The Red Ring Fell

Lantern light and clinking glass
Laughter drifting slow
He leaned across her working hands
Like she was his to own

Gold glinting on his finger
Cheap perfume and pride
He spoke as if no one could see
The serpent at his side

But violins do not look down
And brothers never blink

You came with gold upon your hand
You leave with red upon your sleeve
In this house we guard our own
And we make the wolves believe
That honor lives in flesh and bone
Not vows you break for fun
You crossed the line beneath our roof
Now hear the trumpets run

She pulled her wrist away from him
He laughed and grabbed once more
A chair went back, a brother stood
Boots grinding on the floor

He spat a curse at family
Called virtue just a game
That was when the silver flashed
And nothing stayed the same

No mob, no rage, no chaos wild
Just one clean stroke of fate

You came with gold upon your hand
You leave with red upon your sleeve
In this house we guard our own
And we make the wolves believe
That honor lives in flesh and bone
Not vows you break for fun
You crossed the line beneath our roof
Now hear the trumpets run

Your wedding ring fell to the tile
Spun once in disbelief
The music never missed a beat
Steel wrote its brief relief
She stood unshaken, chin held high
No tear, no backward tread
The tablecloth was white before
It bloomed a quiet red

Let the silver trumpets cry
Let the guilty wonder why
In a house where sisters stand
You will answer hand to hand
Gold is weak and blood is truth
And truth cannot be spun
You crossed the line beneath our roof
And now the song is done