Reprisals

A tale of savagery and its consequences.

The cavalry entered the village,

Bare swords grasped in their hands.

They had come to rape and pillage,

From distant, savage lands.

As they rode through the streets,

They set thatched roofs alight.

When folk fled from the heat,

They were butchered without a fight.

Only young women were spared,

For a fate thought worse than death.

None of the callous troopers cared,

That they screamed to their dying breath.

When the riders left that place,

Not a living soul remained,

Each bloody rider with a stony face,

Not even riches had been gained.

Just twenty men it took,

To destroy what many had built,

Twenty reivers who would brook

No compassion, empathy or guilt.

But when they reached the high road,

They entered a wood of elder trees,

Dense and dark, their progress slowed,

Breath grew short, began to freeze.

As the cold dark reached their hearts,

The wild riders knew sudden fear,

Their horses moved in fits and starts,

Sensing danger, stark and near.

The lead rider suddenly pitched from his steed,

Horse shying and screaming in fright,

The followers' eyes searching in urgent need,

To see into the pitch dark night.

No branches cracked, no leaf was stirred,

The wood was still as Death itself,

No animal cries, no spoken word,

No goblin, orc, dwarf or elf.

The riders spread out through the wood,

To find their hidden foe,

But another was killed where he stood,

By a black shaft from a long bow.

The arrow took him through the eye,

He was dead before he hit the ground.

Then it was his companion's turn to die,

Shot in the throat, so he made no sound.

And so it went,

The riders dying one by one,

Every arrow well spent,

All dead before the rising sun.

When the final pierced body tumbled to the frozen ground,

A shadow stepped out from the dark, moving without making a sound.

The Huntress surveyed her handiwork with cold, remorseless eyes,

Then muttered to herself as she walked off, “He who murders, dies!”

© 2018 The Iron Horseman

Author's Note

Another Huntress adventure. I just love writing about this character. I know there are abrupt changes of rhythm in the last two verses, but they are there to serve a purpose, so please take them in your stride.

Reviews

[Einstein Noodle]

thanks for my word for the day "reivers" ..had no idea they were a part of history ... there was almost a certain kind of honor among them ...strong swarthy warriors as they raped and pillaged ..but oh the reconning eh!? fitting it is a woman..and only one ... i like the silence by which she moves .. and that they never see her ... have no idea who it is that took them down ... enjoyed the adventure
E.

[The Iron Horseman]

Thanks, EN. I'm glad you liked it. The Huntress is one of my favorite characters.

[Cherrie]

I like when a poem breaks with the opening rhyme. It helps to redirect the reader in the new direction.
A fitting end for the heartless.

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you, Cherrie. I'm glad that you found this one and liked it. The Huntress is one of my favorite creations. Come to think of it, she hasn't had a new adventure for a while. Hmm...

[Cherrie]

Well break out the pen, I'm sure she's ready to stretch her legs as well.

[The Iron Horseman]

:) Still trying to find the time to work on my next book at the moment!

[Cherrie]

I understand that.

[Paul Bell]

Cracking write.
One massacre to another.
The Huntress I take it is a mystical warrior.
You could actually see this unfolding in your mind.
Which I really like.

[The Iron Horseman]

Thanks, Paul. I'm glad you liked it. Yes, she is both mystical and mythical. She's a cross between Robin Hood and The Equalizer! :D

[Neville]

Hurrah, forsooth and by Saint John.. the Huntress came an took them on.... another great tale wrapped in a poem.. the Huntress is rapidly becoming my kinda supa hero..... Neville

[The Iron Horseman]

Lol! Glad you are still having fun with this, Neville.

[Neville]

I'm just trying to stay on her good side...

[The Iron Horseman]

Aren't we all? :D

[Neville]

very sensible......

[The Iron Horseman]

:D.............................................

[C. Lee Battaglia]

And so it went,
The riders dying one by one,
Every arrow well spent,
All dead before the rising sun."

Every poem you write, is a story. It has great meaning and power!
I really loved this poem!
Keep up the great work!

Your friend,

C. Lee Battaglia

[The Iron Horseman]

Thanks, Lee. Yes, I do enjoy telling stories!

[Nipplegrinder]

You can paint a wonderful picture of the Heroine, you love.
Well done, my friend.

[The Iron Horseman]

Thanks, NG.

[barleygirl]

I love this well-told story. The mechanics of your writing are strong, as well as your storytelling being compelling. Good job of writing with a bit of flair, somewhat dramatic, but not overdone, mainly delivering a dynamic tale with perfect pacing and never mired in mud or overly-described scenes. I have a particular penchant for stories of righteous revenge & you've told this one in a balanced way so that the reader is left with extreme satisfaction. Excellent use of bright details & imagery for all the senses! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[The Iron Horseman]

Thank you, Margie. I like revenge stories too - a good bit of natural justice is very satisfying in this messed up world.

[Travis Gibson (poetic h..]

The Huntress is a force not to be taken lightly! The flow of the last two verses do add dramatic effect to the closing of this piece, great writing.

[The Iron Horseman]

Thanks, Travis. You're right - she is definitely not to be trifled with. And you won't know she's there till she swats ya! :)