《Hero's Song - A Novel in Verse》Chapter 12 - The Champion
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He was well received and would be more than fairly paid
the merchants hired the best so that they need not be afraid
they’d set off on their journey soon with wagons full of wares
to find a foreign market place and make its fortune theirs
The mercenary band initiated him with glee
something that he knew of from his time in piracy
they came at him with wooden swords to see what he could do
but one by one they questioned what they got themselves into
The merchants gathered round to see the reason for the noise
mercenaries shouting like excited little boys
starting with the weakest every member tried their hand
but in an hour he’d made it to the stronger of the band
The newest of the group was young but on a winning spree
then the merchants realized an opportunity
they started taking bets on who would win from passers by
and soon it was a tournament with tensions running high
By noon it was a festival and guests were pouring in
it didn’t take much longer for the profits to begin
the merchants didn’t even have to try to entertain
as long as the performance of the fighters didn’t wane
The new recruit was happy to oblige a challenger
whether mercenaries or a fellow traveler
many people came to spar with him just for the fun
but it was clear a healthy competition had begun
“You’ve got some beginner’s luck, I’ll put you in your place
let me wipe the smug expression of your hairless face”
some men were suspicious that the fights were being thrown
they were soon convinced though, with a beating of their own
Even several mages came to see with their own eyes
and came to fight the champion while wearing a disguise
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posing as a swordsman they would join the fighters’ game
the cheating mages entered but the outcome was the same
With a spell they’d weaken him or break his wooden sword
but all their tricks and magic left the young man feeling bored
he felt like he was picking on a petty, desperate child
but still when he defeated them, the audience went wild
As the sun was setting on the mercenaries’ game
finally the leader of the mercenaries came
“the way you swing your sword is crude and stinks of piracy
did you hone your skills on helpless victims out at sea”
Suddenly the air around the new recruit was cold
the audience grew tense and wondered what would soon unfold
the merchants took a break from taking bets and backed away
suddenly the hecklers in the crowd had nought to say
The leader of the mercenaries drew a sword of steel
his junior formed a fiery blade whose heat the crowd could feel
the flaming sword was swung and though the audience was scared
it was soon revealed that the old leader was prepared
He had no problem parrying the young boys sword of fire
but still it wasn’t long before the veteran would tire
as the young man lost control and anger filled his eyes
the leader laughed and put away his sword to his surprise
“Welcome to our humble band of mercenaries, friend
I hope to see you fight again before our journey’s end”
the leader praised the boy, who slowly overcame his shame
embarrassed that he’d been provoked by such a simple claim
“Sorry for offending you, but you’re too fun to tease
many of us here were pirates, fight the way you please
just don’t scare the ladies, and we’ll get along just fine
now let’s see if you’re as strong against our cheapest wine”
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The tournament was over and the champion declared
and for the shining star no single compliment was spared
songs were sung and drinks were drunk until the break of dawn
the merchants revelled in the crowd the new recruit had drawn
Later they approached him with a bag of gold to say
“we’ve yet to even leave and you’ve already earned your pay
here’s a bit of what we made as thanks for all you’ve done
the gold is rolling in and still the journey’s just begun”
Confident that they had paid the man what he was owed
it was time to pack their things and hit the open road
they bid the town farewell and with their spirits ever high
they set off on a journey to the land where treasures lie
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