Some years ago, 1992 actually, I started work on a poem called Orbis. Along the way, it turned into an epic poem. Now, it is looking like it will be longer than the Holy Bible.

For you folks who have been waiting literally years for this book to come out, I apologize. Getting to a point to where the book is ready for print is still a long time off. Other things have gotten in the way. Aethyrea Books had planned to release the poem in 5 parts as the first part (book really) is finished, but copyright pirates attacked Aethyrea Books and all projects ground to a halt and AB was disbanded.

Just so you know, I am WORKING on the poem, though not as much as I want to. But to help quench your thirst, here is a sampler.

KEYS

The Noel of the Blind Viceroy

CHAPTER ONE

1. And the Wheel did turn and Chaos and Canon did watch the dance.
2. Wilom went unto the Steward and they celebrated the fullness of Luna.
3. Great breads were made and eaten and they did drink water from the cup.
4. They traveled the meridians and discussed the spirits of the forests, valleys and dales.
5. Wilom said unto the Steward, “This is a special time in the sky.
6. “When Sol blooms in the morning sky, Chaos will be the ruler of the ground and the sky and the Children will know it. The loss of Canon will be felt to their bones.
7. “Mind the clouds and seas and wind, as they all do the bidding of Chaos until Luna is full once again. The Balance is unstruck.
8. And it came to pass as the first rays of Sol did touch the forest, the ground began to shake and rumble as if the Earth Mother had been struck like a drum.
9. Wilom was thrown to the ground and covered with leaves and heather. The ground did continue to move and shake until the drumming came to an end.
10. Wilom did find his steady legs and saw a great fume pit form upon the ground that he had just passed.
11. And the Steward was lost unto him.
12. Wilom did leave the pit to seek out the wisdom of The Glen.
13. Chaos did laugh and Canon sat in cold silence and both watched the rebirth.
14. And the Destroyer did step out from the fume pit and found the sacrifice agreeable.

CHAPTER TWO

1. And day became night and foul-smelling hands pawed at the Steward and bound him in rags and blinded him with thick oil.
2. The Pit Vicars took the wrapped body of the Steward unto the morteum and prepared the ritual.
3. Five iron brands were set into a fire and warmed until they did glow white.
4. Worms were collected unto a vessel and placed at the head of the Steward and they did feast upon his brow.
5. A Vicar did force open the mouth of the Steward and daemon rum was poured into him and was forced to swallow.
6. And it came to pass that the Steward did not struggle against his bonds and the rags were removed.
7. And the Steward was wrapped with poisonous leaves and thorny vines and welts did form and rise and bleed.
8. The Pit Vicars sang with delight and awaited the coming of their priest.
9. And the Blind Viceroy did come and looked upon the Steward and saw the moment of it.
10. And the Viceroy did sniff the Steward with his snout and did lick the welts with his tongue and placed blessings upon the Pit Vicars.
11. The Blind Viceroy felt his way through the cast off belongings of the Steward and found his grounding stone.
12. “Now my Vicars, we await the hour. The brands will be hot and the worms will be satisfied and the welts will be fully opened.
13. “Take me to the reliquary and I will use his stone to bring forth the Key.
14. “And the spell will be readied to be cast and set. And He Who Fed will be pleased with us and our deeds of this day.
15. “The Steward has walked the path and stood upon the bluffs of truth and joy.
16. “The tool of Wilom and the Elemental Priests will live no more.

