taboo.

This doesn’t mean that evil was not about.

But respect of ladies was the law in her land.

But some followed and planned evil things.

Murder, robbery, injury and slander of civic leaders including her father the king.

One group made plans and laid a trap.

They would stop her and abscond with her body.

Financial and political demands would be made for her return.

If the king would not step forward and meet their demands,

Her life’s light would be snuffed out.

The attack was designed and the day was at hand.

Unknown to her a trap had been laid in the dusk hours by man.

While walking down a street, two cloaked figures stepped around a corner.

A man pointed and said, “Come with me, do not scream.”

The larger figure gagged her with cloth and lifted her over a huge shoulder.

She tried to bite his arm but it was hard like a rock and round like a log.

A few breaths later she was gone.

Many men were asked to come forth and rescue her.

But many were physically unable to answer the call.

Some were around the globe, out and about.

The few who were capable and financially sure

Lived in fear and withdrew with no bid.

One simple man who had very little for his clan.

Stepped forward and shouted, “I will do it, I can!”

The crowd looked down at him; he was one and one-half meters tall.

The king came forward and said, “My short servant, take this sword and go forth.”

The young man collected the sword, helmet, a shield, boots and a map,

Walked across the town square, through the gate and his steed galloped away.

The moment he passed over the first mound he pulled back on the reign,

Removed his helmet, took a knee on the ground

And he began to pray.

“God, I ask you to bless my poor soul.

If I am able to do this it will be because of you.

Give me the strength and courage to move forth,

Provide me eyes of an eagle and hearing of a deer,

 To search for this damsel and find her with no scout,

In thy hands I place my heart and my mind.

Now take me, guide me and protect my soul.”

He mounted the animal, placed his boots in the stirrups and started again.

Shortly he came upon a small village that seemed to be old and down trodden.

But being present he looked for the leader of the few.

The people greeted him with smiles but silence  

Noting he walked as a knight and provided his steed a respite.

The villagers he passed were skinny and weak.

It was obvious that this village received little from the King.

The Searcher addressed each villager with questions about the young lass.

Each shook a head to the negative and he walked on past.

He bid them farewell, mounted his animal and left town.

The villagers who were present swore they heard horns blow loud.

Many others believed the sound to be angels singing his praise.

But truthfully it was only the wind that blew about.

He visited many villages in the same debilitated shape.

Each village greeted him as if he was the King

After all word spread fast that The Searcher would visit them soon.

It was as-if the King had remembered them when they were needy the most.

But no avail each village and small town could only answer in the negative

“Searcher, we have not seen her, she is not about.”?

He left each metropolis, city of village praying to God

Requesting the almighty deliver a plan.

Late one evening while his cook prepared food over a fire,

The Searcher lay on his back gazing into the sky.

Many in attendance later would swear they heard a second voice speak.

But no person was seen; and no one heard the steps of steed.

The voice said, “Do not be concerned, this will all end right.

 Continue your travels through this night.

But be careful there is danger all around.”

The voice concluded with “Prepare your sword and stay low to the ground.”

Moments later the young man rose from the ground and said to his men,

“Prepare your weapons, saddle your stead and lay down on that mound.”

His men prepared as instructed and moved their bed rolls with no sound.

Each lay down on their back with sword in hand; one stayed watch, many snored.

 Minutes seemed to pass slow like centuries since the dawn of time.

The single guard’s face was lighted only by the stars in the sky.

At some point the lone man heard in a commotion in a low lying scrub

Then the sound jumped into the top of the surrounding trees.

The steeds stammered their hoofs and whinnied to warn

That things were not safe, danger they had found.  

The guard called out to his mates

“Awake! Awake!” he shouted while pulling his sword.

“Awake! Awa….” was what was left to be heard.

While the last word trailed off in the empty forest air,

The others arose, each weapon pulled and held.

Each man pulled close to the next forming a circle as if bailed wheat.

The Searcher called out, “Where is our young guard?”

While watching the bush and tress he searched about.

Momentarily no one spoke a word,

Each man reviewed the perimeter for danger and a missing mate.

Then with a breath of fresh air passing across the mound one shouted,

“There lying on the ground, I see him on the ground.”

The Searcher shouted out, “Stay your position! Stand your ground!

With swords held high the circle of protection constricted

Terror seemed to magically pull each man back-to-back.  

There was no movement, no sound could be heard

Except for the exhaled breath of fearful mist into the cold.

The Searcher commanded one soldier “Bold your heart and check our brother.

But while giving him due required keep your sword at the ready.

Danger still prowls so make your concentration as bright as a light.”

The soldier walked slowly while glaring excitingly at the trees and the scrub.

With warm air passing between his lips the chill of the moment sailed back into his lungs.

 He stopped at the body and rolled it over, reached down and extended his arm

Then lifted his hand up holding the dead brother’s head and screamed, “He is dead! He is dead!”

(Continued)

While watching the second half of the Super Bowl I had a little fun and wrote this story (1st part). Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

Posted 2/7/11