The Ulangar: Book II, Part 4

This continues Book II of the epic I wrote between 1991 and 1996.

Eventually Lamaraz discovered himself out on brown terrain

which save for a lone building there was nothing

The sky was black with the twinkling of stars

and the rising moon with its pools of blue water

and several continents including one that he knew

He was on Siglar no longer now Volx the prison moon

The vessel which housed the white room began to shake

and fire erupted from the tail of its serpent form

which slithered through the rocks

and from the flames

which scorched the lunar landscape

came a raspy rhythm pounding like forty blacksmiths

or the waves crashing against a cliff

The bonds having been removed from Lamaraz

the Gastrov hustled into the snake and

the no-man was left with fellow convicts

More humans emerged from the shadows

to greet the new arrivals

One man strong in years and body

and green eyes bright

came to Lamaraz and over looked him

with the eye of a trained professional

Lamaraz questioned him about the surroundings

and what was to be in this barren wasteland

and the old man said nothing

Lamaraz attempted to get an answer

from him by force

and the agéd man said `I am Farfein of Glaztêal

Defender of my people and liberator of the Red Lizards

You shall receive no reply from me

attack me if you must'

and he drew his broad steel

and Lamaraz spoke `USEROD FEBASYED'¹

which unsheathed Daklov from his hiding place

and the duel began

A circle formed about the two

as kites swarm about the carrion

of heroes and gods long dead from battle

The pair leapt and stabbed and parried in their circular dance

Lamaraz dodged and swept his mighty blade

always looking for chinks in defense

and patterns in the other's dance

One was discovered and Lamaraz stopped his style

to smite the man upon his nape

but the man having been prepared for the no-man's swing

blocked it with his sword and turned and kicked

knocking air from the no-man and breaking ribs

Lamaraz was down spitting his fluids

and the man removed Lamaraz's head and spoke such things

`Shame that you have exposed yourself

for steel can be as lethal as magic my son

You should have asked for the Fate's favor

to help in your struggle but you also needed

Experience is never replaced by luck

for too much luck sprouts false courage

which shortens life's brief spark

Farewell fine warrior

may Tuoni in Kalevala be kind to you'

These things having been spoken Lamaraz's soul

descended into the depths of the mind

Footnotes

1. Translated from Dakish as, "I summon the steel."