《The Song of Gildas》


 Part I - The Covenstead

    So sing I will, of Gildas on this day,


    And tell the zealot¡¯s tale of he enthralled,


    For few still know the lesson in that lay.


    Now in our people¡¯s past it is recalled,


    Of heathen tribes in groaning forests sprawled,


    Who worshipped not the gospel of our lord,


    But wicked gods, and power they¡¯d reward.


    As Saxons spread far over reaches flung,


    Among them were a company of knights,


    Of great renown and highest praises sung;


    By oath refused all earthly held delights,


    And purged all trace of diabolic rites.


    The Order of Saint Benedict, so named,


    And Christ¡¯s decree, to pagans they proclaimed.


    A just campaign, so led by sword and staff,


    Of Boniface, his deeds in no dispute,


    Though humbly would admit to only half.


    ¡®Tear out demonic covens at their root,¡¯


    For this was chosen by the Earl¡¯s shire moot.


    His brow was weathered like a frigate¡¯s hull,


    And dang¡¯rous hunts left wounds upon his skull.


    He rode to Selwood, witches here would dwell.


    Along the woodland edge, all cloaked in mist,


    With him was Gildas, whom you will know well;


    A lionheart and strength entwined his wrist,


    And golden haired, where doting sun had kissed.


    Of cloth and steel they lived, enrobed in mail,


    His cross took vigil, helm a winged veil.


    They peered between the darkness in the trees,


    With eyes sincere, the old man turned his head,


    ¡®Thou knowest how the first witch came to be?


    By laying with a demon, it is said,


    And granted knowledge dark, by way of bed.


    No fire of dragons, but occult deceit,


    Enwebbing minds of men, before their feet¡¯.


    His faith was firm, ¡®Such tales I do not fear.¡¯


    ¡®Am I a fisherman¡¯s wife? Hark to me!


    Strike fast without delay, let them not near,


    With spear at hand, thou''lt pierce them to a tree!


    Lest fey enchantment, I¡¯m bereaved of thee.¡¯


    In venturing ahead, a light was seen,


    And from the clearing came an eerie scene.


    A ring of maidens dancing round a flame,


    Their flesh beneath the moon in blossomed flush,


    Abandoned wits without a trace of shame!


    As Gildas lowered swift his eyes in blush,


    They spied there hidden from the sylvan brush.


    He made to charge, but bishop blocked his reach,


    ¡®We will return with more and burn them each!¡¯


    In their retreat they still heard wanton shrieks,


    Then came to stop, and pulling at his beard,


    Old Boniface with kindness in his cheeks,


    ¡®For noble deeds and rank, thou hast been reared,


    To lead this hunt, thy fortune will be neared!¡¯


    Already Gildas had success and fame,


    But now his chance for greatness rose to claim.


    Then hooves in torrent, tearing through the night,


    With torches raised and boiling blood to foam!


    Pervasive limbs of eldritch trees gave fright;


    Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.Though native born, these woods felt not of home,


    For Gildas dreamt the cobbled streets of Rome.


    Unnerved by black oaks, phantoms stood between,


    That vanished there as soon as they were seen.


    As open forest drew, they came to trot,


    The covenstead was near, hence birdsong ceased.


    Here Gildas turned, addressed the knightly lot,


    ¡®No quarter held! Tonight we sing and feast!


    Now trust in God! With me, in to the beast!¡¯


    And charging forth, they followed through the gloom,


    Engulfed by darkness, hunger¡¯d to consume.


    From out the fog, did looming cairns appear,


    Then stilted huts on ancient ruins built


    And raised above the marsh; a silence drear.


    ¡®Ablaze!¡¯ They took to flame, as wattle wilt.


    ¡®Lo, shades!¡¯ And Gildas raised his lance to tilt,


    A yell- where from the rear a soldier slain,


    Then dragged from horse and into ill demesne!


    A hundred cackles came, lashed out in whips,


    Then figures, drab and draped in wisp emerged,


    With malice dripping, leaden from their lips.


