Arrow's Fall (41 page)

He lifted her from the couch to move to the bedroom.

“If I were to have one wish granted, that would be mine, too,” she replied, her cheek resting against the velvet of his tunic. “He told me once that it was his own dearest wish to see the two people he loved most find happiness with each other—”

She would have said more, but a familiar perfume wreathed around her, and she gasped.

“What’s wrong? Did you hurt something?” Dirk asked anxiously.

“There—on the bed—”

Lying on the coverlet, in the middle and heart-high, was a spray of the little flowers known as Maiden’s Hope. Dirk set her down on the bed and she picked it up with trembling hands.

“Did you put this here?” she asked in a voice that shook.

“No.”

“And no one else has been here since we left—” In hushed tones she continued: “When Kris gave me this ring, it was around a Midsummer bouquet of those flowers. I’d never smelled anything like them before—and he promised he’d find some for my wedding garland if he had to grow them himself—but I’ve never seen them anywhere around here—”

“There’s more to it than that, little bird,” Dirk said, taking the flowers from her and regarding them with wondering eyes. “This flower
only
blooms for the week before and after Midsummer. We’re well into fall. They can’t be grown in hothouses. People have tried. To find even one bloom, much less as many as this, would take a miracle. No human could do it.”

They looked from the flowers to each other—and slowly began to smile; smiles that, for the first time in weeks, had no underlying hint of sadness.

Dirk took her into his arms, with the flowers held between them. “We’ve had our wish—shall we give him his?”

She carefully reached behind her, and inserted the blossoms into the vase on her night stand.

“Yes,” she breathed, turning back to him, and beginning to touch him with her rapport even as she touched her lips to his, “I think we should.”

Songs of Valdemar

HER FATHER’S EYES

Lyrics:

Music: Kristoph Klover

(Setenay: Arrows of the Queen)

How tenuous the boundary between love and hate—

How easy to mistake the first, and learn the truth too late—

How hard to bear what brings to mind mistakes that we despise—

And when I look into her face, I see her father’s eyes.

He tried to steal away my throne—he tried to rule my life—

And I am not made to forgive, a cowed and coward wife!

My love became my enemy who sought his Queen’s demise—

And when I look into her face, I see her father’s eyes.

Poor child, we battled over her as two dogs with a bone—

I should not see his treachery in temper-tantrums thrown—

I should not see betrayal where there’s naught but childish lies—

But when I look into her face, I see her father’s eyes.

Now how am I to deal with this rebellion in my soul?

I cannot treat her fairly when my own heart is not whole.

I truly wish to love her—but I’m not so strong, nor wise—

For when I look into her face, I see her father’s eyes—

Only—her father’s eyes.

FIRST LOVE

Lyrics: Mercedes Lackey

Music: Frank Hayes

(Jadus: Arrows of the Queen)

Was it so long ago now that we met, you and I?

Both held fast in a passion that we could not deny?

If my hands gave you life, then your voice woke my heart—

From such simple beginnings, how such wonder may start!

Chorus:

Through my long, empty nights,

through my cold, lonely days,

How you comfort and cheer me,

delight and amaze—

And your soft silver voice could charm life into stone—

My sweet mistress of music, My Lady, my own.

With your sweet song to guide me you have taught me to care

How to open my soul to both love and despair

Though you’re wood and bright silver, and not warm flesh and bone

I think no one here doubts you’ve a soul of your own.

And I know my own journey will too soon reach its end—

I must leave you with one I am proud to call friend.

How she opened my life when she opened my door!

Give her comfort, my dear one, when I am no more.

IT WAS A DARK AND STORMY NIGHT

Lyrics: Mercedes Lackey

Music: Leslie Fish

(Talia: Arrows of the Queen)

It was a dark and stormy night—or so the Heralds say—

And lightning striking constantly transformed the night to day

The thunder roared the castle round—or thusly runs the tale—

And rising from the Northeast Tower there came a fearful wail.

It was no beast nor banshee that, the castle folk knew well,

Nor prisoner in agony, nor demon trapped by spell,

No ghost that moaned in penance, nor a soul in mortal fright—

Twas just the Countess “singing”—for she practiced every night.

The Countess was convinced that she should have been born a Bard

And thus she made the lives of those within her power hard.

For they must listen to her sing, and smile at what they heard,

And swear she had a golden voice that rivaled any bird.

The Countess was convinced that she had wedded ‘neath her state

And so the worst lot fell upon her meek and mild mate.

Not only must the Count each night endure her every song

But suffer silent her abuse, be blamed for every wrong.

It was a dark and stormy night—or so the Bards aver—

And so perhaps that was the reason why there was no stir

When suddenly the “music” ceased; so when dawn raised his head

Within the Tower servants found the Countess stiff and dead.

