Heather Alexander - Lord Faral's Race

Along the midnight road they ran
Along the broad and gleaming span
Five gallant steeds of noble pride,
Not gold, but life, hung on their ride.

Beneath Gunnora's golden light
Six horses raced into the night
Against the dark and fearsome knight
The Dark Light!
The black knight!
At midnight ...

For the dark had come with him drawn down
Into the center of the town
He challenged them with haughty voice
And dared them to make another choice.

"If you should win, I'll go my way,
But if I win, then you'll must pay
A bondage through eternity
In servitude to mine and me."

Then came Lord Faral, tall and proud,
And raised a whip to hush the crowd;
"So let it be! - he said - We'll race.
The Lady still protects this place.

"Within Gunnora's smile we dwell
Our horses drink from Lady's Well,
So strive with us, if that's your choice;
Come race with us and surely lose!"

"I will race with more than one," said he,
"Five noble lords must race with me."
"Then I will my four brothers call,
That none born here become your thrall!"

Beneath Gunnora's golden light
Six horses raced into the night
Against the dark and fearsome knight
The Dark Light!
The black knight!
At midnight ...

They raced along an ancient way,
Through misty moonlight, siver-grey
But dark seeks darkness for its boon
And mortal flesh meets mortal doom.

The first horse fell and there were four
and one heart burst and could no more -

So three ran into the dark
Then from that black whip came a spark
Of poison light; and there were two
And Miroch's gelding threw a shoe.

And Faral then the Dark Knight paced,
Step for step a time they raced
But oh, the mists grew cold and dread
And Faral's stallion tossed his head.

"Abandon now," the Dark Knight said,
"For see, your brothers are all dead."
Said Faral "Better make my grave,
Than see my people as your slaves!

I service to Gunnora vow,
Both hand and heart, both foot and brow,
And I shall never be forsworn
Though life from me and mine are torn!"

Then came a radiant, golden light
And lifted Faral into flight
His steed's feet did not touch the ground
And still the light sparkled around.

Beneath Gunnora's golden light
One single horse raced into the night
Against the dark and fearsome knight
The Dark Light!
The black knight!
At midnight ...

The dark horse fell into glittering stone
The Dark knight from its back was thrown
Crying in rage and agony,
He met long-awaited destiny;

For they had come to Lady's Well,
That holy place of which tales tell
The Lady had it all prepared
A trap from which no dark was spared!

Beneath Gunnora's golden light
The snare was set against the night
They caught the dark and fearsome knight
The Dark Night!
The black light!
At midnight ...