The Noniad

The Noniad, subtitled "Matthias Height Nonius, His Deeds and Accomplishments," is a work of epic poetry devoted to the mythic Ninth House swordsman Matthias Nonius written by Ortus Nigenad. The Noniad contains eighteen books and is written in enneameter—a verse with nine feet.

Excerpts

Book Five

Harrowhark Nonagesimus's least favorite book, book five covers Matthias Nonias's battle with a Lyctor—most likely Gideon the First. This excerpt is used by Ortus Nigenad and Abigail Pent to summon Nonias to The Battle of the River Bubble.

"I am the Emperor's Hand; do not thou persist in this combat; matchless am I with the long blade—
"Matchless alike in my magecraft. Fall to your knees and be glad that I spare thee; thy courage is mighty:
"'Mightier yet is thy folly if thou think'st yet to oppose me.' The Lyctor spoke and was silent—
"Nonius, wounded full sore, spat blood and gave him a grim smile; nor did the sword in his hand shake—
"Boldly he answered the saint: 'Tis true that your power is great, o servant of masterful Canaan;
"nor may I hope to be counted your equal in skill, nor in craft, nor even in bodily vigour...'"

Book Eleven

"My sister, I envy your fortune; fearless you forge yet ahead, through the cold grey flood of the River.
"Fallen in war for the fame of the House is the death every warrior fain would win at the finish;
"Laggard I linger behind; hold fast on the far bank's beach-head! Blood shall repay your blood spilt."

"Warrior proud of the Third House! Ride forth now as my sister! Ride we to death, and the proving!
"Ride we with heads held high; we shall bloody our blades in the foe's heart; death shall we bring to the foul ones—
"Death shall we win for ourselves, as the prize for our high deeds done on the ash-choked plains of the ravens!"

Book Sixteen

"Then did the dire bone frenzy fall upon Nonius, the mightiest arm of the Ninth and it's bulwark;
Spasmed his veins with death lust; his great heart roared like a black iron furnace, hungry for corpses..."

Unknown Quotations

"Those who are fit but to hold their blade in the scabbard — never to draw it forth for the battle."

"Baleful the black blade struck at the shimmering stuff of the spectral beast, biting deep in its false flesh.
Shrieking, it flailed with its claws at the pauldrons and casque of the Ninth, yet his heart never faltered or failed him..."

"Then Nonius spake full wroth; thunder'd his voice as the black sea roars on the tomb-gate of Algol,
Blazing his eyes with the fell light thrown from the Emperor's corpse-fires; answer he gave, and he told them—"