547 and 548 (Ralquez: the return's approach)

The courtyard swelled with courtiers and tells,

each listened to the news that morning held;

for Zlyr had rung the castle’s signal bells

before Tolno had, Twilight, fully felled:

“I saw, but hours ago, our king disposed

by one whose hands were already bloodstained.

He will be here again, vainly disposed

to take his place—in purest spirits feigned.

Fear not! I will not hearken to his lies!”

And now the dragon’s wing-beats rent the air,

as he of whom Zlyr spoke besmirched the skies

making the lie not lesser, but more fair.

So ushered in this age’s sundering:

“’tis Wrenogal—’tis he that killed the king!”

~~~

The Wren descended towards that sour scene

into the snake nest’s fangs—ablaze with ire,

into the home he’d loved, and had not seen

since when Zlyr was his friend, and not a liar.

And in a vision did his vision go,

and on the balcony above the yard

he saw four loved ones there, and not the foe:

Naerendal, Taladen, and Beyrg the bard,

and Melody before them spoke his name,

but in Zlyr’s voice his cousin’s outcry came:

“arm every bow and all the ballistae!

Do not allow this viper to go free!”

The vision melted, as did every sound,

as every soldier fired his every round.