Iron boots imprint the ground
Rigid steps to stamp the mud
Clear instead of heavy thud
On a swamp within the trees
Trudging was the lonely ranger
On a beastless quiet forest
Longing for his home and rest
Coming any time at last

He perused the vegetation
Looking for faint signs of life
Was devoid and less than rife
Free so he kept on his way
Till an unsuspicious shadow
Held a dagger and behind
Trunk and four more of its kind
Still held steady for an ambush

The maneuver orchestrated
Each in tactical location
For the greedy execution
Five of them upon the man
With their bladed weapons held
Eager for a killing strike
Any second would they break
Brief position to attack!

But the lone and armored traveler
Had two ears of perked and sharp
Heard a muddy splash to warp
What peace lingered in surroundings
Glancing careful at directions
Noticed subtle oddly shape
A misplaced appearing slope
Chancing where did not belong

In alert he readied self
For assault or surge of any
Trouble that could make of plenty
Slim chance of desired survival
Hand on own sword gold-lined hilt
Patience on his gentle breath
Wielding inner latent wrath
Stand o’ quiet when he stopped

On him ambushers just jumped
Shady dangerous assortment
One or two that close and confident
Ran for piercing in a gap
In between the plates of metal
Target hidden yet was vital
A connection meant fate lethal
Grim the fate of steel on flesh

But by weapon’s his reveal
Blocking swinging misdirecting
Thrust of knife that caused be failing
What a save of life that was
So the warrior stood sole
Hard amidst the group of bandits
Wanting some few bloody hits
No calm in their twitchy hands

Came another harm attempt
Fast employed against the victim
Sharpened spike directed in
Frame of armored great combatant
Who in bend and turn of body
Dexterously it evaded
Had the very air persuaded
To quick movement with a swoosh

Next blows many avalanched
Bracers blocked and barred them all
Which were not dodged in their fall
Best they scraped and slid and slewed
“Think you are so funny now?!”
Was a bandit woman growling
With her putrid teeth a-showing
“Blink and you will be done for!”

But the stalwart strong combatant
Kept defending taciturn
Not a bit of spirit worn
But for armor slightly damaged
When a raise of glyph-full sword
Pushing a hand with its crossguard
Staked its presence to them hard
Then a slash of strength did follow

Gashing one of them so vertically
Blood a-spilling guts a-showing
And before was realizing
Falling somber on the ground
The event had stirred upheaval
Screams and yelling uncontrolling
True emotions bare a-showing
Strife in vengeance and their furor

The man barely could protect
Own his joints from the barrage
Of attacks imbued with rage
Late he parried every one
Repositioning himself
Edging slowly better angle
From strategic way to strangle
Cheating that they managed to

Skillfully at disadvantage
He faced uvulas and bloodshot
Eyes more bestial ones than not
Truly taking all his energy
When a slice of his determined
Had removed a hand withstanding
From a thug not comprehending
When was any time he able

Pouring blood to drip on land
From unsightly chilling stubble
Agonizing on the double
Yelling stealer bending knees
Hesitating ones behind
Frozen front the stern and standing
Man defying comprehending
Thing that brought plan to such ruin

With another cut so violent
Arm of same one mutilated
Chorus sting of pain belated
Of the newly victimized
“Leave!” the knight at last had spoken
Their stability had broken
Though through legs and hearts deep shaken
“We’ve reached past that!” was the answer

With a swinging weight maneuver
Of his blade and body whole
Rended bloody ‘nother foe
Of the target taken life
Two left intact rushed for murder
Fixed and cursed in darkness gazes
Inhumanity of hazes
To throw selves at cold-blood enemy

Once again attacks prevented
By prompt metal in right spot
Multitimes in stabs a lot
Hence encroaching desperation
Mixed inside the mad assailants
Hopelessly to seek success
Trying trying little less
Had been than the foolish cat

Who in vain will push with legs
Toy it clasps with own forepaws
Uselessly they clenched their jaws
Knew their efforts were denied
Pierce of tearing got to one
Warrior had found an opening
Quick another breath was ending
Wince when other horror saw

Dislocating his utensil
Bent on roaring silent wrath
Warrior pulled just enough
Making villain fall while dead
The buffoon untouched remaining
Turned around in crazy leaving
Darting he was unrelenting
Drove self out and left friend bleeding

The victorious stored weapon
Turned around and walked away
Taken not by feelings’ sway
Hope for best already gone
The prostrated red and suffering
Left was whining on the floor
One learned witness of the gore
Spree befallen from a robbery