Tales of Lyonesse II (Lore)

Segurant and the Pit of Lyonesse

From tower high in Lyonesse, he kept his watch alone, Where forests deep in darkness lie, and winds like trumpets moan. One night beneath a pale moon’s light, a cry broke through the air, Half a roar and half a wail, of grief and of despair.

Sing, O sing of Segurant, Knight of the dragon dread, He rides where none dare follow, Where only saints have tread.

Again it came on another eve, with smoke that trailed the skies, A dragon’s breath, or spirit’s curse, in dreadful, mournful cries. He rode to where the black smoke curled, and found the gaping pit, And from its depths came voices strange, a weeping infinite.

Sing, O sing of Segurant, Knight of the dragon dread, He hunts through smoke and shadow, Where grieving voices led.

He told the hall of Arthur’s court, he spoke of what he’d found, Of smoke and moan, of shadowed depth, and cries beneath the ground. Then Merlin rose and warned him straight: “This is no beast of bone, But shadow vast, that if unbound, may swallow flesh and stone.”

Sing, O sing of Segurant, Knight of the dragon dread, He swore to chase it downward, Though all the court turned head.

So forth he rode with company, into the forest’s gloom, And there he found the yawning pit, wide as a giant’s tomb. Alone he dared descend its depths, alone he sought the sound, And thrice his horn rang through the dark, before the earth fell down.

Sing, O sing of Segurant, Knight of the dragon dread, He blows his horn in darkness, And stones fall on his head.

The cliffs gave way, the stones poured in, the echoes rolled like thunder, The path was sealed, the knight was lost, to shadow’s endless hunger. Some say he hunts the dragon still, where endless caverns wind, Some say the pit devoured him whole, with nothing left behind.

Sing, O sing of Segurant, Knight of the dragon dread, He hunts the beast forever, Though some declare him dead.

A Letter Found in Lyonesse

Brother Thomasin,

I writ ye quick, for I found marvels here no man shuld pass by. In them black woods I seen a queer plant, thorn’d and twisted, bleedin sap like gold, warm as flesh. When I broke a branch the juice run on me hand, and I swear I heard a voice, soft like a chapel song, then another, low and thick, like a belly growlin afore a feast.

An there be stones too, black and carved with holy words, glowin yet like altar candles. I took three, for priests will pay good coin, even if they call ‘em cursed. Fools! They hum like church bells, and I feel strong as a knight bearin ‘em.

Since then I dream of tables groanin with meat and pies, fish fat as hogs, bread white as snow. I see us both sittin there, eatin till we near burst, laughin like lords. By Oroael’s bones, brother, I woke with my mouth waterin.

I tell ye true, Thomasin, this land is rich. I’ll go deeper yet, to the pit where smoke rises. There be more wonders hid below, gold enough for us both, food enough for all our kin. When I bring it back, none shall hunger in Kerys again. Pray for me if ye like, but I think the Divine hand guides me now.

Yr brother, Alain