Page 42 of The Prince and the Ice King

“Do you know ‘The Ride-Along Bard’ about the traveling minstrel who keeps finding faulty heroes? That one always makes me laugh.” It had been Reardon’s mother’s favorite when he was little and she’d sing by his bedside.

“A classic!” Wynn said, setting his quill aside to straighten on the bench and starting right in on the introduction without needing to change sheet music.

Josie strummed, and the flutes started up, the lone drummer pounding out a beat as Nigel held his tambourine under his arm and clapped along.

Wynn began with a beautiful tenor.

“There once was a humble bard

Setting off to tell the greatest of tales,

Seeking heroes and knights in every tavern she fared.

She was never short of volunteers.”

He nodded at Reardon to continue, who knew the song well.

“The first she rode along beside

Was a fabled hero of legend,

A lady knight besting dragons and beasts,

Then besieged by cutthroats and brigands.”

Wynn joined on the chorus.

“For no bard is humble,

And no hero’s flawless.

All that matters is the stories we tell.”

This time, Wynn nodded for Reardon to start.

“The next the bard chose as her muse

Was a bright young hero who’d vanquished a lord,

Freeing peoples and lands from the overlord’s hold,

Then he conquered and ruled just the same.”

Wynn nodded again, adding harmony as Reardon led.

“She tried a noble king all adored,

Hearing praise of peace and riches.

Indeed, the king was everything claimed,

But he ate his enemies whole.

“For no bard is humble

And no hero’s flawless.

All that matters is the stories we tell.”

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