Lammas Night
Words by Mercedes Lackey, music by Leslie Fish


A waning moon conceals her face behind the scudding, wind torn cloud.
(A wind-torn shroud)
She wraps herself in its embrace as in a tattered cloak.
(A shadow woke)
The wind is wailing in the trees, their limbs are warped and bent and bowed.
(So bleak and cowed)
I stand within my circle now, to deal with what I woke.
(I wake, I see, but not yet free.)

A wanderer of wizard kind I was, until a month ago.
(So well I know)
The headman of this village came and begged that I should stay.
(So cold and fey)
"For since our wizard died," he said, "and why he died we do not know,
(So long ago)
We have no one to weave us spells and keep the Dark away [at bay]."
(The dark so deep; so cold the sleep.)

"His house and books are yours, milady, if you choose but to remain."
(Remembered pain)
This offer was too tempting to be lightly set aside.
(Remembered pride)
I'd wearied of my traveling, being plaything of the sun and rain.
(Choose to remain)
This was the chance I'd hoped for, and I said that I would bide.
(I hope, I pray, and you must stay.)

Perhaps if I had been a man, and not a maid  perhaps if I
Had been less lonely, less alone, or less of magic folk
(The spellbound broke)
Whatever weakness was in me, or for whatever reason why,
(My reason why)
Something slept within that house that my own presence woke.
(You dream so much, I try to touch.)

A half seen shadow courted me, stood close at hand or by my side.
(To vigil bide)
He left a lover's token: one fresh blossom on my plate.
(A fragrant bait)
I woke to danger, knew the former wizard [young magician] still to Earth was tied,
(For freedom cried)
And tied to me and I must act, or I might share his fate.
(I need your aid; be not afraid!)

I found a spell for banishment. The page then turned, and not by me.
(Look now and see)
The next spell differed by one word, a few strokes of a pen.
(And read again)
The first one I had seen before: the spell to set a spirit free.
(So I will be)
The second let the mage born dead take flesh and live again.
(One spell and then I live.)

Now both these spells were equal in their risk to body and to soul,
(I shall be whole)
And both these spells demanded they be cast on Lammas Night,
(The darkest night)
And both these spells of caster and of spirit [spirit and of caster] take an equal toll,
(Test to the soul)
But nowhere is it writ that either spell is of the Light.
(To live and see to touch to be.)

Can it be good [wise] to risk the anger of the gods in such a task?
(Yet I must ask)
Yet who am I to judge of who should live and who should die?
(Don't let me die)
Does love or duty call [to] him?  Is his kindness to me all a mask?
(Take up the task)
And could I trust his answer if I dared to ask him why?
(Give all your trust, my will you must.)

So now I stand within the circles I have drawn upon the floor.
(The open door)
I have no further answer if this spirit's friend or foe.
(Your friend you know) [Nor can you know]
No god sign has been granted me, though I have prayed full often, nor
(No god-sign has been granted, I have prayed full often)
Can I this moment answer if I will say "Come" or "Go."
(This moment answer--tell me "Come" not "Go.")