Disclaimer: I do not own Diane Duane's books. I just read them. My favorite is Deep Wizardry because of the Song of the Twelve. So here I put down what the song is, the story behind it, and how much I admire Diane Duane.

Little Tidbit: One of my friends and I sing this song from time to time. I would be the evil Lone Power and the Master Shark, while she would be the Singer and the Silent Lord.

LP: Lone Power SL: Silent Lord S: Singer MS: Master Shark T:Together

1. T: Blood in the water I sing, and one who shed it

Deadliest hunger I sing, and one who fed it

Weaving the ancient-most tale of the sea's sending

Singing the tragedy, singing the joy unending

This is our shame, this is the whole ocean's glory

This is the song of the Twelve, hark to the story

Hearken and bring it to pass, swift lest the sorrow long ago laid to its rest

Devour us tomorrow!

2. S: Nay slowly sounder, slow is the wise whale's song

And wise as slow for he who hastens errs

And who errs learns grief

And not the master shark has teeth as fierce

Grief eats its prey alive and pain grows greater as the grief devours not less

So let this stranger sing his piece what he desires of us

There's sea enough and time enough to hear him

Though he sing the darkened moon full and back again

Aye let him speak

3. LP: With powers and dominations need I speak

The ancient lords who hold the sea in sway

I pray thee lords of the humors hear me now

Last least and poorest of the new made whales

New loosed from the sea's great silent heart

No lord have I therefore to ye I come

Beseeching low thy council and thy rule

For one that's homeless lawless mateless lost

4. S: Who art thou then that speak'st

5. LP: your mastery is hollow cold song strict ruled by law

From such bland rule come no great musics

Singer follow me accept my gift and what it brings

And song shall truly have no master save for you

My gift will bring you lyric that will break the heart that hears it

Every seaborne voice will curse your newfound art

And wish that art its own

Take up the gift oh foremost singer

6. S: Stranger no more

Power am I

Fear in the water as my foes flee

I need no boon

In the below all bow before me

Speak not to me

Speak not of gifts

7. LP: and do you then desire no gift of mine

You who have lost so much

Ah no you have great strength of your own indeed

Great strength of jaw of fluke of fin

Fear goes before your face but sorrow follows after

What use strength when children rot beneath the waves

When that sweet mouth you gave suck is gone

Rent to red tatters by the flensing knives

When that second heart that beat by yours lies ground for dogs meat in a whalers hull

Take up my gift and learn strength learn power learn to turn wizardry to serve your purpose

Taking the brute invaders lives for the small life that swims the sea no more

8. S: there is there is another life…saved she saved

9. LP: what matter as if brutes who fear the sea are capable of though much less of love

Even a shark by accident may save a life then turn and tear the newly saved!

Take up the gift and take a life for a life as it was done of old

10. S: Life

11. SL: must I take the barren gift

Learn death and lose my mastery

Then let them know whose blood and breath

Will take the gift and set them free

Not old enough to love as yet

But old enough to die indeed

The death fear bites my throat and heart

Fanged cousin to the pale one's breed

But past the fear lies life for all

Perhaps for me and past my dread

Past loss of mastery and life

The sea shall yet give up her dead!

12. MS: master have I none nor seek

Bring the ailing bring the weak

Bring the wounded ones to me

They shall feed my mastery

13. SL: lone power I accept your gift

But take my gift of equal worth

I take death with me out of time

And make of it a path a birth

Let the teeth come as they tear me

They tear your ancient hate for I

So rage proud power fail again and see my blood teach death to die!

THE ACTUAL STORY (I know you've been impatient but the song is so beautiful and tragic!)

Chapter One: The Silent Lord

The Silent Lord swam slowly past the other whales congregated in groups. She was one of the Twelve Lords of the Humors, known as the Silent Lord. She was an outcast, and though what she did was important, she would never be one of them.

Over the past few days several things had happened to make the people disturbed. An earthquake had split the sea floor. There had been underground volcanoes, dormant for centuries, suddenly spewing up. The Master Shark with his minions feasted on the wounded. It was a nightmare.

"-what they're going to do about it."

"They never do anything you know; it's all just pretence."

"What morons…"

The Silent Lord sighed. She knew what the groups were talking about – the Lords of the Humors didn't look like they were investigating the earthquake and volcanoes. And they weren't. They were still arguing over what to do. Although the Lords were powerful wizards, that didn't make them any less human – or in this case, whale.

The Silent Lord slowly wound her way around the groups. She had to go up for air. She swam up a mile or so and blew her spout; then diving back in went in search of the Lords.

She did not have to look long. Past the Library, with their librarians full of ancient songs to be sung about history – including those of the evil Lone Power, the banished god – and smacked into the Sounder.

"Silent Lord," he greeted her solemnly.

"Sounder," she replied, just as grave.

"We have received disturbing reports. Please follow me."

The Sounder turned tail and swam, not even looking back. The Silent Lord silently followed. They traveled to a deep cove, not even pausing for a snack.

All of the Lords of the Humors were there, and the Sounder and the Silent Lord completed the group. Then one stood up.

"As you probably all already know," said the whale, "we have received reports of what might have caused the earthquakes and the eruptions. There has been no proof, until now." The humpback paused.

"The Lone Power is back."