    ¡®Attack! Fear not the demonspawn!¡¯ he urged,


    And led the charge as men-at-arms converged.


    Abandon witches whirling fire in waves,


    With dead reborn and rising from their graves!


    A hag had Gildas sighted from the fray,


    He lunged his lance to only pierce the air,


    Tremendous speed in blasphemous display;


    For focus found, he uttered soft a prayer,


    And met his mark, impaled her heart just there.


    She fell with terrible a scream, so shrill.


    Cadavers marched! In serf to witches¡¯ will.


    But incantations of his own he wist,


    And so he held his crucifix above,


    A surge of light expelled them back to mist!


    His men were captured, knowing not whereof,


    He knocked aside his foes with heavy shove,


    Then hurried down a passage, giving chase,


    Ignored the fraught appeals of Boniface.


    Swift hurried Gildas, headstrong in, he ran.


    A labyrinth in murk and candle lit,


    Aloft there hung the skulls of beast and man,


    And underfoot forsaken bones submit.


    Hysteric mocking drummed his ears to split,


    The walls infernus, passed by time again,


    With webs gargantuan, ¡®A plague, this den!¡¯


    Before him terror stood, nocturnal storm!


    A woman bare beneath her flowing gown,


    That ravened tight around her siren form,


    So black her hair, a moonlit sheen would drown.


    With lance erect he made to strike her down,


    But thrust delayed by quick a glance from her,


    Soothing spells ensnared his mind to slumber.


    Woken still in drowse, hands behind him bound,


    With lulling words of the dark lady heard,


    ¡®In vigour now, yet after philtre, sound!¡¯


    And pried his lips, ¡®Drink, my pretty,¡¯ she purred,


    Elixir fed from Devil¡¯s cauldron stirred,


    Queer in taste; a faint memory he dreamed


    Of autumn sun, that through a forest gleamed.

 Part II - The Veiled Nymph

    We part from Gildas now, because his fate


    Was spun from many in a woven thread.


    And so I sing of Constance, stars elate!


    His sister young, she too was Briton bred,


    Trepid fawn, no dew broken at her tread.


    Veiled white in vestments, with an air demure,


    And roaming heart adrift, though it was pure.


    A solitary grove by lush concealed,


    Before the stump of once a mighty oak,


    Fair Constance in her serenity kneeled.


    Amidst standing stones, carven idols smoked


    In desecration, yet still they evoked


    A yearning for nature that to her calls;


    Unfelt inside the cold of chapel walls.


    Footsteps hither! The fox and vole took flight


    At the clang of her brother¡¯s intrusion.


    ¡®Constance? Why lurk here in a heathen site?¡¯


    ¡®Tis no quirk to find mirth in seclusion!¡¯


    ¡®A crude dwelling for a crude folk¡¯s delusion.¡¯


    She rose in wrath, ¡®Doth thou forget our sire?¡¯


    ¡®Peace, lambkin. I¡¯d have us not part in ire.¡¯


    ¡®Farewell, I set out for expedition.¡¯


    ¡®Be safe, dear brother. Swear thou¡¯lt shirk demise!¡¯


    ¡®God is juror, though I shall petition.¡¯


    A fay doe approached them to their surprise.


    ¡®Suppose our mother lies behind those eyes?¡¯


    ¡®Absurd and profane, time thou left this place.¡¯


    A horn blew out, he held her in embrace.


    With Gildas off, she lingered in birdsong


    Beneath the bower, halls of gold and red.


    Caressed the ancient bark of ash along


    The trunk, in thought of blasphemies unsaid.


    Then trailing off with fairies in her head,


    She found the path but soon was led astray


    By a rasping call not so far away.


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    In dappled light, through the tangle bounding,


    Athwart the virgin growth unfettered; thrilled


    With spirit unladen. At the sounding


    Of near a howling roar, her blood were chilled,


    And hairs erect, her heavy panting stilled.


