THE GOBBLER RAID

THE GOBBLER RAID, by Aidan Redwing, pending artwork by Simon Walpole

 

Pit-pat, pit-pat fall the raindrops

from a grey moonless sky.

Clink-clank, clink-clank from the mine shaft,

the Gobblers creep below.

And the villagers lay sleeping,

all a bed a-sleeping,

on this wretched and dreary night.

 

Skit-scat, skit-scat, scratch their long claws,

creeping down rocky hills.

Gleam-glint, gleam-glint shine their scales

in the blood-red torchlight.

And the gates they come down crashing!

The gates fall down crashing!

Blood will be shed this dreary night.

 

Ding-dong, ding-dong tolls the watch bell.

Its dire warning rings clear.

Clash-smash, clash-smash, flash their weapons

hewing the flesh from bone.

And the villagers run shrieking,

fleeing  the Gobbler raid.

 

Ring-tang, ring-tang, rattle the chains

binding the prisoners tight.

Oh-woe, oh-woe, groan the captives,

lamenting cruel fate.

Some are sent to mine for iron.

Some are the vict’ry feast.

 

Smash-bash, smash-bash, hammers the stone,

warping one loose link.

Tip-toe, tip-toe, sneaks the young man,

escaping from the mine.

He makes his way into daylight.

The sweet warmth of daylight!

And the fresh breath of mountain air!

 

Clip-clop, clip-clop, echo the hooves,

of his stolen pony.

Huff-puff, huff-puff, rises the dust

on the long road ahead.

It leads him straight to the outpost-

the garrison at their post-

and the king’s finest fighting men.

 

Ta-rum, ta-rum, rumbles the earth.

The garrison rides to war.

Crick-crack, crick-crack, creak their saddles.

Their horses gallop on.

And deep in the gloomy darkness,

the wicked Gobblers grin.

 

Gnish-gnash, gnish-gash, chomp yellowed fangs,

gnawing on human bones.

Tee-hee, tee-hee, laugh the Gobblers,

their hearts alight with glee.

Their forked tongues lick bloodied lips,

Oh, how they hunger for war.

Their forked tongues lick bloodied lips.

Gobblers will starve no more!

 

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Aidan can be found telling stories of elves, pirates and other fantastical beings to any who would lend an ear. Aidan’s published works The Problem With Pack Goats (Wyngraf), The New Moon Gambit (Gwyllion) and several upcoming works. Aidan’s poem The Highwayman’s Revenge received a nomination for a Pushcart Prize. When not  busy plotting and scheming, Aidan also interns as an editor. If you want to find out more about this strange being, you can find them lurking about on facebook by clicking the following link https://www.facebook.com/aidan.redwing.5 , tweet them @a_redwing, or send a raven to a.redwing.writing@gmail.com

 

Simon Walpole has been drawing for as long as he can remember and is fortunate to spend his freetime working as an illustrator. He primarily use pencils, pens and markers and use a bit of digital for tweaking. As well as doing interior illustrations for various publishing formats he has also drawn a lot of maps for novels. his work can be found at his website HandDrawnHeroes.