CHAPTER THREE

1. A mist appeared above the Steward and did take the form of Rochal and she was adorned with the Unworn Crown.
2. And the phantasm of the dead Golem did pick the worms from his brow and pulled the leaves and thorns from his skin.
3. Alas, the Steward did not awaken from his forced slumber.
4. And Rochal did clean the wounds of the Steward and fill him with wine from the vineyard.
5. Verily, the Steward did open his eyes and stared at the corporeal and misty form of the Golem.
6. “Be at ease, keeper of the woods, stones and water. I am Rochal. and my death was in vane here in the underdwellings of the Necropolis.
7. “Now I haunt the corridors, plains, corners and floors and protect those that I can and pray for those I cannot.
8. “But come now, we must find The Key. The Vault of the reliquary awaits you and the Blind Viceroy.
9. And the Golem led the Steward through the reliquary and into the Vault of Keys.
10. The Steward could hear the mumblings and mutterings of the Pit Vicars. They too were in the Vault and the Viceroy led them on deeper into the chamber.
11. The Vault was a viney tangle of countless keys. Each dangling by a thin thread that disappeared high up and out of sight.
12. “Rochal, what is it I am to find here? A breath of air? A drink of water? A trap to spring?
13. “None of those. You must find the Key before the Viceroy. He brought you here and your sacrifice will open his eyes to its use.
14. The Steward made slow progress and could not avoid the keys as they jingled together.
15. “What does the Key open? How do I pick? They are all the same. And none call out to me, Rochal.
16. Rochal soothed the mind of the Steward and she did say, “You will know the Key when it comes before you. Your face will be hot and your hands will tremble and it will be known unto you.
17. “Only the Master’s Key will affect you such.
18. “Look for it in plain sight but hidden from view by mistakes and pride.
19. “The Key will be displayed for all to see and yet none will know it as The Key.
20. “But hasten your efforts, the Viceroy quickens his pace. Lies and deceit are upon his lips and fouler things are upon his mind.

CHAPTER FOUR

1. The Steward quietly moved through the dangling keys and kept hidden from the Blind Viceroy and his Pit Vicars.
2. The Steward did feel a tremor rise in his hand and sweat did drip from his face. He saw a key like all others in the Vault, but this was as a ripe apple and in need of picking.
3. Rochal watched him as he grasped The Key. A shock flooded the body of the Steward and a slight rustle of keys was made.
4. And snarls came from the darkness and the Blind Viceroy knew the Vault had visitors uninvited.
5. “We must run Keeper of Wood, Stone and Water. The Vicars come and the Viceroy follows!
6. The Golem led the Steward out of the Vault, through the reliquary and past the morteum altar where his death would have given vision to the Viceroy and power to the Pit Vicars.
7. Rochal came in sight of the fume pit where the Destroyer was unleashed. She saw the beams of Sol push through the forever dark and she began to weep.
8. “Go now, into the light of day. I cannot pass out of the Necropolis. Forget my name not and dream me well. The land of death has me forever.
9. And Rochal vanished back into the unseen grave.
10. And the Steward ran toward the light and was crushed by the snarling Pit Vicars.
11. “Escape is not your future. You have none,” the Blind Viceroy said.
12. And rags again were wrapped around the body of the Steward and oil was put into his eyes.
13. And a clear tone came from above and he did hear howls of anguish, fear and disgust.
14. Unseen hands lifted the Steward up and the fume pit closed about him. The Elemental priests pulled the Steward out of the maul and the fume pit did snarl and cry aloud and snap its mouth about.
15. The Steward could feel the warmth of Sol upon his body. He knew he was back in the realm of the living
16. He was taken back to The Glen and his wounds were tended and the oil was washed from his eyes by the waters of the brook.
17. He joined the Priests in the Temple and told them of Rochal. And they sung hymns to her and remembered her well.
18. And the Steward did place The Key upon the altar and Loj did say, “The Key has been found, the Cross unlocked and the Third Secret Revealed.
19. “And the Daemon Horde cannot foul it further. The Steward was returned and had been healed. Wilom will nay worry longer. None was lost.
20. And the Steward was saddened by a thought and he did say, “Verily, I am heartened to be away from the Necropolis, but alas, my grounding stone remains in the hands of the Viceroy.”
21. Thon pulled a grounding stone from his pouch and gave it to the Steward. “May this keep you from floating away and upon your chosen path. But be mindful of travelers. If the Viceroy has the grounding stone, then the Destroyer is free to roam the lands.”

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