    T¡¯was the creature¡¯s pain, or her ilk uplifting


    That towards it stirred her tendons shifting.


    Crooked branches whipped past her beaming grin,


    Into dim a glade, she hurtled to a halt.


    Cages empty but for one, there within


    Gurt shadow loomed. ¡®O God forgive my fault.¡¯


    Presence primal, a wild sovereign in vault,


    As low growling in cadence pulsed through her,


    Each warning to stay the path rang truer.


    At approach, feline was the stalking shape,


    A sleek gloss, in hue of the witching hour.


    With elegant strength in hulking arms, rape


    Of light and space. Of prowess and power,


    In awe she neared, as nerve would allow her,


    To meet it¡¯s eyes- gilt like lamps illumine,


    With a gaze profound and all too human.


    He raised a proud bulk of princely jaws,


    Behind the mesh, two narrow pupils peered.


    In face of towering shoulders and paws,


    She felt courtesy, not a temper feared.


    ¡®What cruelty captures creatures so revered?


    Those eyes show occupance by any gauge!¡¯


    And prying the latch, she opened the cage.


    Impulse spurred her feet, prudence bid them back,


    As the grand beast¨C a full eclipse, emerged,


    With sinewy strides, enfolding all in black,


    And raising his snout, to her neck it verged.


    Her heart in dithers, ¡®Peace, prithee,¡¯ she urged.


    A lazy swipe would fold her, if so suited,


    Too awed to flee, she remained there rooted.

 Part III - The Woven Web

    In fugue and darkness did Gildas awake


    To cooing of crones, he leaned to listen,


    ¡®A fine gift to the Witchmother he¡¯ll make!¡¯


    With strength futile, wrestled with his prison,


    They heard his works, ¡®Oh? Our man is risen!¡¯


    Lowenna, see he¡¯s servile to coven.¡¯


    Beheld, the sorceress in night woven!


    Yet as he saw her now, comely she seemed,


    A black swan pied with white and rouge alloyed,


    Blush lips in bud, how jade her cats-eyes gleamed!


    With lilied arms she bathed his wounds and toyed,


    ¡®You leer, foul knight. Is thy chivalry void?¡¯


    He dropped his gaze, but stirring loins felt her,


    And in the heat between them sweltered.


    She drew herself close to his heaving chest,


    Her breath upon his neck, ere he realise


    His cross purloined, now hung before her breast.


    He launched with fury, but restrained by ties,


    ¡®Such wrath for this meek rood?¡¯ she feigned surprise,


    ¡®Hold thine evil tongue! My Lord thou wilt not blight.


    My strength and song, the wellspring of my might!¡¯


    ¡®Adrift his course, I am want to languish,


    But humbly pray, and with his strength, I¡¯m blessed.¡¯


    Her wry smirk vanished, and face showed anguish,


    ¡®Prayers answered? Tut, make not so crude a jest.


    Such discourtesy makes for poor a guest!


    Elect they, who upon thy lord¡¯s sun faces,


    Ever have I been shunned of his graces.¡¯


    ¡®Mark me, crude man. I did keep and cherish


    My sweet sister, of pestilence stricken,


    O Heaven hear me! Let her not perish!


    I prayed, but her aches would only quicken,


    How I pled for me instead to sicken!


    ¡®Til alas, I held her sickly hand and


    Did concede, our prayers hath god abandoned.¡¯


    ¡®As one way denied, another beckoned,


    The Witchmother¡¯s embrace revealed true craft.


    Those famous arts, more potent I¡¯d reckoned


    Than thine invocations. Poor fool!¡¯ she laughed,


    But wanton tears made her mocking daft.


    ¡®Thy sister,¡¯ Gildas asked, ¡®did she survive?¡¯


    ¡®It was too late. Her will would not revive.¡¯


    She turned away, exposed with flesh displayed,


    ¡®Look not so soft on me, fiend am I not?¡¯


    ¡®All may be redeemed,¡¯ but his thoughts betrayed¨C


    With fire and brimstone! In her web you¡¯re caught!


