Battlehymn part 3
Lyrics and music by The Wizard’s Apprentice

Music (mp3) can be found at http://music.download.com/thewizardsapprentice or http://TheWizardsApprentice.net

The old footman paused in his story,
lit his pipe and wettened his throat
whilst his listeners urged him to tell them
how matters had gone.
Now that he had their full attention, he spoke anew.

-Well, the field was covered by wounded and dead
Of the grandest of armies but a fraction remained

Nearly half of us died in the very first rush
but with archers' aid we broke their ranks;
as the Bretheren went down the tide did turn.
The enemy forces were scattered and slain

We drove them like cattle and hunted them down
The ravens and rats made a bargain that day
as the fortunate left turned their eyes to the north
to the city of Rimsheim, defenceless and frail.

As one we moved, and while we approached,
An anger befell us and grew to a rage
It fed to a frenzy as we battered the gates
In the dust and the remnants, the slaughter began.

We came down on the city like a beast on its prey
and dug our talons deep in the flesh
The savage horde charged through the streets,
neither women nor children or livestock was spared.

They broke into homes and sought out the hiding,
the dust of the streets was soaked in their blood.
The history of Rimsheim was put to an end;
In hours the city was levelled and burned

In the midst of the slaughter a voice broke me free
of the murderous spell that enchanted us all;
the helpless cries of an infant child
called from the ruins of a merchant's home.

I searched through the rubble and picked up the boy,
hushed him to whimpers and carried him out
I made my way through the city unharmed
and set my course for the Temple above

My only intent was to find somewhere safe
but as soon as I entered I feared for my life,
for the man I met wore a Bretheren's robe
and I knew he could tell on which side I had fought

The priest said to me, in a voice of despise
-You saved the boy's life so we'll give yours to you,
but you are not welcome; if you stay you will die
Now hand me the child and be on your way.

The boychild was raised to a master of blades
and now he is known all throughout our land
as a slayer of dragons and betrayer of hope
but that, my friends, is another tale.

I bid you all a good nights sleep.