As Ever Like the Sun & Moon at War

1- ☼☼ ☼☼

He wakens with a start when falls he from

the saddle that he's perch'd upon in sleep;

he leaps up to his feet and mounts again

reflexively before the thought occurs

to wonder how this ownership did come

to pass, for this fair stallion doth appear

to be the same of breed the bandits rode—

in fact he can recall the Leader's horse

possess'd a similarly pattern'd mane.

What happen'd in the night that brought him to             10

this point he finds himself upon the road?

His freedom once again is his t'enjoy,

but at what cost did this exchange occur?

His devil certainly put in its work

and kill'd Lieutenant as he had discuss'd

with Leader yesterday beneath the shade,

and so more blood doth stain his hands today

than yesterday, but what concerns him more

is what the Leader proposition'd t'ward

his devil during conversation then,            20

for did his devil take him up on that

and leave our Pilgrim for the vi'lent man?

A pang of guilt doth strike his heart at this

for he should not be feeling this relief

that washes over him upon the thought

the curse that's burden'd him may now be gone—

and lifted by an evil man no less—

and now his peace to find may well be reach'd.

He searches through the saddlebags and finds

a flask is tuck'd away inside a pouch;                30

uncapping it he tips it overhead

and washes mouth and throat with liquid warm.

It isn't much, but he should now be close

to reaching yet another town to buy

supplies of food and water to resume,

continuing his journey to the North.

Before he screws the cap in place and puts

the bottle back inside, he notices

a flick'ring movement t'ward which gaze is turn'd

and spots the silhouettes of bandits on               40

their horses, galloping with dastardly

intent, malicious in their hot pursuit

of what he can only can assume is him!

Our Pilgrim turns and spurs his horse to run;

the deal must have soured for this chase

to be th'result, unless the Leader's word

was less in worth than earlier he thought,

and thus his freedom was a transient

conclusion to their talk. Our Pilgrim rides