    With the strength of Samson, he pulled the knot


    And tore his bonds asunder, rage supreme!


    Upon her pouncing before she could scream.


    He felt her trembled limbs beneath him frail,


    Her eyes met his with shame and submission.


    She was no monster. Behind the black veil¨C


    A little girl afraid, playing magician.


    To his feet, with now escape his mission,


    Gildas charged ahead, his lance to retrieve.


    Bewitched, Lowenna watched him take his leave.


    From earthy chambers came Gildas afar


    From grace, here pentacles suffused the caves!


    Through deathly odours and omens bizarre¨C


    Creatures of the elderwood, nymphs and knaves,


    Weyward sisters chanting with their forked staves!


    He fled the cackles of an eyeless crone


    At her spinning wheel, ¡®All wilt be is sewn!¡¯


    With faith, at last he left the filthy lair,


    To find his comrades slain with innards reaped,


    Their saving he would pray, once free from there.


    In stodged trodding through sodden marshes steeped,


    And through the fog, across the great yeo leaped.


    As the scorched weald behind him withered,


    The witches¡¯ words in his conscience slithered¨C


    ¡®Hail Mithras! Heed our perpetual choir!


    What deeds be done by a stray thread¡¯s pull!


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    In foul the slaying of a sacred bull,


    The unconquered sun in his splendour full!


    Eye of Capricorn! Temple of the stars!


    Thy lot be mapped upon this earth of ours!¡¯


    ¡®God forgive my soul if this fate doth loom.¡¯


    Surely heathen tongues spun only falsehood?


    Be they righteous or agents of his doom,


    He swore himself an instrument of Good.


    To a welcome light, he parted Selwood.


    For shapely hills and there atop the breast,


    Surveyed the wetlands ahead looking West.


    A summer land when winter floods recede,


    Fair isles of apple, alder and willow,


    Of swamp and sluggish waters, sedge and reed,


    Where wild moors of Elysium billow,


    Bestrewed by lonely tors, in beds pillow.


    A crane swept low across the drowned heath,


    And Gildas returned to camp with relief.


    A hillock proud above yellow birches,


    Cadbyrig, from whence embarked their platoon;


    Settled with tents and stables and churches,


    Where once heathens wassailed beneath the moon,


    In temples prayed and whiteleaved oaks festoon.


    Such earthly larks called to mind his sister,


    He wanted now to speak how he¡¯d missed her.


    His arrival fervoured greetings of cheer,


    ¡®Praise God! Thy fiercest soldier is returned!¡¯


    Old Boniface pushed to the front, ¡®He¡¯s here?


    Bless thee, my son. A staunch salute you¡¯ve earned!


    Art thou abused? What toil and trouble churned?


    But tarry! That may wait, gather thy sleep.¡¯


    He withdrew and spied Constance on the steep.


    ¡®Dear brother! O summer¡¯s day!¡¯ How he¡¯d missed


    This cherub teeming with mirth at his wake.


    In meeting, his hand and forehead she kissed,


    He presented her with honey oat cake,


    ¡®Hey-ho!¡¯ she beamed, ¡®might Cael perhaps partake?


    He cruel-needs sustenance!¡¯ and at her side,


    There stood a craggy man in fur and hide.


    By his bearing, a tempered gale there lurked.


    Tousled strands of a black tangled mane


    Fell past his keen eyes in a glare that irked


    Our knight. Native by garb and lineal strain,


    Cagey with stalker¡¯s strout in home terrain,


    Yet no lines weathered his high freckled cheeks.


    They locked eyes as two off-standing peaks.


