Song of the Savages
The forces met on a field of green
within the Valley of Fayre
the forests edge was burned and torn
black smoke filled the air.
The hills between the forces two
were low and rolling on
the grass was wet, the ground was soft
the air hot from the sun.
The force atop the western hill
did goad their leader forth,
innumerable men did stretch to the south
as well as to the north.
A man in armor boldly strode
atop his ochre steed
and with his sword held high o’erhead
he spake, “This land we need!”
“Its fields are rich, its waters pure
its mountains rich with ore,
these people here are not as good
as we, we need it more!”
The force upon the other side
were farmers, merchants, priests
They carried pitchforks, mattocks, scythes,
they trembled in the heat.
They were in numbers great like sand
but warriors they were not
the people of the land of Nod
their warlike past they forgot.
Their leader was a learned man
upon an elder gray
a sword he carried at his side
his books were put away.
His people looked to him in pride
their leader he was strong
but a warrior he was not,
the weapon, it felt wrong.
He trembled as he so stepped forth
The man called Teacher John
and though the foe was fierce
he knew he must march on.
“We of Nod,” he so began
“are men of peace, not war
But the greed of men, it has no bounds
their hearts are tempted sore
“So we will fight to keep our rights
to hold the tide of greed,
Heroes will be made this day
in our time of great need!”
The men of Nod they cheered and shouted
though fear it filled their heart
for in the battle ere to be met
blood and life would part.
Then from the northeast came a horn
the men of Nod did turn
for down the road did a small troupe ride
for battle they did burn.
They bore a banner high and wide
A field of green, a boar of black,
the leader he was tall and strong,
blade and axe across his back.
“These brigands from the land Sarl
the battle 'gainst must be won,
and who better to fight at your side
than Bulvyf Alricson!
“My Savages may number few
but vicious are we all,
and for the land of Nod we’ll fight
'Till one by one they fall!
“Our Lady gives us strength to fight
our blades are sharp and strong
For Nod is not the stronger here,
And those of Sarl are wrong!
“Us Savage few, we know the ways
of battle tried and true
And for Nod we’ll kill and slay
'Cause that’s what Savages do!”
The men of Nod they stomped and shouted
and for the Savages cheered
But Teacher John found Bulvyf’s side
saying, “We’ve not battled in years!
“We have not the numbers, nor the skill
to fight this Sarlian horde!”
But Bulvyf just began to laugh
saying, “That’s why I have me sword!”
Not waiting for the men of Nod
the twenty Savage’s marched
and like the grass before the wind
the men of Nod did part.
The Sarlian horde watched Savage few
ride out to meet their fate
and though their leader was sore afraid
his mouth spoke only hate.
“Bring twenty men to slay these dogs
twenty for sure will do,
for man for man we are as strong
as these Savage few!”
The twenty men each drew their blades
and charged to prove their worth,
and twenty singing Savage greats
were ready for the hurt.
They met in battle on the field
shouts of challenge made
And Bulvyf’s weapon ran steel on steel
the first blood wet his blade.
The warrior had been full run through
And with a Savage yell
Bulvyf’s Savages fought on
and twenty Sarlians fell.
Not one of the Savage few
had felt a Sarlian blade
And the Sarlian host did shake
at the challenge made.
“I Bulvyf am the Savage King
from a land so far and cold,
we fight and make our Savage ways
and raise our children bold.
None will walk across this land,
this place we now call home,
that dare to trample o’er the weak
for sake of wanted gold
So come on then, come and fight
we’ll take you one and all,
and know this, that if you charge,
all of you will fall!”
The leader of the Sarlian host
in anger did he cry
The charge was ordered, the host did ride
these Savages would die!
And so the Savage warriors stood
weapons in their hands,
their twenty looking just as great
as a pebble on the sand.
But on they sang their Savage songs
waiting for the charge
and as the twenty waited still
they seemed to grow more large
Those of Nod watched Savage few
admiration one and all
and as the Sarlian host attacked
no Savage did he fall
The Sarlian host did ring the few
and brought their warriors in
But the Savages, they struck out
before the Sarlians could begin!
Soldiers fell before the might
of the few of Savage Horde
and twenty Savage warriors fought
with hammer, axe and sword!
Though numerous were the Sarlian soldiers
the Savages were strong
The Savage song grew louder still
with each felled within the throng
But the Savage skill, ‘twas not enough
even for the Horde
and the first among the Savage kin
fell to a Sarlian sword.
Bulvyf pulled his clansman back
and with a mighty heave
the axe he carried on his back
did the enemy cleave
But another fell by arrow shaft,
another still by spear
But on the seventeen Savages fought
nothing did they fear.
Horses screamed and soldiers wailed
for ’twas a bloody fight
But on both sides, both host and few
fought on with all their might.
The Sarlians fell unto the earth
but so did Savage few
and after many minutes passed
there were only two
Bulvyf and his standard bearer
stood back to back with pride
and Bulvy called out, “If I die,
It will have been with pride,
“For Sarlian soldiers lay around
cast off by Savage blade,
and though my men have all gone on,
a message I have made!
