The ember that remains

Verse I

I was born beneath the dragon’s crown,

Where golden towers kissed the sky,

With a silver tongue and a devil’s grin,

I learned to laugh, I learned to lie.

I drank with kings and danced with thieves,

I stole a kiss beneath the moon,

And every tavern knew my name,

Every maiden knew my tune.

Chorus

So pour the wine and strike the strings,

Let laughter drown the sorrow!

For tonight I’m the king of everything,

And tomorrow… we’ll face tomorrow.

Oh, I’ve loved a hundred hearts,

Or so the songs may say,

But there was one who stole mine whole—

And took it all away.

Verse II

Her name was Seraphine,

And she saw beneath my golden scales,

Past every boast and every grin,

Past every one of my tall tales.

She never cared for fame or gold,

Nor how many hearts I’d won.

She simply held my trembling hand

And asked me to become someone.

Verse III

One night the village turned to flame,

The heavens burned a crimson red,

I ran through smoke, I called her name,

But found her dying there instead.

I held her close among the ash,

Her final breath upon my skin,

And for the first time in my life,

This bard had no song left within.

Quiet Bridge

Rhogar lowers his voice. The tavern falls silent.

She whispered, “Don’t let your heart turn stone…

Don’t let sorrow make you cold.

There are still songs left to sing,

And stories left untold.”

But gods above, I wish she knew

How hard those words became…

For every woman that I kiss

Still carries just her name.

Final Chorus

So pour the wine and strike the strings,

Let laughter drown the sorrow!

Tonight I’ll be the fool again,

And tomorrow… we’ll face tomorrow.

I’ll charm the moon, I’ll court the stars,

I’ll dance beneath their glow,

For every heart I leave behind

Is one more place I’ll never know.

And if you hear an ember burn

When all the fires have died…

Know that somewhere in this wandering heart,

Her love is still alive.

Final Verse

So call me rogue, call me a fool,

Call me lover, call me liar.

I’ll raise my glass and play my tune,

And dance beside the fire.

For though my heart was forged in gold,

The flame within still remains…

And every song that Rhogar sings

Is for the woman in the flames.

Rhogar lets the final chord ring.

For once, he doesn’t smile.

Then he raises his glass.

“To Seraphine.” 🥃