Subutai

Subutai!
What am I?
But a man
Who hungers.

I grip my blade tight with bated breath
And gaze upon the man, who has lead us
with honour and glory, yet I find
My heart is empty, my pockets full of coin.

The blade weighs heavy in my hand
Am I coward or a man?
Whilst he sleeps I plot to betray
By the edge of my blade
Blood will run gold.

The emperor has paid well for this
for the death of the Subutai
My blade sings out in the night
to lay him down to his rest.

A wolf howls out in the night
My hand is stayed by Subutai
He reaches out for his knife
The traitor taken by surprise.

Their blades sing out calling for blood
They circle each other with desperation
One mind on gold the other on vengeance
They circle each other in the dark.

His blade strikes true again and again
Hopelessly I succumb to the pain
A treachorous deed goes unpaid
While the wolves howl out for their scraps.