    ¡®Be thee of the levels? Bless thy webbed feet,


    For ere I was a cuckoo pent alone!¡¯


    ¡®Gildas!¡¯ Constance trilled, ¡®prithee, fan no heat!¡¯


    ¡®Purt not, sister. Blood knows a bosom tone.¡¯


    ¡®I know thee not, gallant. Nor have I known-¡¯


    A bout came over the sallow woodwose,


    And Constance traced after his fits and throes.


    Betwaddled so, but fatigued to protest;


    Gildas retired to sleep, but mind played bawd


    To lecherous guise of allured undress.


    That heathen temptress on his conscience gnawed,


    Sunk in sin, he ¡®twixt lust and loathing awed.


    A rush of blood¨C her form then took to flame,


    He aroused in sweat, by calling of his name.


    At ward¡¯s watch ¡®neath a dusk befallen haze,


    Sentries gave the summons of his mentor.


    With labour to conceal his fraught malaise,


    He shuffled to the camp¡¯s crested centre,


    At the great pavilion he would enter.


    The tear at his gut, he could not suppress,


    As there knelt Lowenna in rued duress.


    Beshrewed his heart, with but a helpless glance,


    Then downcast her Medusan eyes forlorn.


    What madness bid her take such fickle chance?


    Whips and irons on racks of torture worn,


    From shadow, Boniface emerged in scorn.


    ¡®We caught this flittermouse prying about,


    Wring her heathen tongue and the truth will out.¡¯

 Part IV - The Wild Passion

    Meanwhile, in hollow of a twilit coomb,


    Where Constance distraught, found herself pleading


    With the snarling panther, in bitter gloom.


    She¡¯d caught a swipe at her shoulder bleeding,


    ¡®Look thee, be it beast or man here leading?¡¯


    He shrieked and howled in demonic expulsions,


    Sinews snapping with twitching convulsions.


    And to a standing stone he lurched behind.


    Then out the strained longshanks of Cael stumbled,


    His brow were bloodless, and in squinny blind.


    Constance caught his arm before he crumbled.


    ¡®Forgive my sour condition,¡¯ he grumbled.


    ¡®Thou¡¯st no blame for the sly Devil¡¯s doing.¡¯


    ¡®I cannot stay without upset brewing.¡¯


    ¡®A moment¡¯s rest,¡¯ and in that copse they laid,


    The near trickle of weepy brooks did rove.


    Watched on by old gods in the waning shade,


    The cricket¡¯s chorus in such quiet throve.


    ¡®Oft do I linger in a voiceless grove,


    For I¡¯ve no kindred to share in my glee,


    Save for these past days in thy company.¡¯


    ¡®Sweetling thou¡¯rt, but another I¡¯m sworn,


    Matrona my mistress, calls me thither!


    Reunion decrees I¡¯m left by the morn.


    Thy brother knows I belong not hither,


    And my lady sighs each moment not with her.¡¯


    ¡®Thy ¡®scape will Gildas see as by my aid.¡¯


    ¡®Then away with me, and live as nature bade!¡¯


    ¡®As babes of woodland, serve my faerie queen!


    Not some convent bride, but a river sprite


    I see!¡¯ She rose against a bough to lean,


    ¡®Green may be my soul, but this gown is white.


    A lure there is in thy words, but not light!


    In no dream, shall I forsake my brother,


    Since found, we¡¯ve had only each other.¡¯


    ¡®Alack, my mother¡¯s blood I can¡¯t forbear,


    ¡®Tis that element which stirs my yearning,


    To dance beneath the stars, wind in my hair!


    Would heed to native creed grant me learning


    Of our weeded roots in my returning?¡¯


    Cael arose, ¡®Rein thy whimsical fancy,


    Our worship is ancient, as thou wilst see.¡¯


    ¡®Set with the earth, in black waters immerse,


    Honour thine ancestors in its reflection.


    My beastly shape is both gift and curse,


    By my goddess bestowed, in affection.¡¯


    In vain, Constance hid her green complexion,


    ¡®Prithee, stay the night, I cannot follow.


