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Shieldbreaker
Years ago, Eoin O Beirne took the field against his friend Arien Shieldbreaker during a battle. Later, there was question as who had remained standing at the end of the fight. Herein, I take the liberty of coming up with MY "resolution" to the quarrel. Remember: all below is but a fiction!

Good friends, permit me to tell you a tale
May Allah bless Saladin.
I hope in the telling that I do not fail
May Allah bless Saladin.
It is but a tale of two good strong men.
And the battle betwixt them that they could not end.

For Eoin O Beirne felt that he was right.
"I tell you 'twas I who had won that fight!"

But Arien Shieldbreaker, whom some did call Roo,
Replied that what Eoin had said was not true.

"I fought as though I had nothing to fear.
By the end I still stood with blood on my spear."

Yet wiley Inez, the local songbird.
Could not let this pass without her good word.

"With blood on your spear, you think you show might?
Dear boy, you just cannot be doing it right!

But before you two lords again come to blows
Allow me this wager to end all our woes.

Let the lord of this land provide each a tent
The terms, my good sirs, let me simply rent.

The wager's object -- take spear to MY shield
On the morrow we shall see who had made me yield."

The next day Inez stood 'fore all of the land.
And made known to all how things came to stand.

"First went I to Roo -- 'twas a merry fight.
Then went I to Eoin's tent later that night."

But Eoin reneged on the challenge, you see
For he would have none with a wanton like me."

"Aha," crowed Lord Roo, "it would seem that I've won.
For Eoin did not finish what you had begun."

But Inez shook her head, "Nay it's not as you've thought.
For we all know my favours are easily bought.

Dear Arien, your skill is truly an art.
But 'tis Eoin who has won - as he's broken my heart."

So Roo you have lost -- and I am but cursed.
May Allah bless Saladin
For always shall Eoin stand on his honour first."
May Allah bless Saladin