Three Duels at Dawn

In the cool of early morning, massive Aerock rode to town,
And his horns were chipped and dusty, and his face set in a frown,
He dismounted from his insect and his muscles bulged and strained,
As his minotaurish fury could no longer be contained.

With a bellow like the rumbles that cascade within the earth,
Aerock issued forth his challenge for each man to prove his worth.
He said "I've ridden through the wastes, and now I own you all.
For there is no man among you who can stand up proud and tall."

All the people crouched and cowered as they wondered what to do,
When from out the tavern doorway stepped the centaur known as Blue,
He was bulging just as greatly in his arms and in his chest,
But the minotaur just watched him as he stood there, unimpressed.

Old Blue moved at a cantor as the people whispered thanks,
And his hands were resting gently on the pistols at his flanks,
He shouted back to Aerock in a voice which also boomed,
"I will give you just one chance to leave before you're dead and doomed."

The frown on Aerock's ugly face had deepened to a scowl,
And the answer that he gave was little better than a howl,
But the way that he was standing made it clear what he had said:
"When the sun comes up we draw and shoot till one of us is dead."

The two of them stood staring while the darkness of the night,
Was fading oh so slowly into dawn's oppressive light.
Underneath the far horizon there was tucked that golden jewel,
Whose appearance soon would signal the beginning of their duel.

The time was getting closer and the hour growing late,
And Old Blue and Aerock's fingers were just twitching from the wait,
Then at last the moment surfaced, and two shots rang out their sound,
And the people gasped in horror when Old Blue fell to the ground.

There was silence now that two that were decreased to only one,
And the prideful Aerock blew away the smoke from out his gun,
He raised his arms to show the town that he was well and fine,
And he said "If no one else objects, I'll take what's truly mine."

Then from a window up above, there came a human voice,
As their Jaran climbed onto a roof, he made the town rejoice,
They thought that he had fallen drunk last night when he was checked,
Yet still his voice seemed strong and clear when he said, "I object!"

But Aerock only laughed as Jaran straightened out his belt,
And his eyes were like a gambler's when a winning hand is dealt.
He said, "I didn't come to kill a drunkard on a roof,
And I doubt you're even fit to lick that other dead man's hoof."

But Jaran just ignored him and he pointed at the crowd,
And he told someone to count to three, and shout the numbers loud,
And when the number three was reached, each man would stamp his boot,
For that would be the moment they would draw their guns and shoot.

The minotaur just shook his head and put his gun away,
And he sniffed just once the morning air emerging from the day,
Up high above, good Jaran waited, anxious for the call,
But with the number three, came Jaran's final, tragic fall.

The dust had barely settled on his body's resting place,
As his killer stood triumphant with a smile on his face,
"I trust that is the last of your town's suicidal fools,"
Said the minotaur, and winner of two savage, deadly duels.

But the townsfolk knew a secret that big Aerock couldn't guess,
That there was a fool in town whose answer never wasn't "yes."
And no challenge could be made that he refused to even try,
For the Noggle Harrish Krell was far too dumb to ever die.

They say that Harrish Krell at times forgets to chew his food,
And he's utterly insensitive to anybody's mood,
He can't recall at funerals if he should cry or laugh,
And he always tries to use his knife to cut his ale in half.

He only knows the even words to every other song,
And even other Noggles swear there's something truly wrong,
But not a soul in town could claim to be a bit surprised,
When Harrish Krell began to speak, in language ill-advised.

"I didn't know that chamber pots, once they are finally full,
Get up and walk around and make their heads look like a bull,
But Jaran owed me money, and so listen, ugly cow,
That Old Blue still has my pickaxe, so I'll have to kill you now."

The laughter burst from Aerock's throat, he wiped away his tears,
It was the greatest jest he'd heard in all his many years.
"I'd like to spare you, funny friend, though I don't think I will,
So if you want, I'll add you to the list of those I kill."

But Harrish Krell seemed pleased by this, and said "Then count to four,
And then we'll draw and end this pointless, bloody little war."
So Aerock shook his head and laid his hand upon his gun,
And with a laugh within his voice, the minotaur said "One."

The crowd was silent in the street, they prayed that something new,
Would come about as Aerock stood and proudly spoke out "Two."
But there was nothing they could do but pray and wait and see,
And none expected what occurred when Aerock uttered "Three."

A brilliant glow appeared around the form of Harrish Krell,
And all the town could feel the heat from his infernal spell,
Before the booming voice of Aerock found the number four,
A burst of searing fire made the minotaur no more.

The fright'ning threat of Aerock was a terror of the past,
And the people of the town stood still and silently aghast,
So Harrish Krell looked all around and waved away the smoke,
And coughed, just once, to clear his throat, and then their savior spoke.

"About my methods, I suspect that some may not be thrilled,
But I'm not quick, and even fights would likely get me killed.
I know you think my brain is thick, my wits are weak and numb,
And though I may be stupid, I am certainly not dumb!"