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.
