{"id":448,"date":"2025-09-15T07:00:35","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T12:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/?p=448"},"modified":"2025-09-13T21:57:30","modified_gmt":"2025-09-14T02:57:30","slug":"duke-of-bones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/09\/15\/duke-of-bones\/","title":{"rendered":"Duke of Bones"},"content":{"rendered":"

Something darker than my usual, from a current novel WIP. Do not call up that which you cannot put down.<\/em><\/p>\n

Echoes of wings and the beat of a heart
\nCarefully set to the side.
\nThe knowledge of things now rent apart
\nAnd terrors no soul can abide.<\/p>\n

A sword on his hip, as staff in his hand
\nAnd a silver gleam in his eye
\nWhen he dresses in black and makes no demands
\nSomeone is going to die.<\/p>\n

There is no forgiveness nor yet any warmth
\nNo more remains in his soul
\nWhen he dresses in black and goes from his hearth
\nAnd brings the wicked their toll.<\/p>\n

No pity will stay him, nor mercy incline
\nThat has long passed away.
\nNo paltry remorse will pay for these crimes
\nNor any false word they can say.<\/p>\n

So guard well your hearts, to virtue now cleave
\nAs you rest soft in your homes.
\nWhen wickedness takes what it should not receive
\nBeware then the Duke of Bones.<\/p>\n

Duke of Bones<\/em> copyright \u00a9 Heather Strickler 2025 all rights reserved<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Something darker than my usual, from a current novel WIP. Do not call up that which you cannot put down. Echoes of wings and the beat of a heart Carefully set to the side. The knowledge of things now rent apart And terrors no soul can abide. A sword on his hip, as staff in… Read More Duke of Bones<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[14,13],"tags":[22,20,11,17],"class_list":["post-448","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-poetry","category-writing","tag-grim","tag-mood","tag-poetry","tag-story"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/parUcj-7e","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":513,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/12\/17\/walker-between\/","url_meta":{"origin":448,"position":0},"title":"Walker Between","author":"Heather","date":"December 17, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"This is the other side of one I did a long time ago \u201cDuke of Bones\u201d. Same character, from the perspective of those he protects rather than hunts. I hope you enjoy. He\u2019s an odd one. He walks the weave He walks the cuts He walks the lines between Where\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Walker-Between.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Walker-Between.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Walker-Between.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":206,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2024\/08\/06\/a-song-of-ash-and-bone\/","url_meta":{"origin":448,"position":1},"title":"A Song of Ash and Bone","author":"Heather","date":"August 6, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"This is a bit darker than my usual fair, but it came as a piece and I don't tend to argue when they hit me like this. \u00a0Maybe someday I'll find out the rest of the story. Sing a song of six pence Pocket full of ash. Four and twenty\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/A-Song-of-Ash-and-Bones-image.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/A-Song-of-Ash-and-Bones-image.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/A-Song-of-Ash-and-Bones-image.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":552,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2026\/04\/24\/moon-road\/","url_meta":{"origin":448,"position":2},"title":"Moon Road","author":"Heather","date":"April 24, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Something quietly shining for your day. 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No sage\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MoonRoad.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MoonRoad.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/MoonRoad.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":328,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/02\/12\/between_burdens\/","url_meta":{"origin":448,"position":3},"title":"Between Burdens","author":"Heather","date":"February 12, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"A little melancholy, but I hope something that brings peace as well. A silver fall of ash drifts on a golden breeze While the frosty winter wind carries autumn leaves. A quiet soul disturbed by the changing of the tides Looks out to where the light quietly subsides. No fairies\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Between-Burdens.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Between-Burdens.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Between-Burdens.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":439,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/09\/03\/the-mad-king\/","url_meta":{"origin":448,"position":4},"title":"The Mad King","author":"Heather","date":"September 3, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Something one of my novel worlds poked to life. The crushing weight of duty Like irons weighing down The love of kin and country Pile lead upon the crown. While his heart seeks out an answer His mind is giving in. Not to pride or to hubris Nor to bright\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Poetry","link":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/category\/writing\/poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/TheMadKing.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/TheMadKing.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/TheMadKing.jpg?fit=600%2C600&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":475,"url":"http:\/\/dreaminginplot.com\/MainBlog\/2025\/10\/29\/refuge\/","url_meta":{"origin":448,"position":5},"title":"Refuge","author":"Heather","date":"October 29, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"We all need a refuge, some times. Still in the same world I have been for a while. 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