“Murder”, a word so foul it must be spat from the lips of men. Murder, vile tongue-less beast, bred in bone and blood, and whelped on the cruel breast of remorseless sin. It has no voice and yet it whispers in my ear, a constant plague: “Murder in the House of Earth and Sky.”
What evil have I born witness? Had I not been warned afore? See no, hear no, and speak no evil but still it touches me. This sin of Cain slips into my House and stains me in scarlet. Cain, bringer of murder, father to this unforgiveable sin that has crept through the nightmares whilst I slept.
There has been a murder in the House of Earth and Sky. Cain’s sin trespassed upon mine threshold uninvited. Death, unwarranted, passed from chamber to chamber, piercing the night with violent barbs ‘til this House of noble blood was purged. All that bears witness to our once grand line are now captive thrones.
Upon the kin killer’s brow sits a golden crown where once an iron band did shape his humor. This man slayer, this modern Cain, this blood spiller, this steel hearted conquer. Mine Cousin. False king yet.
I, unspent blood still. Seed of the fallen lord, kin blooded to the man slayer. I am shamed in my captivity here, among the House of Earth and Sky. Bordered in by walls and oaths. I am but the caged bird, a drab sparrow where once eagles only dared to go. I am tongue-less, my mouth unable to cast out the foul words of treasons, for it was I that left the gates unbarred in the night’s watch. When all the blood of my kin poured out upon the ground, I was spared by the forfeit of a key. A key to my lord’s chamber where he laid, his lady and he.
Now I am bound upon barbed oaths to this pretend king. I am in madness, driven to lunacy as the cries of my fallen clan tear at my ears. Blood in and blood out, and I have not paid my dues. I am due to die, to spill scarlet’s share of the malison. I am cursed. My madness brings threefold shame upon my head, branded traitor, kin slayer, and murderess. Melancholy bid me die, be quick and swift and undeterred to risk the blade and sleep in silence forever more…
The cowardice in me, the spiteful brand that burned me to be disloyal, churns in my gut, reminding me that unholy Hell awaits me with eager doom and darkened arms. I am forbid and damn to do all in the breath I quake.
There is murder in the House of Earth and Sky and I…
… I hold the dagger.
[To hear a recorded version of this poem, please visit this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjpSziFV6gA]
