The hero looked in shock to see his friend in such a state

　　he`d missed the merchant`s sharp blue eyes, but couldn`t celebrate

　　"don`t suppose you`ve any gold for one who`s near his end

　　if you don`t, I`ll ask you for some luck, my little friend"

　　He took the old man in his arms and said with teary eyes

　　"the last time that I saw you, you were more than twice this size"

　　the merchant`s young assistant had grown up since they last met

　　the merchant though, was skin and bones, a portrait of regret

　　As he turned to take the merchant somewhere warm and dry

　　he heard an angry voice resound from in a shop nearby

　　"you put down my slave or I`ll report you to the guards

　　you could hang for stealing things off other peoples` yards"

　　With bloodshot eyes the hero simply asked the man "how much"

　　then tossed a shining silver coin to him, too hot to touch

　　"that should do" he said with burning hands "yes thank you sir"

　　the merchant sighed and said "you overpaid, you amateur"

　　"working in the mines was fun, but there I lost a leg

　　I was lucky I survived with strength enough to beg

　　later on I wound up back in chains in that there store

　　since then I`ve been basket weaving there upon the floor"

　　The hero almost laughed at how absurd the story was

　　such a rich man working like the poorest worker does

　　"here I thought my luck and friends had seen me off to hell

　　I guess I had a little left, and you`ve been doing well"

　　The hero told the merchant of his life since last they met

　　they laughed and cried for friends they`d known and times they won`t forget

　　then he took the merchant to an inn and paid his boardThe author`s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

　　and bought his old friend every luxury he could afford

　　"I finally have gold with which to clear my oldest debt

　　but we`re still not even for the help you gave me yet

　　now I have the power to make fortunes with my blade

　　come and let me care for you until my debts are paid"

　　"You`ve paid me back in freedom now, and that`s enough for me

　　charity is painful for a merchant proud as me

　　minus what you bought me for, and I remember well

　　you just owe me one gold coin as far as I can tell"

　　The hero tried to give him more, but couldn`t change his mind

　　he tried to give his slaves away, but those too were declined

　　"let me tell you how I made my fortune in my youth

　　it might seem a little strange to some but it`s the truth

　　I was just an orphan but I put my faith in luck

　　and always listened closely to my fate when I was stuck

　　I learned early on to trust the road that fate prepares

　　holding on to friends and trusting luck with my affairs

　　Yes, it`s true that luck and friends will save you til you die

　　and sometimes it`s the luck of friends on which we must rely

　　but yours is not a fate I share, beyond this happy day

　　to struggle against everything that fate has thrown your way"

　　"What about the pirates who attacked us out at sea

　　are the scars that we both carry luck or destiny"

　　the merchant looked with kindness at his frustrated young friend

　　proud he`d grown to be a man on whom he could depend

　　"Boy, I saw you struggle with your fate for several years

　　fighting up the current, never weakened by your fears

　　I can see you`ve made some luck yourself while on your quest

　　one day when you`ve lost enough, I hope you find some rest"

　　The merchant understood that he could never tie him down

　　he`d be restless whether in a prison or a crown

　　the hero looked away and sighed for he had made his choice

　　but still it made him happy once again to hear his voice

　　"I wish that I could help you more, but this is where we part

　　I`ll prove that I was meant to be a hero from the start

　　just because I wasn`t put upon this path by fate

　　doesn`t mean a farmer`s son must sit around and wait"

　　The merchant laughed and reassured his friend he`d be okay

　　"with this much gold to work with, I`ll be rich again some day

　　you get back to work now and don`t worry about me

　　when we meet again I`ll be more rich than you are free"

　　Bittersweet the meeting was, and soon it had to end

　　the optimistic merchant cheered and sent away his friend

　　as if the meeting was a dream, the hero then returned

　　continuing along the path for which he`d always yearned

　　In the end he had no doubt the merchant would do well

　　Indeed, his faith in luck and friends had seen him out of hell

　　and so his mind came back to thoughts about the task at hand

　　keeping safe the merchants with his mercenary band

　　When he found the merchants though, they weren`t prepared to leave

　　could there be some profit, still which they`d yet to achieve

　　he asked another mercenary, "what`s with all the fuss"

　　quietly the man replied, "the queen has come for us"