reticence | The Ballad of the Deal

Upon the bright horizon of
The waters of Leathann
A Darkness slowly slithered in
Far as the eye could span.

The people there, had heard the tale
And swiftly were they buoyed
Across the sea to safer shores
Escaping from the Void

While others still, upon its sight
Were overcome with awe
And with their sons and wives set sail
Into its gaping maw.

The story of these island folk
Spread fast like wildfire
For Leathann would be but the first
It swallowed in its gyre.

But there were those who stood their ground,
Would not accept defeat,
Who were steadfast in their pursuit
That evil should be beat.

The answers to their plight were told
To have their secrets writ
Upon a coded scroll, within
Leathann's most guarded crypt.

And so it was one man was called
To venture southward bound
And retrieve that which answers held --
The Seelie Marshall's Hound.

And with him did the Marshall go
As well as their small charge
Who knew not what the journey held
This venture to the marge.

The man, as south they traveled, he
Took stock of all he knew
And asked of them what help they'd give
That he might see this through.

And of the Marshall he asked most
Which to the man he gave
For he would do most anything
To keep him from the grave.

Thus with these items gathered all
And prep work under way
He spent one final day with them
Before the judgment day.

Upon that morn they all set out
Into the records keep
And while the Marshall held their eye
The man away did creep.

The room he sought he quickly found
The guards were swift unmanned
But greater challenge ever still
Became the task at hand.

For large within the room it was
And records there were rife
And finding all of which he sought
Became his greatest strife.

Until at last, located he
The first of items two
The second which, the magic vault
Was housed within, he knew.

And yet as soon as he did try
To open up its door
Then water creatures lept from it
And swarmed and hovered o'er.

They reached for him, with liquid hands,
And stared with liquid eye,
And took from him his sweat and tears,
Began to drink him dry.

The man, he had a choice to make,
That much to him was clear
To die there in that vault with them
Or face a greater fear.

Yet on the steps there outside sat
The boy, at Marshall's heel,
And with the two of them in mind
He made with them a deal.

That in exchange for what he took
From their rooms, he would trade
The story of another quest
That had yet to be made.

And so they had him make an oath,
With water did they bind
Him to the Lucky Penny's vaults
For something rare to find

To then give to the one he loves
And story then to write
And only once that given them
Is his wrong deed made right.

The rest, I cannot tell you, for
It has not come to be
The man, he has not ventured forth
The tale's end we shall see.

The documents, however, were
Delivered there, as asked.
Although deciphering the words?
Some other should be tasked.

[spoken:] I've had enough of this Dorian. No more games. You've had your fun. This is my life...