Santharian Development

The Thief's Trial

Now rise the sun on prison scum,
and ye behold this thief.
Who thru the night all pity-like
plead thus unto his king:
"My life ye spare, for wrongs I've done
not for my sake nor good;
But for my ailing friends I've sought
this cursing men call food.
And lo, I'd but have kept my paths,
and not have gone astray,
Had not the guards and keepers-of-law
called out my name that day.
And follow certainly I must,
lest had they found my den;
'Twas not a case of wanderlust
that put me in thy pen.
Now see my folly, hear my cry
And judge well for my tears
That my good friends need not to die
After only these few years."

Then still the court and silence fell
The words considered he
Who oversees his land and still
Unto his people king.
"Tonight a-prison shall ye rest,
Remaining there the day.
And on the morrow, acid test
Your loyalties display.
For child mine has streetward moved
And at the inn she'll sleep
Now bid unto you, ere you've proved
In safety she ye'll keep."
Now silence falling once again,
Broken by moving chains.
Unto his rest he went to keep,
And fear the coming day.

Now rise the sun, as once I've said
Upon this lowly thief;
And lo he rises to his fate
And to his promise keep.
The day now passes, hot and dry
The thief his charge well keeps;
And now the darkness coming nigh
And monarch's child sleeps.
Still at the inn our hero stands
He watches at her door,
And keeps the outer walls as well
His promise keeps, no more.
Then in the night, a wail arise
From in the darkened room
This hero unto charge now flies,
And sees not but his doom.
The moon reveals unto this thief
Still to his master slave
That all his efforts turn to grief
And lead him to his grave.

No greater effort could he give,
No more could he exert
To ascertain that she would live,
Returning home unhurt.
But now he kneels beside her bed,
Her fate to soon be known
To pine for one that now is dead
Thus coming soon his own.
And rises now the morrow's sun,
This thief back in his cell.
The king's tears dry, and now he comes
To give the sentence fell.
Need more be said? There rolls the head
Of this misfortuned thief.
Who gave his best, but now is dead
For causing royal grief.
Too long have I now taken
To tell you of this thing,
Yet we know that he'll find justice
In the courts of a greater King.

Edited by: Aueniteri at: 12/9/04 23:19

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