Polychrome

by Ryk E. Spoor

  If no joy by dawning, if no dancing glory felt

  Hope is gone now, shattered, lost, like first snow’s fading melt.

  Return you to the palace and prepare you for the end

  For mortal heart has withered, and Faerie has no friend.

  Hero’s ways he now must learn, of strength and sword and will

  Bring to the fore what lay within, and both will pay the cost;

  For Rainbow’s Daughter teaches, the Prophecy to fulfill

  And though she knows it not, her heart is forever lost.

  Across the sky and sea, wisdom he shall seek

  That which he sought shall he refuse

  And in rejecting wisdom gains he strength;

  With one companion he sets out; another he must win

  To brave the perils still to come and find his way within.

  Within find danger, maybe doom

  And then the saga’s done;

  But safely pass where perils loom

  And half the quest is run.

  Wasteland to be crossed remains

  Where only walk the dead

  If the other side he attains

  Follow where he’s led.

  Army faces army

  Fifty thousand strong

  Both of Faerie, neither yielding

  The battle will be long.

  Forward always be the path

  To city, once of Emerald, gray

  Win you through the wizard’s wrath

  To face your judgment day.

  With him then the Rainbow’s Daughter

  Sees love where once was friend;

  But win or lose, your favorite child

  Shall come home not again.

  Now he comes to the end, few his friends, alone

  Held by words and chains before the Warlock’s throne.

  Sorely wounded shall he be, and then his fate be known;

  If struck through the heart and silent, unable he to call

  Then Ozma’s power sealed forever and darkness shall rule all;

  Bathed in his heart’s blood but still with voice

  Ozma’s name he calls;

  Her power lifts him up, burns his soul away

  But in those final moments he may win the day.

  Patron Page

  The following people contributed greatly

  to the publication of Polychrome:

  Wanda Beers: For Xander and Maddox - May your imaginations take you over the rainbow!

  Ron Critchfield

  Raja Thiagarajan: with thanks to Julie, and to Jason--who may enjoy it when he’s older.

  David Churn

  Paul (Drak Bibliophile) Howard

  Bill Ryan: Wherever, whenever and however you write the result is always the same. Magnificent!

  Rich Pieri

  Thomas Talley: Very good book!

  Chris: Keep writing!

  Kevin Reid

  Rob Masters

  Chris Baumgartner

  Terry Austin, God King of Trolls

  Sean Haley: If it ain’t broke, I can fix that.

  Sue Fisher

  Caden, Ethan, & Isaac Osborne

  Rob Hampson

  Other Books by Ryk E. Spoor:

  Atlantaea Universe:

  Digital Knight (2003)

  Phoenix Rising (2012)

  Paradigms Lost (2014)

  Phoenix in Shadow (May 2015)

  Phoenix Ascendant (date not set)

  Boundary Universe (with Eric Flint):

  Boundary (2006)

  Threshold (2010)

  Portal (2013)

  Castaway Planet (February 2015)

  Castaway Odyssey (date not set)

  Arenaverse:

  Grand Central Arena (2010)

  Spheres of Influence (2013)

  Challenges of the Deeps (date not set)

  Other:

  Diamonds Are Forever (with Eric Flint; part of the anthology Mountain Magic, 2004)