    But I shall smuggle thee, come the morrow.¡¯


    Gildas now alone, approached the limp witch


    And grasped at her neck, raising her to he.


    ¡®Why dost thou appear? Speak, woman!¡¯ a twitch


    To his brow; she met with defiant plea,


    ¡®For thy love, proud fool! My blood burns for thee.


    Never have I known manhood so sublime!


    Mine aching urged to face thee a second time!¡¯


    At her tearful eyes, he loosened his grip,


    Banished drops on beauteous cheek ran faint,


    With fondness she received his flask to sip,


    ¡®Art thou to flay my flesh now, gallant saint?¡¯


    ¡®So I¡¯m charged, though my humour begs restraint.¡¯


    ¡®A gentle soul I find in thee, beneath the hard piece,


    I implore thy virtues to hatch my release.¡¯


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    ¡®Fain I would, but mine office doth forbid.¡¯


    He watched her then in Circean display,


    Unfold before him¨C cloth from porcelain slid.


    ¡®In each my furtive dreams and waking day,


    Her lips upon my perfect valour prey!


    Such wants discard the demands of reason,


    These throes of desire give way to treason!¡¯


    She drew hither, making fief of her gaol.


    A pen to cob with flexed wings, gliding raft,


    In coquettish sway; aye, his breath were stole.


    Knees in wevet, upright as herald¡¯s staff,


    As she entwined about with some fey laugh.


    ''This act is wicked! Sinful wench, avaunt!¡¯


    ''Methinks thou art provoked,¡¯ she quoth in taunt.


    His reach befound no cross, now phantom limb,


    ¡®I must deny thee by every doctrine cruel.¡¯


    ¡®Such tribal laws submit to carnal whim!


    Our instinct is ancient, so ¡®tis to rule¨C


    The men here praise Gildas, not that old fool!


    Make me thy queen, our love would be divine!


    If thou wilt worship me, all shalt be thine.¡¯


    Lowenna¡¯s lips brushed soft against his nape,


    Whispered bodily gospel in his ears,


    ¡®How power flows through thee! With me escape,


    To sooth our appetites sans zealous fears!¡¯


    Her lips fluttered close as Pegasus nears¨C


    ¡®If of thee, I hath given true service,


    Then pray, O God, forgive me of this kiss!¡¯


    They met with bliss and loose sighs of longing,


    As nethers merged in ecstacy of flame.


    Grasped her hair in the snuffed mull of wronging,


    The brush of nerves enthralled his¨C footsteps came!


    He threw her to the floor, perforce with shame.


    ¡®Well content, sirrah?¡¯ Boniface with furrow


    In brow, ¡®Who sanctioned probing so thorough?¡¯


    They withdrew, her gaze burnt into his spine.


    ¡®I should think thou found apt reconnaissance?¡¯


    ''Nothing did she yield, nor could I divine.¡¯


    Boniface observed his fraught countenance,


    ¡®Thine odour reeks of that macabre danse,


    And skin is flush as fruit of Mans¡¯s descent!¡¯


    ¡®Pardon! Forsooth, I swear no ill intent!¡¯


    Hand on shoulder, as if his own issue,


    ¡®Heed, Gildas. ¡®Tis a will-o''-wisp thou chase.


    The fair sex is formed in earthy tissue


    Of clay and loam to retract us from grace.


    By creed of saints and thy brotherly race,


    I ask, not cleave thy great prospects in twain!¡¯


    ¡®I warrant, Father. Paladin, I remain.¡¯


    The old bishop gave a long, searching stare.


    ¡®See that thou doest, faith can be a weary lamp.¡¯


    A soldier barged in with tidings to bear.


    ¡®A pagan is suspect within our camp.¡¯


    To mind came the livery of that scamp,


    He¡¯d forgotten of Constance, to his fright.


