If no joy by dawning, if no dancing glory felt
Hope is gone now, shattered, lost, like first snow’s fading melt.
Return you to the palace and prepare you for the end
For mortal heart has withered, and Faerie has no friend.
Hero’s ways he now must learn, of strength and sword and will
Bring to the fore what lay within, and both will pay the cost;
For Rainbow’s Daughter teaches, the Prophecy to fulfill
And though she knows it not, her heart is forever lost.
Across the sky and sea, wisdom he shall seek
That which he sought shall he refuse
And in rejecting wisdom gains he strength;
With one companion he sets out; another he must win
To brave the perils still to come and find his way within.
Within find danger, maybe doom
And then the saga’s done;
But safely pass where perils loom
And half the quest is run.
Wasteland to be crossed remains
Where only walk the dead
If the other side he attains
Follow where he’s led.
Army faces army
Fifty thousand strong
Both of Faerie, neither yielding
The battle will be long.
Forward always be the path
To city, once of Emerald, gray
Win you through the wizard’s wrath
To face your judgment day.
With him then the Rainbow’s Daughter
Sees love where once was friend;
But win or lose, your favorite child
Shall come home not again.
Now he comes to the end, few his friends, alone
Held by words and chains before the Warlock’s throne.
Sorely wounded shall he be, and then his fate be known;
If struck through the heart and silent, unable he to call
Then Ozma’s power sealed forever and darkness shall rule all;
Bathed in his heart’s blood but still with voice
Ozma’s name he calls;
Her power lifts him up, burns his soul away
But in those final moments he may win the day.
Patron Page
to the publication of Polychrome:
Wanda Beers: For Xander and Maddox - May your imaginations take you over the rainbow!
Ron Critchfield
Raja Thiagarajan: with thanks to Julie, and to Jason--who may enjoy it when he’s older.
David Churn
Paul (Drak Bibliophile) Howard
Bill Ryan: Wherever, whenever and however you write the result is always the same. Magnificent!
Rich Pieri
Thomas Talley: Very good book!
Chris: Keep writing!
Kevin Reid
Rob Masters
Chris Baumgartner
Terry Austin, God King of Trolls
Sean Haley: If it ain’t broke, I can fix that.
Sue Fisher
Caden, Ethan, & Isaac Osborne
Rob Hampson
Other Books by Ryk E. Spoor:
Atlantaea Universe:
Digital Knight (2003)
Phoenix Rising (2012)
Paradigms Lost (2014)
Phoenix in Shadow (May 2015)
Phoenix Ascendant (date not set)
Boundary Universe (with Eric Flint):
Boundary (2006)
Threshold (2010)
Portal (2013)
Castaway Planet (February 2015)
Castaway Odyssey (date not set)
Arenaverse:
Grand Central Arena (2010)
Spheres of Influence (2013)
Challenges of the Deeps (date not set)
Other:
Diamonds Are Forever (with Eric Flint; part of the anthology Mountain Magic, 2004)