"Starting Small II: Brun (or The Talisman)" by Misti Hope Wudtke

Wrought long ago by mighty hands
     Of mighty gods in distant lands;
First stolen for a hero’s pride,
     Then gifted to a prince’s bride;
Next ransomed with ten chests of gold,
     And to a sorcerer was sold.
From master to apprentice passed,
     For many years, until at last
Its powers veiled, its legend lost,
     The path of a young maid it crossed.
In her safe keeping long it stayed,
     ‘Till plans to wed her love were made.
Then ‘round his neck she clasped its chain:
     “To your heart true I shall remain.”
But soon her love to war did ride,
     And on a field of battle died.
By victor from the victim torn,
     Soon by a ruthless warlord worn;
When white knights conquered his domain
     To his possessions they laid claim.
And so it was the treasure fell
     To a young squire, who kept it well,
Until one night a bandit’s knife
     Met with his heart and took his life.
In turn the bandit with his prize
     Met with a more macabre demise;
But harpies, to whom flesh is sweet,
     Care not for what they cannot eat.
So with his bones the treasure lay,
     Half-buried, hidden, ‘till one day,
A little thief with shining eyes
     Discovered, much to his surprise,
A talisman upon the ground:
     So often lost, once more now found.
Back to his hoard, his prize in tow;
     How could a simple robber know
That what he thinks a pretty charm
     Had for so long wrought so much harm?
Away into his tiny lair,
     No one but he can find it there
For now...

So, the extranet liked the formatting for my poem but I guess the actual page doesn't. Oh well. Anyway, the original focus of the picture was supposed to be the dragon; the poem was an afterthought. Had I known about the poem in the first place I would have made the talisman a little more ornate. *sigh* Anyway, have a look at a bigger, better version here (he makes a great wallpaper).

(Pssst...if you like the poem there are more at my Wyvern's Library page...)

Pencil sketch, scanned and colored in Photoshop w/Wacom.
Size: 18in x 24in @ 300dpi (i.e. prints are available).