The trumpets sound

Baron Korwyn Marius Velis Ariannaid
fallen in Fall Crown Tourney A.S. XLIII

The trumpets sound, the heralds cry;
today the best and bravest vie
by prowess and chivalric deed
to gain the right to rule Caid.
Preeminent among the throng
comes Korwyn, noble, bold and stong,
to strike and strive, to win or fall
and - most importantly of all -
to champion his Krista’s fame
and win her honor and acclaim.

He faces Wilhelm on the field;
and Korwyn first is forced to yield.
The bold are strongest under stress:
confronting Gunnar in the press,
now Korwyn matches, blow for blow,
the buffets of this second foe.
But Fortune’s favor is withdrawn
when Korwyn faces stalwart Shawn.
Above the field a raven calls;
Shawn’s blade strikes true, and Korwyn falls.

The valiant heart may well regret
a chance at kingship lost - and yet
there is no failure here, no shame,
for Korwyn knows that he can claim
a greater wealth than that of kings:
While reigns and realms are passing things,
the diadem of earned Renown
and lasting gold of Honor’s crown
abide, unmarred by stain or rust,
when kings are bones and thrones are dust.

— Fionnabhair Kyrieth Inghean ui Neill

...an expatriate Irishwoman living in the Low Countries, spends her time working with her needle or wrestling the Muse of Poetry (in which latter contests she usually gets the worst of the bargain).

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