The Sarlian dead are piled high,
their wounds are fierce and deep,
and never will their living soldiers rest,
for we will haunt their sleep!
And when ever the horn does sound
they’ll feel a terrible fright,
for Sarlian men will continue to fall
as long as I can fight!”
The standard bearer waved the banner
of the Boar so high,
that all the host, and men of Nod
could see it in the sky.
With with a shout of purest rage,
Bulvyf he did strike,
with axe and sword, the King of Savages
broke through shield and pike.
Swords they could not scratch him,
shields they could not stand,
and Sarlian fell before his might
a weapon in each hand.
And then an arrow found his arm,
But Bulvyf he fought on,
a spear head pierced his armored shoulder,
Bulvyf he fought on.
A rider on a horse did come forth
spear low to run Bulvyf through
But the Standard bear swung,
from horse the rider flew!
But the man paid dearly
to save his Savage king,
and spear and sword reached out to slay,
he fell within the ring.
The Savage banner fell to earth
within the Sarlian ring
But Bulvyf, King of the Savage Horde
continued to fight and sing.
He cut into their lines with skill,
splitting them kill by kill,
until he stood above them all
atop a single hill
“Come fight me if you dare,”
Shouted Savage king,
“I will meet you one by one,
and death is all I bring!”
Then Teacher John let out a shout
from his place afar,
“Let not this Savage hero fall!”
and he, he led the charge.
The men of Nod ran out to fight,
spurred on by Savage force,
and farmer, butcher, baker, teacher,
slew soldiers and o’er turned horse
The men of Nod and host of Sarl
met in the valley long
and though the sounds of battle rung,
o’er all was Savage song.
On and on the Savage fought,
though war drums did they call,
but though the enemy came on
the Savage would not fall!
His wounds were fierce, his face was pained
But Bulvyf still gave fight
and the battle, it raged on
as day gave way to night
Fires lit the darkening sky
as trees and field they burned,
and those of Sarl grew angered still
for their strikes the Savage spurned.
Thus as the the numbered dead rose on
the hill around ran red,
For Bulvyf, the Savage king,
sent them to their final bed.
The men of Sarl knew that their prey
would not die with ease
but nor could they flee his wraith
or as traitors they would be siezed
The leader of the Sarlian host
continued in the fight,
calling forth his men to fight
into the darkening night
And on they fought, the men of Sarl
against the Men of Nod
and still the Savage king fell not
and still he wet the sod,
For those he fell were many
though many a wound he took,
and the counted slain went on,
bringing carrion beast and rook.
Then, with mighty force at hand,
the men of Nod broke through,
and Sarlian force split in twain
splintered by enemy two,
The leader of the Sarlian host
met Savage on the hill,
he said, “Though my life may end,
first you will I kill!”
Bulvyf laughed a mighty laugh,
and met they did at once,
Steel on steel rang out in battle song,
on weakness did they pounce.
They clashed as titans above the fray
as men of Nod pushed on,
and the Sarlian host fell back,
Turning, fleeing, done.
The Sarlian host gave up the fight,
fleeing from battle lost,
but Sarlian leader would not fall,
blindly on he fought.
So still did Bulvyf, Savage King,
combat the maddened man,
trading blows with tired arm,
his weapons still in hand.
Then in clash of steel and flesh
weapons were thrown free,
The Sarlian had cast away the tools
of the Savage for all to see.
He moved to slay the Savage king,
he would not stay his hand,
But Bulvyf was the Savage lord,
he would not leave this land!
The Savage struck with strength unheard,
the man of Sarl was hurt,
and thus his weapon fell away,
to clatter on the dirt.
Thus man and Savage met in battle,
fists beating on the foe,
and though Bulvyf was sorely hurt,
the Savage would not slow.
The man of Sarl moved in to strike,
making his last mistake,
for Bulvyf’s arms locked ‘round him firm,
his grip it would not break.
And with a mighty shout he took
the man off from the ground,
holding firm he would not give,
nor breath it could be found.
The man of Sarl, he fell at last,
to the brunt of Savage might,
and though many lay gone
those of Nod, they won the fight.
The men of Nod they cheered,
their home they had defended,
and though the price was steep
the battle it had ended.
Teacher John, he ran forth
to thank the Savage king,
and the victors embraced their kin,
songs of victory did they sing
But as Teacher John found the hill
no Savage did he find,
just a broken standard pole
’twas all was left behind.
The weeks would pass, the seasons changed
and thus the valley raised
into a place of legend
where the Savages were praised,
As mighty men of valor,
whose honor 'twas without fault
and the nineteen men that fell,
were placed in an honored vault.
And on the hill where Savage king,
stood strong against the foe,
perched a pole both high and strong,
to catch the wind’s pure blow.
And on the pole flew the flag
of a people proud and strong,
The Black Boar of the Savage clan,
and their honored battle song.
(2012)
A piece written for the "Savage Saga", a novel series in progress.
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