The Five [EDITING]

Part Four: Ranging

They are shadows in sunlight,
Cast by crimes past,
Forced by ropes, by axes, by fire.
They are unforgiven, yet forgiveness is unasked for,
Unwanted, though they want for nothing,
Unsafe, for tis death itself they've cheated.

They are shadows in sunlight,
Cast by cloaks as dark as night,
Worn as armor, as sword, as shield.
They are dishonoured, yet with honour they wear it,
Disowned, though the cloak itself had adopted them,
Disavowed, though the cloak is their vow.

They are shadows themselves,
Ranging across the lands
Ruling grass and horse and midnight.
They are all that we are not and wish not to be,
They are all that we fear, yet it is we whom loosed them,
They are what we cast aside, yet our envy follows them
As they cast their shadows in the sunlight.

View of the Outsider - by Barybold Quidd
- Lord of Tark under King Tangri Aign Kaide &
previous captive of the Rangers in the 12th year