A Ballad of Samurai

The Scheme of Naegi

Read in Landscape!!!

And both the man and boy did go in silence rode the pair
As ones who tried to challenge fate and lost their fabled dare.
Yet on they went the winding road now knowing fate their give
Was sure by lies and fiendish schemes and bare ambition bid.

And long the boy did think on fate now knowing well this fact
That master sure could win their place if given chance to act
In war and prove to rest of clan that thing their told was lie
That man and boy deserve to live and clannish halls abide.

He knew not skill that man did own in days before his time
When man was whole and strong and young, what fury boy would find
In form or skill with ancient blade, yet boy did know this well
That still in master's mind and body dreadful talent dwells.

If one would say no other lost yet more in strength and skill
That one must also say no other lost so much and still
Could claim the title master sword nor counter other's blade
Though blade's enforced by years of craft and fearsome training made.

And though the path of warrior clan that trained with famous swords
That smiths of Nihon's ancient realm alone for them did forge
Did bid the boy accept his fate and take what clan decreed
To bend his will to warring law and words of noble's heed

Yet still his mind is bent on siege of which they have no part
Of way to join the warring mass and prove in both their hearts
A valor lies that bids them go and win for selves reprieve
From exile gave by fiendish foe that both their heart's do grieve.

So long his mind does turn on plan though none does boy yet find
Nor thinks of any way yet give to ease their present bind
Of exile far from ancient home that forbears long did keep
Along with honor gave by such that both the pair did seek.

Though great and hard on any task his thoughts do strive to know
Yet all are stricken far from path and none could help their goal.
His sire the current warring king who sat in ancient halls
As head of all his warring clan in fortress great that sprawls

Would grant no favor down to boy for man had spoke his will
That all his day's yet far from home the boy would live in still.
And just to join the siege without a word would futile prove
To watch and spy and guard his ranks their foe is now behooved

To keep the pair from glory won by any warring act
Securing station gained by lies, his present course and tact.
And even if the pair could join, abet by fog of war
Yet still no one would know their acts or courage pair had bore.

So after mind yet many paths had trod and met their end
That neither man or boy could go for clan their path had fend
To join the siege and gain for selves reprieve from current plight
By taking arms and working well to aid their kin in fight

Did boy yet cast his mind to days yet far in past now laid
Although his sire such an act to child express forbade
Did still he wander back through time to former days yet past
Before the boy was cast from halls as clannish council ask.

Of comfort found with kin inside that comely whittled place
That all the wealth and fairer things of Nihon's holds did grace.
Yet comfort found by act was short as soon to darker time
The boy's own mem'ry turns at last and many sorrow's finds.

How child was bid to go from halls and live yet far from kin
And down to poorest 'mongst the poor was bid to current live.
Those days when first at master's side he came and doubt was made
That any skill the boy could forge or any strength yet claim.

How child had ran from home in cover gave by night
And all the many things he saw, the great awful sights...

Then sudden eyes of boy did spring and mouth did widely gape
For child had found a path to trod that altered both their fate's.
Now quick he bid his master stop and pull to side of road
That both at resting place could set and plan he made be goad.