Riccardo's Tale

I greet you all and hope that you are well
Pray listen, I've a hero's tale to tell.
Please pardon my rough beginning, but I'm 
Sure when you've heard my tale, you'll feel your time 
Wasn't wasted. Death, so we have all been told
Our leveller is; rich, poor, fair young and old.
So all must fall before that reaper grim.
Not true, for I know one who battled him;
Dread Death, and yet did serve his noble land.
This is his tale, set down by mine own hand.

Some years ago from Pisa came a man
To study arms from mighty noble Jan.
Riccardo was this doughty squire's name,
Who learned well with lance and shield to train. 
Soon knighthood's accolade King Sigmund dealt,
And girded him with chain and spurs and belt.
Upon his vigil eve a vision came:
A shaft of light from heaven which became
Good saintly John of Malta who then bade
The awestruck squire to forge a hero's blade.
This sword he carried with him near and far
In war and peace beneath the Sable Star.
Renown he won because of his great might,
Riccardo's enemies quailed at the sight
Of that mighty knight. When the field he took,
By Jesu's wounds, those sturdy men, they shook!
And thus it was for many hard fought years,
Riccardo's blade; the font of widows tears.
He had a lion's heart, all would admit;
King Lloyd paid him an honor he saw fit
So blessed was he with all a lion's might,
A lion lord King Lloyd did make our knight

Till now, I've told you of Riccardo's sword
But once there was a blade we all adored.
In Ansteorra's youth, Orm came before
The Crown, a boon to beg. He proudly swore
To gift the king with a great ebon blade,
The bride price for a lovely royal maid. 
And so the sword that came from Red Orm's hand
Became the sign of justice in our land.
When came the time for our soveriegn to step down
And for another man to wear the crown
King Sigmund gave the sword to Orm and then
Asked that Lions give it to King Finn.
And thus was born our custom when the throne
Stands empty, chill as death and all alone,
The Lions hold the sword until the heir
Can claim the crown, and sit the royal chair. 
And so it's been all these long years, between
The glory of the reigns of kings and queens,
The Lions guard the sword that guards our land
Until it's placed into the royal hand. 

This tale now leaps ahead full nineteen years
Lest it grow long, and tire my listner's ears.
That Ansteorran ebon sward of state
Was stolen and the people's woe was great. 
By wretched thieves and brigands vile and low
Was Ansteorra dealt this tragic blow.
Some months did pass, the land without a sword
When sad news came about that mighty lord:
Bold Riccardo they said did live no more.
No longer would we hear his cry for war!
Sadness black as death filled the people's hearts;
Who could inspire this the land like this stalwart?
So well the list and war fields he did pace
Never could this great hero be replaced.
But from this shock and grief and offer came,
Riccardo's squire, good Cynric, bless his name,
Now held Riccardo's sword, that mighty blade
Which hero knight himself with skill had made.
To Sir Pendaran came he with the sword
In hand and offered it with passion'd word. 
To the Lions the sword he should then give;
Through them Riccardo's legend long would live.
Pendaran, he bethought a better use 
For that fine sword, to heal a great abuse.
Our Crown and kingdom then without a blade,
Yet here was one that was just as well made
And crafted by a hero's hand, by God!
Surely no one should think it very odd
Riccardo's sword should take the very place
Of that black blade whose plunder did disgrace
The great and noble land of the black star.
Then word flew fast and traveled near and far
To lions, peers and nobles everywhere
To ask for council, should our roy'lty bear
Riccardo's sword as now as their very own,
While They do sit upon the Lion Throne?
Sigmund, Inman, Thordis, Leon and Orm,
All the lions that then could be found, from
Megan, Mari, Thomas, Pepin, Willow,
Thorgaard and to the others word did go
And all of them then readily agreed:
Riccardo's blade would fill the kingdom's need.
Then to the king the lions brought the sword
And passed it round, all speaking mighty words,
All swearing that they brought a noble blade
Well worthy to become the sword of state. 
Good King Richard then saw the sword and knew,
Before Him lions held a blade most true.
Aloft the king then held the sword and told
His people there, that though that great and bold
Knight now was dead, he left behind a sword
Full worthy of His kingdom. People roared
Approval and the king proudly declared
He had his sword and now so did His heirs.

And that is how Riccardo's sword became
The Ansteorran sword of state. Of fame
There's none too great for St. John's favored knight
Who from the vault of heaven healed the blight
So sharply felt by one and all. Thus ends
My tale and shows unto you my good friends,
That even death can't stop a hero bold,
And now has Sir Riccardo's tale been told.