Book of Don XII: Finale

Sound of marching steel,

incongruent with the beat

of Don's water drum.

A tight perimeter formed

around Rose's residence.

All knights raised their swords,
slashing the tires of each van
to frighten the crowd.
Their commander addressed them,
"By order of the Burgess,

give us princess Thyme
and you will have a swift end.
Failure to comply
will give us license to kill
in any way we deem best."

Chaos erupted

as people tried to escape.
Many cameras fell

under the crushing stampede.
One journalist filmed it all.

A child called out, "Mom!
Where are you? I can't see you!"
One masked knight found him,
swinging a blade for first blood
when Parsley parried the strike.

He said to the knight,
"You're that desperate to shed blood?
Then ready yourself!"
A swift strike across the chest
quelled the lifeless plates of steel.

Parsley said, "Empty."
Grabbing the hand of the child,
they found his mother
crying out for her firstborn.
"He's here! Now follow that car!"

Sage drove through the knights,
with Ty guiding the people
from the shotgun seat.
Mary heard the engine burst
and great light overtook them.

R.L.P. Auriga

Hempstead, New York