Here is the snippet I promised you:
The gleeman cringed in disgust as he entered the common room. It was a dark and dirty place with no more than a handful of patrons sitting here and there in little cliques of two or three. In the air was hung a thin veneer of smoke from tobacco and some other more poisonous drug. A well placed hop-step kept the gleeman on his feet as he stumbled over a sprawled body in the middle of the path. He fancied he saw a growing pool of blood
This den is no more a legitimate inn than I am a legitimate bard, the gleeman thought to himself as he took to the small corner stage. Once he had seated himself on the stool his back to the corner He looked about the room. Most of the patrons were gambling there were two toughs in the background duking it out, for coin no doubt. However, to his amazement, there were actually a few patrons here and there who looked up at his stage as though waiting for this lowly man to begin his tale or song. The thought of actually earning some coin galvanized him.
"Is there any particular tale you good folk are fond of? I confess I am having some trouble placing this crowd's tastes," The bard scanned the room hoping some one would give him a starting point for the nights improvosational performance. A on a bench near the door raised a hand.
"I would hear the Song of the Thief King,"
The gleeman hesitated for a moment to study the man. This was to no avail for the man's face was hidden deep in the folds of a blue-black cowl. Further preventing his exposure was the smoke that seemed to cling more thickly to the air around the man. Or perhaps that was only the gleeman's imagination. Without too obvious a delay the gleeman began his tale.
"Upon the shores of Geridan there was a man who said, 'I can,
Muster up a band of theives to command respect of each and every living
-man.'
For his cause he put aside the laws and gathered those who could correct his
-flaws,
In the south he found a man with a mouth who could convince the most uncouth,
and stubborn tough to halt his watch enough that even the most rough,
untrained theif could go behind his back to cause mischief and escape to
-their relief
Then the two north did roam until they found a lonely home where a man who
-plowed the loam
Told them stories of darker days when the rays of the sun reached not the
-land so far away
And he had wielded a blade with such ferocity that bade his enemies flee at
-the very sight of his brigade.
The three went eastward then where they found a foul old den and found
-therein traders of men
Slavers to whom these three alone brought swift doom and freed the prisoners
-from their room.
Among them was a lad who great untapped talent had who also joined their
-scheme so mad
And now the four and former slaves took up staves and ventured westward
-toward the waves
Of the mighty western sea from which our forefathers didst flee and that is
-where they met me.
For In that time I was a man of rumor and of rhyme who knew of the social
-circles which to climb.
And there the man ceased his search and began the training that would define
-the way he ran
His growing gang. It was I who sang the stories softly of feats that though
-false so truly rang
Within the hearts of all who stopped to hear and later did repeat them by
-their hearth.
After a year of lessons long in speech and sword, in rumor and song
The thief king rallied his band of men and said to them, 'march across the
-land.
Bother not the poor or ill and if caught abide the law's will.
These tennets set he to the men who went out for their plunder then.
The scheme seemed done and victory for the madman won.
But it was not to be for among his ranks a traitor had he.
Within the gang there was a spy a good little imperial eye who at once to
-his masters did fly.
And with the news of the man's great scheme they did cackle they did scream
-and let it seem
To him as though naught was amiss but of course this was nor more true than
-Almay's Kiss
Upon a mission very bold to steal a land from a noble cold it was afterwards
-I was told
The king of thieves had met his end to me those sad tidings did send a dark
-desire to ascend
The highest tower in the land and cast myself unto the ground where I would
-be found.
But as I pondered my own fate a messenger came to sate my sorrow and my
-tears abate.
A purpose I was given across the country I was driven singing this song to
-all that would listen
As you have heard each word is true but I leave that up to you until this
-legend is sung anew."
The gleeman finished his recitation and then left the stage as though he had no more energy to recite or sing or play that night. He walked past the astounded faces and the ceased gambling to ascend the stairs to his room. Before he could alight the first one however a hand caught his wrist. He turned and saw the hooded man.
"I thank you friend and await the day when I can talk to you more privately. Your knowledge is vast and I could use it well." the man said. The gleeman's eyes widdened these were the same words that had been spoken to him five years before when the Thief King had first approached him. Before he could reply the hooded man was gone and the gleeman realised he had slipped something into his hand. He looked at it. It was a ruby. Not very large but of excellent quality. It was a sign for a meeting place. A ruby meant the Setting Sun tavern in Westshore. The gleeman leapt up the stairs to find his traveling gear. The road was long but he would find a way to get there quickly. A small stone meant time was short.
~*.*.*~
I apologize for the brokenness of the bit of poetry in this snippet
Well until next post...LATER!
