It happened late that summer when the prince appeared in town

acting under orders to seek men of great renown

he found the guild and made his mission clear to everyone

with his words, a party in his honour soon begun

The mercenary’s guild was full of laughter and delight

the prince's new friends bought him drinks and drank into the night

they quickly knew exactly who the prince was looking for

and told him all about the young man while they drank some more

The prince and all his royal guards were tentative at first

but soon enjoyed a little more than what would quench their thirst

rarely was a mercenary scouted by the crown

the man he hired would be the pride of everyone in town

After he’d been forced to drink until the sun came up

the prince recalled the task at hand and threw away his cup

as he tried to sober up he heard the squeaky door

then some heavy footsteps echoing across the floor

the hero came to trade a heavy monster hide for gold

but when he saw the prince’s crown, the hero’s blood ran cold

the elf who walked behind him frowned but let the scene play out

remaining silent while the guild began to sing and shout

They all announced the hero had arrived with pride and joy

and then the prince could see the man he’d gone there to employ

he walked toward the hero, then his head began to pound

in a flash the hero had just pinned him to the ground

Half the guild was laughing while the other half was scared

what the hero did was something no one would have dared

the half-drunk prince then heard the hero whisper in his ear

“choose your next words carefully or you might disappear”

The leader of the guild was drunk and laughing at the scene

“let him go boy, he’s the nicest prince there’s ever been”

the hero stood up carefully and took a few steps back

unapologetic for his unprovoked attack

The prince’s guards were all too drunk or slow to see a thing

but the words the leader spoke had settled everything

the prince was too embarrassed to start any kind of fight

the fall had helped him sober up and helped confirm his plight

“Your display of strength is one I really must commend

please accept my formal invitation, my young friend

our kingdom is in dire need of brave warriors like you

as a chosen hero, there is much good you can do”

The hero was conflicted, for the prince’s words were true

going with him would be the heroic thing to do

but he had turned a queen’s request for service down before

freedom was the first and foremost thing that he’d fight for

“If I do become your hero, will I still be free

if I fight your wars for you, will you imprison me”

the prince was somewhat understanding of the young man’s fear

patiently he did his best to make his message clear

“Should you be found qualified, and we both know you will

you would be apprenticed to a knight to hone your skill

once you’ve earned a title of your own, you’ll be knight

free to live your life in peace or take up arms and fight”

His wife who stood behind him sighed and quickly understood

she knew that he would be a hero if he only could

everybody in the guild intently listened in

the hero looked back to his wife then dropped the monster skin

“I was born to be a hero, that is my own fate

but if I’m to be your knight, then let’s get one thing straight

I can see that you’re a prince by how you wear that crown

do you have a sister though, and is she in this town”

The guild hall was astounded at the question they just heard

the prince could only shake his head at something so absurd

whispers had begun to stir the building’s awkward air

did he mean to claim the throne by marriage or an heir

“I misunderstood your nature, but I’ll spare your life

how could you voice such a crude demand beside your wife

you would take a princess as your pay for work you’ve done

could a man with such a lack of honour save someone”

The hero stared suspiciously and asked the prince again

“do you have a sister or are all your siblings men”

“your demand for royalty is too hard to believe”

“trust me, that’s not why I’m asking, tell me now or leave”

The air around the irritated hero filled with smoke

it was clear his question wasn’t meant to be a joke

then the elven hunter stepped between the men and sighed

“answer this fool’s question, or else find a place to hide”

“No, I don’t have any sisters, I’m the middle son”

though the prince was weak he still was much too proud to run

suddenly the hero smiled and shook the prince’s hand

“we have a deal, I’ll lend my strength to help defend this land”