Elias the swordmaster sat in the tavern,
Eating his meat, wine, and bread,
When fair Alara , crying runs in,
Her face filled with terror and dread.

A guardsman came in chasing the girl,
Overcome by her beauty and charm.
He sought to take Alara to wife,
Doing her spirit great harm.

His only virtues were a loud voice,
And a heavy hand with the sword.
He sought to take the girl by force,
Not knowing a charming word.

Elias could not bring himself to sit still,
Seeing a woman distressed.
He came over and bowed,
Offering to act at the lady's bequest.

The guard told Elias to go away,
As this girl belonged to Jade.
The swordmaster told Jade the Guardsman
That Elias would do as the lady bade.

Then Jade said he owned her,
The girl, her charms, and her wealth.
Elias replied "She's no slave,
The lady belongs to herself."

Enraged by the man who stood there,
Jade the Guardsman drew his sword.
Furious he attacked the man before him
As Elias used only calm words.

At first Elias only defended,
First dodging, then drawing a blade to block.
But Jade get charging and attacking,
Cause his head was as dense as a rock.

Jade cleaved through two tables
Trying to hit the Swordmaster.
Unable to harm Elias,
Jade swung his sword even faster.

Jade couldn't hit even though he tried,
Never having faced a man of great skill.
Then, at last, frustrated and mad,
Jade up and bellowed "Damn it! Hold Still!"

Two outside heard the cry
and came rushing in.
"The Guardsman has gone mad."
Windy yelled above the din.

Looking around at the fight in the bar
The two newcomers yell.
"That's Jade, let's kill him."
But t'was on Elias the two fell.

Smarter than Jade, though that doesn't say much,
These two circled the room.
Coming around to attack from behind,
They plotted Elias' doom.

Jorum, the first of the two,
Armed himself with a stool.
So Windy responded in kind,
And with leftover ale doused the fool.

The second meant business
And armed with an axe
He circled around the left,
And came at Elias' back.

Seeing the danger,
Windy drew Berrybriar mid flight;
Stabbing the axeman's arm,
Though the damage done was light.

Once more he raised his axe,
Thinking Elias to kill.
Surrounded Elias stopped laughing,
And centered into his skill.

As the axe was raised,
Elias cut behind, striking the foe's center.
Then he turned and parried Jade,
As his skill was so much better.

Then Elias' sword pierced
Jade's, Janarn's son's, black heart,
And ended a family of evil,
That with Jade's grandfather did start.