Letter from Aphra Behn

Dear Madame

May the multitudes rejoice! The Black Eagle has announced a spring tournament of champions to coincide with the crowning of the New King of Delver’s Dale! All Hail the King! Come one come all to match valor against the cream of Eamonvale and lands far and near!

I do hope you will enjoy my feeble attempts at poetic verse. You are ever an inspiration.

Autmnal Lake

O sapphire lake amid autumnal mountains,

With fire of aspens round about you burning,

I would my love and I were now returning,

Perchance to leave you never—
To dwell with you, and know the mountain seasons,

The fleeing cloud, the cliff and pine eternal,

The fall of leaf and snow and blossom vernal

Upon your placid waters.

Rhiannon
In the green and flowerless garden I have dreamt,

Lying beneath perennial moons apart,

Whose cypress-builded bowers

And ivy-plighted myrtles none shall part;
In the funereal maze of larch and laurel,

Across white lawns, athwart the spectral mountains,

Seen through the sighing haze

Of all the high and moon-suspended fountains,
With feet enshaded by the fruitless green

Of summer trees that bear no summer blossom;

 With wintry lusters laid
Upon the mounded marble of thy bosom,
Thou dost await, O mournful, enigmatic

Image of love-bewildered Rhiannon,

Whose tender lips too late,

Or all too soon, have sought the wounding kiss.

(Buried in the secret cypher taught to Twill Bell by Aphra Behn is a message: “Trousdale situation delicate! No return without the Prince! Swordsman abroad! Winter Army!”

This letter was delivered by Lamdoman to the Platonic Delvers after the Battle of the Scarp. It is a message from Sir Trousdale’s Herald Aphra Behn who is with his liege in Black Eagle Castle.