For he sees through all disguise.
If you seek to call a kyree
All your secrets he shall plumb --
So be certain you are worthy
Or the kyree-will not come.
For your own heart you must conquer
If the firebird you would call
You must know the dark within you
Ere you seek the cold-drake's hall
Here is better rede, magician
Than those books upon your shelf --
If you seek to master others
You must master first yourself.
(The Oathbound, Tarma and Kethry)
CH: Bonds of blood and bonds of steel
Bonds of god-fire and of need,
Bonds that only we two feel
Bonds of word and bonds of deed,
Bonds we took -- and knew the cost
Bonds we swore without mistake
Bonds that give more than we lost,
Bonds that grant more than they take.
Tarma:
Kal'enedral, Sword-Sworn, I,
To my Star-Eyed Goddess bound,
With my pledge would vengeance buy
But far more than vengeance found.
Now with steel and iron will
Serve my Lady and my Clan
All my pleasure in my skill --
Nevermore with any man.
Kethry:
Bound am I by my own will
Never to misuse my power --
Never to pervert my skill
To the pleasures of an hour.
With this blade that I now wear
Came another bond indeed --
While her arcane gifts I share
I am bound to woman's Need.
Tarma:
And by blood-oath we are bound
Held by more than mortal bands
For the vow we swore was crowned
By god-fires upon our hands.
Kethry:
You are more than shield-sib now
We are bound, and yet are free
So I make one final vow --
That your Clan shall live through me.
(Tarma)
So you want to go earning your keep with your sword
And you think it cannot be too hard --
And you dream of becoming a hero or lord
With your praises sung out by some bard.
Well now, let me then venture to give you advice
And when all of my lecture is done
We will see if my words have not made you think twice
About whether adventuring's 'fun!'
Now before you seek shelter or food for yourself
Go seek first for those things for your beast
For he is worth far more than praises or pelf
Though a fool thinks to value him least.
If you've ever a moment at leisure to spare
Then devote it, as if to your god,
To his grooming, and practice, and weapons-repair
And to seeing you both are well-shod.
Eat you lightly and sparingly-never full-fed --
For a full belly founders your mind.
Ah, but sleep when you can-it is better than bread --
For on night-watch no rest will you find.
Do not boast of your skill, for there's always one more
Who would prove he is better than you.
Treat swordladies like sisters, and not like a whore
Or your wenching days, child, will be few.
When you look for a captain, then look for the man
Who thinks first of his men and their beasts,
And who listens to scouts, and has more than
one plan,
And heeds not overmuch to the priests.
And if you become captain, when choosing your men
Do not look at the 'heroes' at all.
Forahero dies young-rather choose yourself ten
Or a dozen whose pride's not so tall.