The Heralds came at once to judge if there had been foul play.

They questioned all most carefully to hear what they would say.

And one fact most astounding to them quickly came to light—

That every moment of the Count was vouched for on that night.

The castle folk by ones and twos came forward on their own

To swear the Count had never once that night been all alone.

So though the Tower had been locked tight, with two keys to the door,

One his, one hers; the Count of guilt was plain absolved for sure.

At length the Heralds then pronounced her death as “suicide.”

And all within the district voiced themselves quite satisified.

It was a verdict, after all, that none wished to refute—

Though no one could imagine why she’d try to eat her lute.

MUSINGS

Lyrics: Mercedes Lackey

Music: Mercedes Lackey

(Selenay: Arrows of the Queen)

How did you grow so wise, so young?

Tell me Herald, tell me.

How did you grow so wise, so young, Queen’s Own?

Where did you learn the words to say

That take my pain and guilt away

And give me strength again today

To sit upon my throne?

How could you be so brave, so young?

Tell me, Herald, tell me.

How could you be so brave, so young, Queen’s Own?

How do you overcome your fear?

To know my path was never clear

While knowing Death walks ever near

Would chill me to the bone.

How can you be so kind, so young?

Tell me, Herald, tell me.

How can you be so kind, so young, Queen’s Own?

To see the best, and not the worst—

To soothe an anger, pain, or thirst—

To always think of others first

And never self alone.

Where did you learn to love so young?

Tell me Herald, tell me.

Where did you learn to love so young, Queen’s Own?

How did you teach your heart to care—

To touch in ways I would not dare?

Oh, where did you find the courage? Where?

Ah, Herald—how you’ve grown!

PHILOSOPHY

Lyrics: Mercedes Lackey

Music: Kristoph Klover

(Skif: Arrows of the Queen)

What’s the use of living if you never learn to laugh?

Look at me, I grew up down among the riff and raff

But you won’t catch me glooming ‘round without a hint of smile

And when I have to do a thing, I do it right, with style!

Chorus;

‘Cause if you’re gonna be the one to take that tightrope walk,

And if you’re gonna be the one to make the gossips talk,

If it’s your job to be the one who always takes the chance,

And if you have to cross thin ice—then cross it in a dance!

Now take the time when I was “borrowing” a thing or two—

The owner of the house walked in—well, what was I to do?

I bowed and said, “Don’t stir yourself,” before he raised a shout,

“Thanks for your hospitality, I’ll find my own way out!”

I’d just come up a chimney, I was black from head to toe—

Climbed to the yard to find a watchman—wouldn’t you just know!

But in the dark he took me for a demon, I would bet,

‘Cause when I howled and went for him—I think he’s running yet!

Take my Companion—did you know I thought to steal her too?

This pretty horse out in the street, no owner in my view—

I grabbed her reins and hopped aboard, I thought I was home free,

Until I looked into her eyes—and now the joke’s on me!

‘Cause now I’ve got to be the one to take that tightrope walk

And now I’ve got to be the one who’ll make the gossips talk,

And it’s my job to be the one who always takes the chance—

But when I have to cross thin ice, I’ll cross it in a dance!

LAWS

Lyrics: Mercedes Lackey

Music: Leslie Fish

(Skif: Arrows of the Queen)

The Law of the Streetwise is “grab all you can

For there’s nothing that’s true—nothing lasts.”

The Law of the Dodger is “learn all the dirt—

The most pious of priests have their pasts.”

The Law of the Grifter is “cheat the fool first

Or the one who’ll be cheated is you.’*

But the Law of the Herald is “give all you can

For some day you will need a gift too.”

The Law of the Liar is “there is no truth

It is all shades of meaning and greed.”

The Law of the Hopeless is “never believe

For all faith is a hollowed-out reed.”

The Law of the Empty is “there’s nothing more,

Life is nothing but shadow and air.”

But the Law of the Herald is “Seek out and find.”

And the Law of the Heralds is “Care.”

The Law of the Hunted is “guard your own back,

For the enemy strikes from behind.”

The Law of the Greedy is “trust no one else,

Hide and hoard anything that you find.”

The Law of the Hater is “crush and destroy,”

And the Law of the Bigot is “kill.”

But the Law of the Herald is “faith, hope and trust,”

And the strength of the Herald is will.

All these Laws I have learned from the first to the last

From the ones who would teach me they’re true—

And full many the ones who taught anger and fear,

But the ones who taught hope—they were few.

And I ask myself, “Which is the Law I must take,

Fitting truth as a hand fits a glove?”

Then I chose, and I never looked back from that day,

For the Law of the Heralds is “Love.”

THE FACE WITHIN

Lyrics: Mercedes Lackey

Music: Kristoph Klover and Larry Warner