The Green Exiles of Car Banseth (Performance II) - Living Calradia Soundtrack (Battania Ballad)

Battania tavern ballad (Performance II) from Living Calradia. Second vocal performance of 'The Green Exiles of Car Banseth' (Shakespeare's As You Like It set in the Battanian highlands), following exiled Morcant among the charcoal folk of Uthelaim, Rhiannon disguised as Rowan, and young Cadan. Lyrics: Branoc took Morcant's oak chair while the hill horns slept in rain, And drove the elder westward past Car Banseth's standing stones. No gilded hall received him, no scribe preserved his claim; The charcoal folk of Uthelaim made room beside their flames. His daughter Rhiannon cut her braid and wore a hunter's green, Called herself Rowan on the road where watchful spears were seen. Young Cadan won the springtime wrestling under Pen Cannoc's wall, Then followed one remembered face and left the prize and hall. Green road, hide the exile; rowan, guard the name. Under leaf and antler, high and low share flame. Carve no oath on living bark unless the heart stays true; The forest hears the boastful word and grows around it too. Cadan hung rough verses from the birches by the stream; Each praised Rhiannon's bright eyes more than metre, truth, or theme. Rowan found him blushing and said, "I cure such fevered men: Come woo me as your lady would, and I will mock you well." He came at dawn, he came at dusk, through bracken, frost, and flies; She tested every gallant word and watched his honest eyes. Around them lords cut firewood, shepherds judged the law, And Morcant learned a throne may shrink while justice still stands tall. Green road, hide the exile; rowan, guard the name. Under leaf and antler, high and low share flame. Carve no oath on living bark unless the heart stays true; The forest hears the boastful word and grows around it too. Then Branoc rode to hunt them with six spears and anger's breath; He found his sleeping brother where a wounded wolf drew near. Morcant woke and raised his shield, though exile made them foes; He saved the hand that robbed him as the winter daylight rose. Branoc broke his ashwood spear and knelt on root and stone: "The chair I stole made every feast a colder thing than home." At Car Banseth he gave it back before the gathered clans; And Rowan shed the hunter's hood and placed her hand in Cadan's. Green road, lead the exiles from the sheltering flame. Leaf and crown are lighter when mercy bears the name. Carve one oath on living bark, then prove the carving true; The forest keeps no golden chair - yet makes a court of you. The oldest oak kept Morcant's fire-mark. No one called it lesser than a seal. Soundtrack MP3 ZIP download: https://hyron.io/storage/public/KWPriX2X2T...