The early days upon the road were peaceful but enjoyed

there was little trouble near the main road to avoid

the hero always loved to tell his stories when he could

anytime he thought of more to tell, then soon he would

Later on the group was often subject to attack

but any monsters that appeared were quickly driven back

there were many mercenaries strong enough to fight

but none of them could hold a candle to that hero’s light

He revelled in their praises and dismissed their jealousy

and put his powers on display for everyone to see

goblins, giants, orcs, and bears were all repelled with ease

those that weren’t obliterated fled back to the trees

Sometimes when he chased the monsters back from where they came

he looked around the woods and thought of what his world became

sometimes he’d forget that in the place where he was born

his brothers’ only fear was getting lost in fields of corn

“I’ll be sure and bring you back a few good souvenirs

maybe something simple like a bag of goblin ears”

he laughed walked around the woods while thinking of the day

when he returned he wondered what his family would say

Even though he didn’t know the way back home right now

he’d be busy fighting monsters out here anyhow

now he had some gold in store but that was just the start

there was now a greater plan, of which he was a part

Sometimes when the woods were quite, on a starry night

he thought he might have seen a faint but otherworldly light

whether he had dreamed that meeting on that fateful day

all he knew for certain was he’d walk the hero’s way

Eventually the caravan would pass a town or two

the merchants and the mercenaries both had work to do

the merchants did their trade while mercenaries drank their ale

to anyone who’d listen one young hero told his tale

The merchants varied greatly in the nature of their trade

by nature they would deal wherever profit could be made

some would deal in handicrafts or treasures found in caves

some had even made a decent living trading slaves

The hero didn’t dwell upon the fate of those enslaved

he kept his conscience clear with thoughts of people he had saved

but still it made him anxious to recall his time in chains

many scars reminded him of many trials and pains

But now he was a hero and he wouldn’t shy away

although his client traded slaves, he still had gold to pay

by winter, when the group had travelled half a year or more

they came upon a place that dealt in prisoners of war

The town was on the border of a kingdom strong and old

the queen of which was known for being fearless, wise, and bold

the town was well defended by the kingdom’s royal knights

the caravan could rest in comfort there though winter nights

The merchants were surprised to find a booming industry

the kingdom was advanced and had a strong economy

the mercenaries quickly spent their gold on fun and games

drinking with the locals without asking any names

The merchants settled in and right away their plans were made

in an hour they’d found a busy place where they could trade

the hero joined them but he didn’t share in their delight

men and women bound in chains in storefronts plagued his sight

The prisoners wore emblems that he hadn’t seen before

although he knew the faces that the beaten soldiers wore

that was not his problem though, his business was in gold

how could he relate to beaten soldiers bought and sold

As his mind was wandering he heard a friendly shout

several of the merchants who employed him called him out

“we have an opportunity to recommend to you

if you bought those soldiers, you could make a profit too”

They dragged him in to haggle with a merchant of the town

speechless in the chaos as they drove the prices down

caught up in their pace he found no moment to protest

and suddenly was stood before the slaves he now possessed

“Fear not my young merchant friend, I finalized the deal

these ones in particular were really quite a steal

sorry that I couldn’t strike a good deal on that elf

though I’d rather trade in strong and working men, myself”

A dozen men in heavy chains now stood in front of him

not sure how he came to own so many on a whim

in the end he brought them to the caravan with food

finding no words suitable to end the awkward mood

The other merchants told him he’d be rich when they returned

slaves would make more money than a hundred monsters burned

they bought at least a hundred men and women to resell

filling up their carts with fancy furniture as well

After his experience the hero had grown tired

still he’d come away with everything that he desired

in the weeks that followed while the merchants did their trade

rumours spread throughout the town about his group’s crusade

It was very rare for traders from so far away

to travel to this kingdom and not perish on the way

the mercenaries spread their tales about their strongest man

it helped to ease his mind when he was drinking with a fan

Two long weeks of trading human merchandise and then

the caravan prepared to get back on the road again

even though events had left him feeling slightly ill

soon he’d be preoccupied with monsters he could kill

The hero wandered down the street excited soon to leave

when suddenly he saw a face that he could not believe

sitting on the road alone beneath the falling snow

a pair of old familiar eyes he’d known since long ago