Five winters riding through muck and through mist Two fallen brethren we crossed off the list One in the hedges, one struck in the chest (Unavenged) We questioned each borough, demanded address Put boots to the doors of the cowards at rest Dragged out the lords to uncover the guest (Speak up) One drunken courtier broke under duress Spoke of a phantom who caused the distress Whispered of steel with a lethal caress (Go on) "Two blades," he muttered, his terror confessed "A gentleman smiling, impeccably dressed Struck down thy brethren and went on his quest" (Where to?) Years rode away, five mounts laid to rest Weary and bitter, by vengeance possessed We pushed through an alehouse to shelter our chest Cold rain on iron; no soul could have guessed There sat a lordling, alone and at rest Fine velvet collar and linen caressed Reading a parchment, by silence obsessed (Look there) We deemed him an easy and cowardly test A soft-spoken noble, a pompous young guest We kicked back his chair to demand his bequest (Move, boy) The eldest leaned close, with his dagger impressed: "Thou tak'st too much room for a fop on a bench, Surrender thy flagon, or bleed on the trench" He set down the goblet, completely unpressed Smoothed out his cuff with an icy finesse Looked at our weapons, surely ye jest Then whispered: "My dear chaps, thou hast misaddressed" Hark— I demand: behave, or be beheaded, First and only warning... be gracious I granted If ye dare, hence truly die— it shan't be regretted A wiseman knows To learn is to listen, there no costage to yield thy attention— Perfected the dual blade incision...naught to be braggen just a submission (Hold) The chamber went frozen The phrase made it clear That self-same caress that had cost us two years The lord in the hedges... the flash at the breast... God preserve us We provoked the behest -HARK-
