The Third Ballad
Where is the egg that was saved from a fire?
Where is that dragonet, the stars inquire?
Find here the sister of the Prince of Gold
Find here the heir of the dynasty old
She's laughing and soaring the sapphire sky!
Scales apple red as the egg that held her
Gaze that gleams amber, swift wings all a-blur
This is the princess illicit, a child
She plays unseen in the green forest wild
And twirls, free and secret, in the wide sky
Far from a castle with tall gilded halls
Safe from her mother and cursed, crumbling walls
Her brother has raised her far from that eye
That so long ago condemned her to die
The cruel Queen has not seen this distant sky
The Gold Prince calls that dear name, 'Wait, Candle!'
Does he fear she flies too high to handle?
Does he know what fire will stir in her bones?
O that poor Golden Prince, he should have known
When years pass, she will yearn for more than sky
One day in the meadow of white flowers
A young dragon, Shrike, sat counting hours
Lost to this forest on a wayward wind
Fate fumbled with him, too late to rescind
He gazed up and beheld her in the sky
Candle, who danced in the drafts of the morn
With shimmering sunlight crowning her horns
Candle, who dared to fly over the clouds
Whooping and singing and shouting aloud
While Shrike picked at petals, watching the sky
Cresting air currents, Candle had a start
For he caught her eye as she caught his heart
Thrown into flight by folly of fresh love
He glided up to where she soared above
And she circled him there in the blue sky
A breeze and a look passed between the pair
Passion inside her, alit with this flare -
He gave her gardenia blooms, purest white
Then flew beside her all through the bright night
Smiling together, they shared the new sky
Later they talked and walked the old pathways
Brashly, Shrike asked Candle for all her days
Confessing her love, she made a request
That they flee and fly free and see the west
'Shrike,' said she, 'I want to know the whole sky!'
With Shrike, Candle forgot all she'd been taught
Abandoned her brother, left him distraught
Though of young romance oft tell tragic songs
Love compelled Candle and Shrike to fly off
Leaving the Gold Prince in an empty sky