Soon the sun set, soon black Night's darkness arrived

and the beating of drums rose again the woodlands

and shrieks of the ravens echoed out in the night.

The savages returned, bade the comrades to come

that they might meet the queen who ruled in the darkness

and learn of the glory that they saw in the deep woods.

Halon obeyed, for his curiosity had nearly consumed him

and Kruye came too, she followed directly behind him,

Jekkex went last, holding his spear firm in his grasp.

The rest stayed behind, they made ready to flee

in case of some trap, they would not be ensnared.

They were lead down a new path by their barbarian guides

a way deeper into those woods, a path shrouded in mists.

The trees loomed large over that narrow pathway,

there was no light, they could hardly look out ahead.

Nor could they speak, for just as their sight was confounded

the shrieking of ravens drowned out all of their words

and that shrieking grew ever louder as the went on their way.

After some distance, the mist faded ever so slightly

and shapes could be seen, though they mistrusted their eyes

for it seemed to them they were seeing even more savages

arise from vast nests, and raising their heads towards the sky

shrieking in the voice of a raven, and then rising upwards

and climbing out of the nests, holding great tree limbs

in their hands. As the comrades walked on in the darkness

these strange fellows approached them, join the procession.

The wore no clothing, and like the others were painted

but their markings seemed less random, each was alike.

A thin black line curved down from each of their eyes,

that mark was upon them, and countless others besides,

there was yellow smeared thickly on top of their lips

and large black smudges filled up their broad backs.

These marks were in common, but each bore many others

unique to himself, there were countless strange markings.

As they marched onward, those strange men took up a song

in a strange tongue, they were clicking and shrieking

but a pattern could be heard, something resembling a tune.

They came to a clearing where the mist was even thicker

but two things could be seen, they stood out in the darkness.

The first was a cauldron that stood on a vast fire

that towered up tall, and also spread itself wide,

it seemed as though there could be none that were larger.

The second was a throne that looked to be built of twigs

and wind-fallen branches, all twisted together

by rough hands, which were greatly lacking in skill.

The savages advanced, formed a ring around this place

and the comrades were held back, kept just out of the clearing.

The song's volume increased, and so did the raven's shrieking

until the two blended together, and cried out in one voice.

Then came a long moment of absolute blackness

there was one last shriek, and then silence reigned.

When vision returned, there was a queen on the throne.

Dressed as the others, with no clothes upon her

save for a cloak, made of long black feathers

and the paint upon her, all of it was black

and it covered her entirely, no skin could be seen

that had gone unstained by that darkest of inks.

She rose from her throne, shrieking out to the others

who made a similar response, in the savage custom

and she made her way over to that vast cauldron

spoke soft words over it, then held out her hand.

Two bound figures were pushed out over to her,

a man and a woman, distinguished by youth.

They made no sound, and the cause of that was clear

their mouths were sewn up, preventing complaint.

The queen pulled out a knife, her goal was clear

and pulled the man over, held his head over her cauldron

and dug the knife deep into his throat, blood gushed out

and fell into the cauldron, a thick smoke arose.

Then she brought over the woman, there was fear on her face

made her kneel by the fire, rubbed ash in her hair

and then dragged her right upward, holding her tightly,

the queen picked her up, and shrieking quite madly

dropped her into the cauldron, the smoke increased.

The queen breathed this in, her eyes turned black

and she spoke out quite clearly in a new voice.

"The truth arrives now, through bloody revelation,

The mother shall guide us, for we gave her a daughter

and we paid the blood price, so now we might know

the truth of the strangers who came to our lands.

She says they are faithless, came with wicked intent

with no love of the world, save for that which they make.

They mean to conquer all nature, make the world serve.

They mean to make an end to all worship of spirits as well

even turn Night to their service, if they are able

and seize Raven's mysteries, record them for all.

They are the foes of the chosen, that is the truth.

By blood and by faith, I know that this is so."

Then her voice faded, she fell down onto the ground.

Then a new shrieking arise, all the savages turned

to face the comrades, they pounded their chests

and slowly stepped forward, with hate in their eyes.

Then spoke Jekkex, as he pushed his comrades backwards

"Now we have seen them, they who we knew to be savage,

we were right to mistrust them, to expect betrayal.

Now it comes down to my business, this is my duty,

I beg you to flee, there is no more we can learn here

and they will never see reason, for they are barbaric

and love their savageness, there can be no redemption."

These words he said, and his comrades accepted them,

and the three of them fled, they were pursued.

A murderous swarm of ravens flew down and beset them

and the savages followed, shrieking their warcries.

They came from all angles, and struck out in fury.

The first to come near them was struck down with great haste

Jekkex struck out swiftly, his spear found its mark,

and the second fared the same way, but not the third man

who was the slightest bit swifter, struck his own blow

against the spear-comrade, who ignored the great pain

and struck down that man as well, his blood watered the trees.

They found their way back, the foes were hot on their heels

made their way back to their comrades, and gave them the news.

They had been prepared, and acted with great swiftness

soon all were in flight, they were rushing for safety

at the end of the woods, for they held the great hope

that the savages would not pass the edge of their land.

The spear-comrades went last, they were the rearguard

and they met the foemen in battle, put up a great fight

that the others might flee, that they might find safety.

In this battle, Fafri was once more distinguished in glory

three enemies beset him, and he met them with his skill

his shield was his salvation, he blocked all their blows

and then struck them down, they were impaled on his spear.

The spear-comrades fought well, they did as they were trained

and their discipline was a match for the mad men that they fought.

Their foes turned away, they were broked in that battle

and they fled back into darkness, they hid in the trees.

The comrades marched on for hours, until at long last

they saw daylight rising, then they knew they were safe.

Night's power had ended, and they were clear of the trees

and soon they found a new road, a path they could follow.