Uh..they don’t rhyme. Nor do they sound like good poetry. I’m beginning to doubt the power of this gift! Perhaps it only works on Celts, not Greek? Apollo and the Muses would not be pleased if I resort to using a non-Greek magical item to hone my literature skills.

In fact, forget that. I know they would not be pleased it I tried any literature at all. So inept am I in it I could drive them to complete shame and destroy any confidence the Greek populace ever have on them.

And now, to make matters worse, I have the chance to further shame fellow Greeks by attempting to solve a poetic riddle...in Celtia!

I had been mesmerized at first by what was in front of me til Clarissant woke me up and warned me not to let the Ceannmhor Ghorm trick me. And she added an extra piece of advice: “shake the branch over your head for inspiration to complete the verse."

Good. Not only will I shame myself for my ineptitude for poetry, I should also make a fool of myself apparently!

When she repeated what the Ceannmhor Ghorm has said, I suddenly felt lighter. What luck! Apollo and Calliope must have changed their mind and decided that I should be favored instead! (Perhaps they are doing it for the mercy of the Greeks, imagine words travelling around Celtia that Greeks are bad poets on account of just one inept girl!). For I had listened to that poem in a tavern the first day I was here and I have found it so interesting that I pestered the bard time and time again to repeat it so I could have it memorized!

I nodded once Clarissant had finished reciting the poem. With my best poetic voice and facial expression I recited the poetry by memory.

While I did, I wondered why Clarissant's face was convulsing. Perhaps she had had a bad jug of mead.

At one point, I felt that my facial expression was not poetic enough so I screwed my face even more to make it look dramatic. At that point, she started guffawing. My my! Someone should tell her this is suppose to be an epic poem about an epic battle, not a comedy. Perhaps SHE should have this gift instead!

With my best poetic voice, I recited the poem by memory:

I attempted to recite more of the poem but I was struck suddenly with a block. My mouth open and shut idiotically, daring the words to come out of me.

"What's the matter?" Clarissant asked.

"I...I suddenly forgot how it went..."

"Wave the Branch over your head." She suggest.

I gave her a sideway look to tell her I was sceptical about it, but I tried it anyway. There's nothing to lose and everything to gain, so why not?

"Perhaps it should inspire her not to make that ridiculous expressions as well," she muttered under her breath.

Indignant, I ignored her and started to wave it around.

Miracolously, my mind cleared and as fast as light, I remembered the rest of the poem! Eliminating my poetic expression this time (I will give her a good word or two later about the Greek way of expressing themselves facially in poems!), I continued reciting the rest of the poem..."

When I have said my piece, there was a deathly silence all around. Caressing the Sabhdh to calm myself down, I looked at the Chieftain. Only his verdict of my recitation can grant us passage to the ship...