On his quest to find the man, the prince had travelled far

though his first impression of the hero was bizarre

still he knew the kingdom needed warriors for knights

so he’d have to settle for a loyal dog that bites

Once the dust had settled on his meeting at the guild

and the prince was calmer, having almost just been killed

everybody gathered in the square to celebrate

the hero quickly packed his things and hurried to his fate

The hero and his wife were given horses of their own

and started on their way to meet the king upon his throne

the anxious prince hardly guess at how he might behave

for weeks he bored the hero with the lectures that he gave

“Soon you’ll see a castle for the first time in your life

please enjoy it quietly and act more like your wife

for a man like you it might seem too good to be true

it’s a rare experience for such a brute as you

When you meet the king there’s certain rules for how to act

though you may be new to this, please try and show some tact

the first time that you meet a king, you may be shy or scared

the king is quite intimidating, so please be prepared”

The hero smiled and nodded though is face was hard as stone

“yes, it’s true, I’ve never seen a castle, king, or throne”

the journey through the kingdom to the capital was long

but the prince’s lectures left no time to sing a song

Once or twice the party was accosted on the road

the hero quickly acted though, and they were never slowed

bandits who attacked them were all wiped out in a flash

and if they tried to take the elf, they turned to piles of ash

The prince’s guards were terrified of how the hero fought

with his magic he could slaughter foes with just a thought

the prince was just as scared but knew his duty to the land

and knew they must rely on him to gain the upper hand

The prince’s half a dozen guards, the hero and his bride

continued on their journey through the kingdom’s countryside

fall was setting in as their adventure neared its end

the hero caught a glimpse of all the people he’d defend

Often when they passed a group of farmers they would stop

the humble subjects loved to share a sample of their crop

harvest time was festive in the kingdom every year

and rumours quickly spread about the hero who’d appear

The prince was weak to invitations, weaker still to ale

whatever he was offered he would drink it without fail

the farmers’ parties made the hero restless and annoyed

the company of farmers wasn’t something he enjoyed

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

The fourth time they were stopped to join a festival to drink

the prince’s antics brought the hero’s patience to the brink

the hero picked the prince up and then put him on a horse

and told his guards to try and keep the drunken fool on course

At a quicker pace, the castle soon came into view

the prince made sure the hero knew exactly what to do

the hero’s wife was brought to a relaxing local inn

for soon the hero’s meeting with the sovereign would begin

He walked into the royal hall and just as he was shown

the hero knelt before the king relaxing on his throne

“I see my son has taught you the decorum of the court

you seem quite well mannered for a mercenary sort”

“Let me now assure you, I’m no simple sword fire hire

no one in this land can match my swordsmanship or fire”

the king and all the nobles were surprised by what they heard

the prince however, knew the hero meant his every word

“Well then, bring our finest knight to test this cocky boy

give them both a sword, and let them fight as they enjoy”

a noble knight in armour thusly came as he was called

the brash young man received a sword with which he was enthralled

He waved the sword around and felt it’s weight within his hand

he’d grown used to blades of flames, but he could understand

there was something satisfying in the cold, hard steel

as the knight attacked, he loved the way it made him feel

Without his magic he was strong, but so too was the knight

sparks and chunks of metal flew intensely through the fight

no one in the hall could look away, though some grew faint

they fought each other desperately while showing no restraint

At last the hero’s stamina proved greater than his foe’s

who dropped his sword and bowed to bring the battle to a close

the hero looked around with pride but something wasn’t right

the nobles and the knights all looked upon the man with fright

“He fights just like a pirate, but he’s stronger than our best”

“perhaps our knight is sick, or tired, perhaps he needs some rest”

“how did such a coward with no honour earn such fame”

“the prince himself invited him, we cannot hide our shame”

The hero’s demonstration was impressive but surreal

the way he swung his sword had caused a terrible ordeal

“even for a mercenary, there is no mistake

who can tell how many lives that pirate’s sword could take”

The prince had only seen his magic on the journey there

but with a sword he fought less like a swordsman than a bear

every time he cut or stabbed it wreaked of piracy

with tricks and feints his every move was crude and cowardly

The prince was sure his father wouldn’t even hesitate

in the kingdom, death could be a pirates only fate

as the hero started to grow wary of them all

everyone was silenced by the king who stood up tall

“Do you plan to serve my kingdom with the skill you’ve shown”

the king had no expression but his voice was harsh in tone

“yes, your highness, this is but a fraction of my skill

with my magic, there’s no man or dragon I can’t kill”

The king then grinned as if he’d found the cure for all that ails

“all that’s left then is to hammer out the fine details

find this man a suitable instructor in the sword

he passed the test, so education shall be his reward”

The prince was shocked at what his father ordered them to do

“are you sure you want a pirate serving under you”

it was clear the nobles all agreed, but not the king

“shut your mouth boy, you don’t understand a single thing”

With the king’s decree the situation was resolved

the royal stance was very clear to everyone involved

“maybe he’s a little rough around the edges, sure

but let it be well known that this young fighter’s heart is pure”

The king was resolute and no one there could dare protest

and so the hero, called a pirate, was an honoured guest

that very night a banquet was arranged to celebrate

the kingdom’s newest hero had an image to create

He went along with all the talk with nobles and their knights

before the food was served he was in everybody’s sights

other candidates were there as summoned by the king

but next to such a spectacle, they didn’t mean a thing

The hero’s partner wore a hood to hide her pointed ears

elves had grown uncommon in the kingdom through the years

quietly she joined him in the banquet hall to dine

and couldn’t help but notice, all her husband had was wine

Rumours of the hero didn’t slow throughout the night

the hero simply smiled and drank until the morning light

he laughed at every joke he heard, and smiled with every toast

taking every chance he could to tell his tales and boast

Suspicious glares began to ease but still the rumours flew

it didn’t matter to the king though, whether they were true

the pirate and the girl with golden eyes were known to all

it wasn’t til the morning when they left the banquet hall

“The nobles in this kingdom sure do like to drink and talk”

the hero mentioned to his wife as they began to walk

she gently smiled and shook her head then held the hero’s hand

“a hero's heart is something they could never understand”