Last Duty

the mist ... was thick and blue like some demon brume let loose from the bowels of death, itself it swept along the edge of the darkened forest licking the evergreens with its cyanotic tongue and making them whisper their unholy language “come … swim our deep”, they breathed “join with us” … but I held I knew this land - knew the spells that ocean of trees could cast and knew well the safety of this highland meadow so I waited … searching the wood edge with my eyes it was my charge to do so for that shadowy realm, distant was Merlin’s dominion and only ONE soul was allowed to pierce it’s black heart, unharmed - Arthur … my brother … my king whose sword I could now see glinting in the darkness heading my way and shimmering with the promise … of home. Copyright © Gregory Richard Barden, January 4, 2023