DESPERATE KINGDOM by Paul Adragna

Long ago in a far away land there was a mighty, peaceful kingdom led by the humblest of kings. He lived with no other, just his young daughter, who’s mother was tragically taken from them during childbirth. The princess was the king’s pride, his joy and he would do anything for that girl. He would give anything just to see her happy and alive. And all was good and peaceful in the kingdom until one day. An evil witch who lived just outside the prospers walls decided the joy and peace was just too much for her to bare. A devious spell was cast over the princess leaving her ill, unconscious and dying and the king was given a choice. Either hand over his kingdom to the witch or his daughter would whither and die in her slumber. It was a decision that could not be made, but in a selfish rage the king left his daughter in her desperate state to save her from the evil of the dark witch. The king would not just let his only daughter die. He had heard of a holy fountain, his one chance to save the princess. But the fountain stood at the summit of a mountain guarded by a family of fierce dragons. So the king assembled an army and made plans to storm the mountain.

Long ago in a far-off land
Raged a battle of beast and man
Flame and blood upon the mountain
A quest for the holy fountain
Just one drink of it’s crystal waters
Will save the king’s only daughter
From a spell that left her feeble
Threatens us with plagues of evil
Send forth troops with blades and armor
Led my white knights who’ll never falter
Faced against these vast assassins
Hold the lines and face the dragons

The army stood with ranks formed at the base of the mountain and the king called out his challenge to the family of dragons. The proclamation of war was answered by a bellowing rumble from the depths of the dragon’s lair. Deep from within the ground, seven large figures emerged from the rock and took flight. The shadows of the soaring monsters cast a darkness over the troops as they stared overhead at their looming death.

Dragon flies a living pyre
Hero now, our need so dire
Face the smoke and fight the fire
Your demise is it’s desire
Dragon flies a living pyre
Hero now, our need so dire
Face the smoke and fight the fire
Your demise is it’s desire

The dragons dove upon the men
Raining flame from deep within
Their screams rang out and filled the skies
Men with noting but to die
Through blood and ash he sacrificed
To steal away and claim his prize
But as he approached the mystic fountain
Before him stood the king of dragons
He drew his sword and thrust his blade
But the black-scaled king would not be scathed
With one swift bite the king was gone
The kingdom lost, the dragons won

And in a single moment all was lost. The king was dead along with the hundreds that fought beside him that day on the mountain. The princess, of course, soon perished too and the kingdom fell to anarchy. The witch prospered in the violence and misery of the lost people. The king had failed. Evil had won.

Dragon flies a living pyre
Hero now, our need so dire
Face the smoke and fight the fire
Your demise is it’s desire
Dragon flies a living pyre
Hero now, our need so dire
Face the smoke and fight the fire
Your demise is it’s desire