#29d The Ballad of Lord Voltaire: Part III
PART III - IN THE HALL OF THE BLISTERSKIN
Foolish Voltaire’s evils three.
His artless evils three:
He swelled the ranks of the Raptured Court,
Provoked the wrath of a Khornate Lord,
And their course did not foresee!
Archduke Sawl Gizzardspittle of the Blisterskin
Was seated on his glorious throne.
He was dreaming of the days when his court was great
And his knights were of wide renown.
It was many years now since the Paladin
Of the Order of the Blood Drenched Rose
Had cast him down in a mighty duel
And his foible thus exposed.
Then his musings were cut short when a courtier approached
And petitioned for his lordship's grace.
"I present," he said, "some noble knights
Who have come to seek your face."
Into Sawl's hall strode the bold chevaliers
In armour gleaming red as blood.
Upon their shields and their surcoats black
Each displayed a sanguine bud.
Gizzardspittle leaped from his throne as they approached.
"I know this heraldry!" he cried.
"For these are Knights of the Blood Drenched Rose
Who once overthrew my pride!"
Lord Voltaire and his knights knelt in chivalrous respect
At the foot of Sawl's charnel throne.
(Though the Blisterskin believed it was carved of gilded wood,
They saw that it was offal and bone.)
When the mad Archduke perceived that the knights approached in peace
It greatly soothed his querulous face.
"We are honoured," he declared, "to receive into our hall
"These warriors of chivalrous grace!"
And so were Lord Voltaire and his retinue of knights
Accepted by the Blisterskin court.
They were feasted through the night and regaled with tales
Of the battles Archduke Sawl had fought.
When pale morning dawned, their abhorrent host arose
And declared, "We have feasted well!
But the hour has now come for all honour to be served:
Mortal combat shall my shame dispel!"
But Lord Voltaire had devised a cunning scheme and said to Sawl,
"Would you not prefer to fight the Paladin?
For I know where he now dwells; he is called the False Messiah,
And I'll willingly bring you to him."
So Archduke Sawl Gizzardspittle of the Blisterskin
Descended from his glorious throne.
For he dreamt the day was nigh when his court be great again
And his knights be of wide renown.
Foolish Voltaire’s evils three.
His artless evils three:
He swelled the ranks of the Raptured Court,
Provoked the wrath of a Khornate Lord,
And their course did not foresee!
EPILOGUE - TIDINGS TO BARFUNWELTZ
Comments
Post a Comment