    ¡®Search the forests, kill the wildman on sight.¡¯


    ¡®Rest now, Gildas. Ready for the morrow,


    Our witch will soon feel the stake at her feet.¡¯


    His visage strained to counterfeit from sorrow,


    ¡®By thy favour, a trial would be meet,


    Haply innocence she may claim receipt!¡¯


    ¡®An ordeal would not divulge half her lies!


    Her gemot of flame awaits at sunrise.¡¯

 Part V - The Noble Beast

    Parting, he caught her frighted face within,


    That pale masque haunted his hilltop survey


    And descent, as he wallowed in his sin.


    ¡®Good God, mercy o¡¯me, alack the day!


    What hapless happenstance befalls my way,


    Nay, t¡¯were my blame, wherefore did I embark


    To engender chaos on my soaring arc?


    Gildas the great, by vicious lust undone!


    An arrant wretch am I, slave to base fates.


    No grimoires, but lies of a harlot spun,


    This Lowenna, whose death my deed dictates,


    And for my part, oblivion awaits.


    Lord, I entreat thee, ope thy gracious arms,


    Buttress my graces, shield me of her harms!¡¯


    By tents and fires passing by, he took note


    Of Constance, forlorn, peering into flame,


    ¡®I¡¯m glad to see thee safe, e''en if remote.¡¯


    ¡®Good-den. Sleep eludes me, so here I came.¡¯


    ¡®Iwis, this ill-starred night I am the same.¡¯


    Ever as kin, they sang together soft,


    Beneath the warmth of ember¡¯d sparks aloft.


    Her visage pristine, enshadowed by strife,


    ¡®What darkness ails thee?¡¯ he asked, ¡®A friend.


    Shouldst thou labour to rescue mortal life,


    Even if that person¡¯s soul be condemned?¡¯


    ¡®Aye, they chief of all, if thou canst amend


    With penitence due, thy soul too is saved.¡¯


    They shared silence to brood; comfort she craved.


    Heaving a black fur rug about her collar,


    He retired, ¡®These stars hath no love for me,


    A gleaming leprosy, naught but squalor.¡¯


    A few that night gazed on the heavenly,


    Cael in beast-skin, beneath the canopy,


    Lowenna chained, through a cleft in the roof.


    What destined affairs would the morrow sooth?


    In the grove before dawn, Constance met Cael.


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.¡®Let¡¯s get thee gone, lest both we be spotted.


    Come, as my freckled hand, I know this trail.¡¯


    ¡®Lead on, elfin maid!¡¯ they laughed and plotted,


    But along the ground, boots of soldiers trotted!


    ¡®Hie!¡¯ they rushed apace into the bracken,


    Wherein its shade, found refuge to slacken.


    Hidden feart, among the fronds¡¯ concealing.


    Closer came the men in brash armour clad.


    Alas, they found her there, tensely kneeling.


    ¡®¡¯Swounds, there be the Thane¡¯s sister. How glad!¡¯


    ¡®Alone, dove? There¡¯s good sport here to be had.


    So proud these siblings, neither would raise voice.¡¯


    Cael¡¯s form shuddered to black, without his choice.


    His huge shape leapt through the air with fury,


    They screamed as gurt claws ripped apart their coats


    Until nothing more. He hunched over, surly


    And panting in the blood torn from their throats,


    Then regressed to man. As a mother dotes,


    Constance held him, wiping away her tears.


    ¡®We must leave before another appears!¡¯


    First light saw to reign over misky plains,


    This gold-wreathed hour, she¡¯d wake oft to admire,


    Through wind-blown grass, led a horse by the reins.


    Towards the camp, men were building a pyre,


    Would they think the killings be done by her?


    In this witch hunt¡¯s frenzy, she¡¯d be accused!


    Her nature betokened guilt to minds confused.


    ¡®O, farewell, sir. A gentle beast thou art.¡¯


    ¡®Goodbye, sweet lass. Thou won¡¯t be persuaded?


    Live true among our kind, and in thy heart!¡¯


    As a wistful glance to camp turned jaded,


    Her veil fell and auburn curls cascaded,


    Mounting the mare, she clutched around his waist,


    And high unto far wild reaches they raced.

