In THE HAND OF THE SORCERER, Prince Modareth reads a piece from Jobareth’s second book of poetry:
What bow has set me to this futile flight,
Has sent me arcing to your armored heart?
Dare I trace the journey of that dart
To some willful archer of the night,
Some jokester god who, laughing...
A short bit of song that the minstrel Guesare repeats to himself in THE SIGN OF THE ARROW:
Travelers all, we wear
the dust of yesterday.
The rain will fall at last,
and gently wash away
each fragment of the past,
the long road’s clinging clay.
Travelers all, we fare
yet upon our way.
A funeral...
In THE SHADOW OF ASAK, the bard Guesare sings a silly song about Donzalo to entertain a group of children:
Donzalo’s deeds are all the talk,
I hear he did wondrous things;
He took old Asak’s dogs for a walk
And clipped the Rupa’s wings!
Donzalo’s deeds are wise and just,
And widely sung by the...
The first is from THE SONG OF THE SWORD, a ‘courtly’ poem from the young diplomat Jobareth Nafal:
IN LOVE’S SERVICE
Though oft I wear Love’s livery,
No mistress of mine shall she be.
Of Love’s bonds I will be free
To sup on life and have my fill,
To take my pleasures where I will;
I’ll remain...