This song was started some years ago, and forgotten, until I found a fragment of it on paper tonight and at last finished the tale I began. It still has no tune, but it will come. I’d consider this an early draft, despite the length in years it has taken to write it. There’s a shade of “The Cardinal Ordained” here as well, this predates even that piece.
Your father is gone, lost to the night
But of noble blood, it is true, I was born
and I go to defend our home and our land
and avenge my beloved, before God now sworn.
Deep from the box she lifted the thing
rough cloth fell way from its glaring shine.
This was my father’s own sword, she said softly,
our great treasure still, young Renardyne.
I have saved it in here for many a year
For iron so cold was your father’s one bane
It was all that I brought from my other life,
To men from that life it shall cause bitter pain.
She had followed my father by star and by moon
Over the great green hill
They had loved well all their days,
And if not for those curs, Love would have still.
Reynardyne, son, they will hunt you forever,
So go to the green castle deep in the wood.
For all of my days, I swear to protect you
I have kept them all from us as long as I could.
Now you take your sisters, you wrap them tight;
answer no sound at the the door – not a one
burn ye no fire, nor candle for light
Until I or the time of this fighting is done.
If I do not return within two days time,
all three of ye go to the great church to pray.
And while you are safe within its stony walls,
light a candle for each of the men I shall slay.
She had followed my father by star and by moon
Over the great green hill
They had loved well all their days,
And if not for those curs, Love would have still.
She strapped that great weapon upon her back
Over my father’s clothes she had put on
She tied back her hair and kissed us each fiercely,
as she swept into the wood as swiftly as dawn.
We hid for two days then fled to the church.
A monk knew my father and so took us in.
Dozens of candles were lit for her soul
to atone for the murders, though they claimed it no sin.
On the fourth day at Vespers she came through the song
Bloodied and weak, she fell through the door.
All of the herbs and the candles and Aves
could not bring back the man who she lived for.
She had followed my father by star and by moon
Over the great green hill
They had loved well all their days,
And if not for those curs, Love would have still.
Light me more candles, o friar, she begged,
I slew them like cattle beset with a plague
I did not spare a one when I came upon them.
I hunted them down over valley and craig.
Some call him a rake, and some call him sly.
Few know of the ruby-lipped maiden, once queen
who tamed the wise fox with her beauty and love,
my mother, the lady of bold Renardyne.
She had followed my father by star and by moon
Over the great green hill
They had loved well all their days,
And if not for those curs, Love would have still.