 Part VI - The Zealot Enthralled

    Head in hands, Gildas mused on eerie dreams,


    Echoes of prophecy and fire profane,


    As outside rabble pushed past the tent seams.


    ¡®Girdle thyself, Gildas. ¡®Tis not thee slain.¡¯


    Armed and armoured, he left. Against the grain


    Of a rowdy mob, in hysterics crazed,


    Marching Lowenna, galled with torches raised!


    ¡®Come now, strumpet! What secrets shall we learn?¡¯


    ¡®Prick ¡®er skin for the mark o¡¯ serpent seed!¡¯


    ¡®From Sumort¨±n I ¡®eard!¡¯ ¡®Let¡¯s see ¡®er burn!¡¯


    While binded to the stake, she did not plead,


    Yet when their eyes did meet, he felt her need.


    Within this crowd, were two lit souls alone,


    Such tender passion, only they had known.


    Above the chants, Boniface gave sermon,


    Her sable gown and hair in the gale blew.


    ¡®Be she demonspawn? Let flame determine!¡¯


    Gildas¡¯ thumbs pricked with brooding thoughts anew,


    ¡®Mercy, Father, I know not what I do!


    Be this thy sacred bull or my witless fault?¡¯


    He stumbled out, ¡®By God I bid thee halt!¡¯


    A heavy silence fell over the scene,


    ¡®Well ¡®ark at ¡®ee! The boychap be in lust!¡¯


    Forth came the bishop dismayed, stood between.


    ¡®Ye err in this, she¡¯s innocent, I trust!


    But only pixie-led!¡¯ yelled o¡¯er the gust.


    ¡®Tis not scrumping, lad, but devilry afoot!


    Watch! Her blackened blood will bare in the soot!¡¯


    The pyre was set ablaze in gorging heat,


    She sought repose but cried out at the licks


    Of roaring flames, thrashed up against her feet.


    Gildas ashen, could only watch there fixed.


    ¡®Coward am I, unless I come betwixt,


    Protect the weak¨C In this, mine oath I keep!¡¯


    The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.He charged forwards and leapt atop the heap!


    His men drew their sharpened swords gleaming,


    He made to cut her loose; panic hastened


    With mere inferno below him screaming,


    They hurled away ere by the fire chastened!


    With malice, hither came Boniface and


    His once fellows, ¡®What madness afflicts thee?¡¯


    Gildas stood over as she cowered alee.


    ¡®Son, rank and honour, thou standeth to lose.¡¯


    ¡®I¡¯ll afford her no harm. That heart is kind,


    She may repent whatever sins accused!¡¯


    Boniface, his grave face with sorrow lined,


    ¡®Alas, thou art bewitched. With heavy mind,


    I name thee traitor to thy god and realm,


    By Ine our king, and cross upon thy helm.¡¯


    The men rushed at her and weapons arose,


    His arm sprang loose and let his lance afly,


    Ugly force! With a seax he parried blows.


    At once Lowenna conjured an evil eye,


    ¡®A curse o¡¯ thy scions!¡¯ dark¡¯ning the sky.


    With witchcraft hovered in the filthy air!


    He sunk his blade, drove firm his spear in prayer.


    They cried, as ancient spells loosened from her lips,


    Their crosses beamed gold in hallowed accord.


    Torrents of gloom surged from her fingertips,


    Boniface marked her, raising high his sword!


    Gildas affray, threw out his arm in ward,


    Ice and fire! He howled to his knees in pain,


    To the joint, t¡¯was cleaved swiftly in twain.


    He led her forth, bleeding and stumbling blind,


    ¡®Let them flee!¡¯ The old man stood gaunt and grim.


    Gildas gave her reins and slumped down behind,


    As they rode away, he glanced before him¨C


    A fearsome stalker, he believed were game.


    And he, bereft his place, neutered and lame.