For Queen & Country2 - The Chessboard Series: QRe8

The Pledge of the Castles

We are the battletowers
On the watchful corners
Of your majesterium
We are the eyes and ears
Borders that stretch out to the oceans
But you O reverent Ladyship
See farther than we ever can
Your eyes are setted gemstones
And the element of air your emissary

We are the last garrisons
Entrenched on the furthest
Windswept outposts
Where the fields have turned to mud
And blustering winter rains
Have mashed the ground into marshes

As your Majors
We plead that you return to us
Our Highness
And replenish our withered souls
Bring life back into our isolation
Just to see you
Will rekindle our obligations

That we may repledge ourselves to you
And exceed our line of duty

You are the greenest tree
That stands in our landscape of ruin
You are the lightning bow
That gives shape to our wishes
in the darkest sky
The spiralling flame
That heats us back to here
The blue horizon moonfall
That lights our way back to now


Please do not return word
To our King
Of wayfulness that has befallen us
For who else will have hope
If that same hope dies with him?
Who will carry it on
If the carriers have fallen?
Who will hold onto it
If the holders have let go?
But do tell the King
That all is well

Make haste to us Our Majesty
Make haste to us……