Five Chances

Iron boots imprint the ground

Rigid steps to stamp the mud

Clear instead of heavy thud

On a swamp within the trees

Trudging was the lonely ranger

On a beastless quiet forest

Longing for his home and rest

Coming any time at last

He perused the vegetation

Looking for faint signs of life

Was devoid and less than rife

Free so he kept on his way

Till an unsuspicious shadow

Held a dagger and behind

Trunk and four more of its kind

Still held steady for an ambush

The maneuver orchestrated

Each in tactical location

For the greedy execution

Five of them upon the man

With their bladed weapons held

Eager for a killing strike

Any second would they break

Brief position to attack!

But the lone and armored traveler

Had two ears of perked and sharp

Heard a muddy splash to warp

What peace lingered in surroundings

Glancing careful at directions

Noticed subtle oddly shape

A misplaced appearing slope

Chancing where did not belong

In alert he readied self

For assault or surge of any

Trouble that could make of plenty

Slim chance of desired survival

Hand on own sword gold-lined hilt

Patience on his gentle breath

Wielding inner latent wrath

Stand o’ quiet when he stopped

On him ambushers just jumped

Shady dangerous assortment

One or two that close and confident

Ran for piercing in a gap

In between the plates of metal

Target hidden yet was vital

A connection meant fate lethal

Grim the fate of steel on flesh

But by weapon’s his reveal

Blocking swinging misdirecting

Thrust of knife that caused be failing

What a save of life that was

So the warrior stood sole

Hard amidst the group of bandits

Wanting some few bloody hits

No calm in their twitchy hands

Came another harm attempt

Fast employed against the victim

Sharpened spike directed in

Frame of armored great combatant

Who in bend and turn of body

Dexterously it evaded

Had the very air persuaded

To quick movement with a swoosh

Next blows many avalanched

Bracers blocked and barred them all

Which were not dodged in their fall

Best they scraped and slid and slewed

“Think you are so funny now?!”

Was a bandit woman growling

With her putrid teeth a-showing

“Blink and you will be done for!”

But the stalwart strong combatant

Kept defending taciturn

Not a bit of spirit worn

But for armor slightly damaged

When a raise of glyph-full sword

Pushing a hand with its crossguard

Staked its presence to them hard

Then a slash of strength did follow

Gashing one of them so vertically

Blood a-spilling guts a-showing

And before was realizing

Falling somber on the ground

The event had stirred upheaval

Screams and yelling uncontrolling

True emotions bare a-showing

Strife in vengeance and their furor

The man barely could protect

Own his joints from the barrage

Of attacks imbued with rage

Late he parried every one

Repositioning himself

Edging slowly better angle

From strategic way to strangle

Cheating that they managed to

Skillfully at disadvantage

He faced uvulas and bloodshot

Eyes more bestial ones than not

Truly taking all his energy

When a slice of his determined

Had removed a hand withstanding

From a thug not comprehending

When was any time he able

Pouring blood to drip on land

From unsightly chilling stubble

Agonizing on the double

Yelling stealer bending knees

Hesitating ones behind

Frozen front the stern and standing

Man defying comprehending

Thing that brought plan to such ruin

With another cut so violent

Arm of same one mutilated

Chorus sting of pain belated

Of the newly victimized

“Leave!” the knight at last had spoken

Their stability had broken

Though through legs and hearts deep shaken

“We’ve reached past that!” was the answer

With a swinging weight maneuver

Of his blade and body whole

Rended bloody ‘nother foe

Of the target taken life

Two left intact rushed for murder

Fixed and cursed in darkness gazes

Inhumanity of hazes

To throw selves at cold-blood enemy

Once again attacks prevented

By prompt metal in right spot

Multitimes in stabs a lot

Hence encroaching desperation

Mixed inside the mad assailants

Hopelessly to seek success

Trying trying little less

Had been than the foolish cat

Who in vain will push with legs

Toy it clasps with own forepaws

Uselessly they clenched their jaws

Knew their efforts were denied

Pierce of tearing got to one

Warrior had found an opening

Quick another breath was ending

Wince when other horror saw

Dislocating his utensil

Bent on roaring silent wrath

Warrior pulled just enough

Making villain fall while dead

The buffoon untouched remaining

Turned around in crazy leaving

Darting he was unrelenting

Drove self out and left friend bleeding

The victorious stored weapon

Turned around and walked away

Taken not by feelings’ sway

Hope for best already gone

The prostrated red and suffering

Left was whining on the floor

One learned witness of the gore

Spree befallen from a robbery