Heart of the Joust

The morning breaks, the field is wide,

A thousand faces wait outside.

The banners rise, the trumpets call,

Today a man will rise or fall.

My armor weighs against my chest,

I know this may become my last.

Across the field, another waits,

A knight who knows my name and fate.

The herald raises up his hand,

The horses thunder through the sand.

One breath… One charge… One chance to live.

The gates swing wide.

There is no turning back.

JOUUUUUUST… (ahhhhh) Ride into the fire!

JOUUUUUUST… (ahhhhh) Higher… higher… higher!

Steel against steel, Hear the kingdom cry,

One of us will leave this field… One of us will die.

JOUUUUUUST… Let the whole world see— JOUUUUUUUUST… THIS IS DESTINY!

The first bell rings,

the horses fly, Two shadows racing side by side.

The lances crash, the splinters rain,

I hit the earth and rise again.

Another knight comes charging through,

His blade is flashing bright and true.

I barely turn, I feel it pass,

One inch away from ending fast.

The crowd is screaming out my name,

But all I hear is iron and flame.

One breath… One charge… One heartbeat left.

The gates swing wide.

And I have nothing left.

The final gates open.

Silence fills the field.

My opponent rides toward me… And I see the mark.

The same black mark That burned beneath my crown.

The horns begin to sound.

The horses start to run.

I lower my lance.

He lowers his. And everything disappears… Except the fire in his eyes.

JOUUUUUUUUST… RIIIIIIIIIDE!

Through the fire! JOUUUUUUUUST… Higher… higher… higher!

Steel against steel, Heaven watching from the sky,

One final charge… One lives.

One dies. JOUUUUUUUUST… LET THE KINGDOM SEE!

JOUUUUUUUUUUUUST… I WILL CLAIM MY DESTINY!

JOUUUUUUST! JOUUUUUUST! JOUUUUUUUUUUUUST! The final lance breaks.

Silence.

Then—

The kingdom erupts.

I won. But beneath his broken helm…

I see the mark.

The same mark beneath my crown.

And somewhere beyond the mountains…

Something answers.