It happened late that summer when the prince appeared in town
acting under orders to seek men of great renown
he found the guild and made his mission clear to everyone
with his words, a party in his honour soon begun
The mercenary’s guild was full of laughter and delight
the prince's new friends bought him drinks and drank into the night
they quickly knew exactly who the prince was looking for
and told him all about the young man while they drank some more
The prince and all his royal guards were tentative at first
but soon enjoyed a little more than what would quench their thirst
rarely was a mercenary scouted by the crown
the man he hired would be the pride of everyone in town
After he’d been forced to drink until the sun came up
the prince recalled the task at hand and threw away his cup
as he tried to sober up he heard the squeaky door
then some heavy footsteps echoing across the floor
the hero came to trade a heavy monster hide for gold
but when he saw the prince’s crown, the hero’s blood ran cold
the elf who walked behind him frowned but let the scene play out
remaining silent while the guild began to sing and shout
They all announced the hero had arrived with pride and joy
and then the prince could see the man he’d gone there to employ
he walked toward the hero, then his head began to pound
in a flash the hero had just pinned him to the ground
Half the guild was laughing while the other half was scared
what the hero did was something no one would have dared
the half-drunk prince then heard the hero whisper in his ear
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“choose your next words carefully or you might disappear”
The leader of the guild was drunk and laughing at the scene
“let him go boy, he’s the nicest prince there’s ever been”
the hero stood up carefully and took a few steps back
unapologetic for his unprovoked attack
The prince’s guards were all too drunk or slow to see a thing
but the words the leader spoke had settled everything
the prince was too embarrassed to start any kind of fight
the fall had helped him sober up and helped confirm his plight
“Your display of strength is one I really must commend
please accept my formal invitation, my young friend
our kingdom is in dire need of brave warriors like you
as a chosen hero, there is much good you can do”
The hero was conflicted, for the prince’s words were true
going with him would be the heroic thing to do
but he had turned a queen’s request for service down before
freedom was the first and foremost thing that he’d fight for
“If I do become your hero, will I still be free
if I fight your wars for you, will you imprison me”
the prince was somewhat understanding of the young man’s fear
patiently he did his best to make his message clear
“Should you be found qualified, and we both know you will
you would be apprenticed to a knight to hone your skill
once you’ve earned a title of your own, you’ll be knight
free to live your life in peace or take up arms and fight”
His wife who stood behind him sighed and quickly understood
she knew that he would be a hero if he only could
everybody in the guild intently listened in
the hero looked back to his wife then dropped the monster skin
“I was born to be a hero, that is my own fate
but if I’m to be your knight, then let’s get one thing straight
I can see that you’re a prince by how you wear that crown
do you have a sister though, and is she in this town”
The guild hall was astounded at the question they just heard
the prince could only shake his head at something so absurd
whispers had begun to stir the building’s awkward air
did he mean to claim the throne by marriage or an heir
“I misunderstood your nature, but I’ll spare your life
how could you voice such a crude demand beside your wife
you would take a princess as your pay for work you’ve done
could a man with such a lack of honour save someone”
The hero stared suspiciously and asked the prince again
“do you have a sister or are all your siblings men”
“your demand for royalty is too hard to believe”
“trust me, that’s not why I’m asking, tell me now or leave”
The air around the irritated hero filled with smoke
it was clear his question wasn’t meant to be a joke
then the elven hunter stepped between the men and sighed
“answer this fool’s question, or else find a place to hide”
“No, I don’t have any sisters, I’m the middle son”
though the prince was weak he still was much too proud to run
suddenly the hero smiled and shook the prince’s hand
“we have a deal, I’ll lend my strength to help defend this land”