The Sacrifice

The Huntress returns when she is most needed, foiling the forces of darkness.

It's summer and the darkness cooks.

It's midnight and the full moon looks

Down at the ring of stones on the forest floor,

That link this world to the Otherworld's door.

Shadows flit between the standing stones,

Bone flutes utter ululating tones,

A hooded figure wields a bright steel knife,

That it will use to take a maiden's life.

Great magics require that blood be spilled,

So that demonic appetites may be fulfilled,

The lives of innocents must be fed to the damned,

To harness powers of evil that lurk in the land.

A dazed maid is led to the altar

By a dark priest hauling on her halter.

She is laid upon the cold, hard stone,

The shadow priests begin to chant and drone.

The priest raises the glittering blade,

As the moon's light illuminates the glade.

He pauses with the blade held high,

To scream a curse into the midnight sky.

But as the dagger plunges towards the maiden's breast,

A feathered shaft slashes through his chest,

A three-foot barb fired from the night,

By a warrior woman who fights for The Light.

More shafts whip from the trees,

Dropping shadow priests down to their knees,

Before The Huntress steps into the ring,

Her last arrow nocked to her string.

The Dark Ones close in for the kill,

Underestimating the strength of her will.

She raises her bow and aims it high,

Driving her last shaft through the leader's eye.

Tossing her bow out into the dark,

She draws her sword and carves a hissing arc.

She whirls, and dances, and twists, and glides,

While her blade flickers, and stabs, and steals more lives.

The bodies pile up at her feet,

Until the forces of evil go down to defeat.

When all of the Dark Ones are bloody and dead,

The Huntress lops off the High Priest's head.

As she approaches the altar stone,

She recognizes the maiden as one of her own,

Then raises her gently to her feet,

Consoling her with words both soft and sweet.

As The Huntress takes the maiden on her way,

To find a safe place where she can stay,

She assures her that those who seek souls to purloin,

Will always be paid out in their own coin.

© 2017 The Iron Horseman

Author's Note

Another Huntress adventure.

Reviews

[A. Kim Spradling]

Wow! All I can say... well, it's not all I can say as you well know, but.... wow.... I like this one even better than the first one. The Huntress is like a Jedi. OK, yes, I am a Star Wars fan. They is a fighter for the light. SO!! etc, etc..... I move easily from the Wild West to the Stars.... Han Solo was the ultimate cowboy... Well, space cowboy.... Anyway, I digress as usual... This has great rhythm and rhyme. AN AWESOME NARRATIVE POEM... How do you do that???

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you again, Belle.
I just love telling stories! And writing songs, of course. I tend to write story songs, too.

[Neville]

so good.. tis not possible to predict what's gonna happen next.. and that can either make or break a decent story... N

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you, Neville. I agree. I just finished a novel by David Baldacci; good story spoiled by a totally ridiculous ending! One that was also totally predictable.

[Neville]

it happens.. ever seen the final episode of Dexter...

[The Iron Horseman]

No, I didn't like that show, but I watched all of Lost and was absolutely disgusted by what a letdown the ending was!

[Neville]

like I said....

[The Iron Horseman]

Agreed. :)

[Agyani]

Hey
I read this because I first found my way to 'Salvation'. Reading this does help to understand that poem better, though I think you could have mentioned that in the description and not the Author note.
Anyway, I found this really well written. There is a nice balance between the verse and the story and nothing seems a bit rushed or out of place.
I also like how you've used some pretty words to continue the rhyme. They not only serve the purpose but also add to the poem's melody. :D

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you. I'm glad you enjoyed it. If you look at the poems surrounding this one you will find that they are also Huntress adventures.

[Lola_Bee]

wow your writing is intriguing. adventure at every line. loved the story line. very well written

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you, Lola. I'm glad you liked this. Telling stories is kinda my thing!

[barleygirl]

Since you read requested me on your most recent huntress poem, I'm going back to check this one out before I read that one. As usual, your epic storytelling in poetic form features strong rhyme & rhythm. Once in a while, there's a long line that could be trimmed to match your ongoing rhythm. I love your old style language choices becuz your writing is not heavy with colloquialisms, but just a touch of this tone to suggest a setting in old times, otherwise clear language used. Good use of dynamic verbs to liven your action scenes. I can feel an affection between the huntress & her rescued maiden at the end (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

By the way, did you know you can look at the spreadsheet version of all your postings & just move stuff around by dragging? You could move these poems closer together, becuz this one is too buried! Takes too long to find it.

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you again for taking the time to review this, Margie. No, I didn't know that. Thanks for the helpful suggestion, I will do that.

[Poetic License]

I was so excited to see this installment, I could not stop smiling! Which, of course, when the Huntress is meting out justice is not exactly the reaction sought. Hooray for the heroine, so good to see her back in action.

Best part ever - lopping off the head of the priest. Serious respect.

I hope to someday meet this warrior. She's my kinda gal.

Well done, as always. Fun, exciting and a moral.

[The Iron Horseman]

As always, PL, thank you for your kind words. I enjoy writing Huntress adventures, she appeals to my sense of natural justice!

[apennylate]

*Welcome to "Pure Rhymes" Thanks for joining, great to have you...!*

Bone flutes utter ululating tones... Whoa... A stark adventure in the dark... A sacrifice saved, a maiden laid by a maiden, the wonderful bow prowess, but most importantly... The epic fight in rhyme... Bust out yeh' coins if you gonna purloin poor souls... The Huntress is here...

[The Iron Horseman]

Thanks, Silente, both for the review and the group. Looking forward to some fun!

[apennylate]

Same, and an honor

[Beckie]

Wow! This is magnificent. The visual you have given astounds me.

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you, Beckie. I enjoy telling stories! :)