many years
have passed the mark
since I last sang this song
many swords
have crossed their blades
many souls have suffered
but my eyes grow weak
and my beard grows long
with peace now being offered
so once more I tell this tale
once more I ride this demon
crouch down close to my fire
for the cold sinks to your bones
as the shackles of the evil eye
turns back those bygone days
*
Glendyn was my given name
in that carnage so long ago
now my spirit roams these darkened halls
with the hearth now centuries cold
and though my body is long since dust
my story must be told
we were the mighty brethren
in long boats we did arrive
we had our quest to fight and burn
slaying all we found alive
and as we marched across the land
you heard our battle cry
the winter's breath was our friend
fierceness was our shield
we fought until the death of all
our honor would not yield
and of the brothers in battle lost
we burned upon the field
entire towns we left in ruins
dying embers in the snow
the gods required sacrifice
our bloodthirst they did know
and as we crossed the village gate
our blades strained to taste our foe
there was plunder that we gathered
young lasses that we caught
we kept them for our pleasures
the rewards of battles fought
and the goddess that we worshiped
was the destruction that we wrought
we raised our swords in victory
our shields hung by our side
for underfoot lay the broken bodies
of the innocent that died
and the blood that froze to mother-earth
surely brought tears into her eyes
now I have seen the tunnel's glimmer
of this punishment forlorn
I hear the children screaming
as my soul is burned and torn
and I await the eternal quiet
of their forgiveness and their scorn
the light is growing stronger
my dust trembles beneath the stone
their far-off voices speak to me
as the seeds of mercy sown
and my misery hangs in tatters
as gristle from the bone
my peace is that much nearer
the gods hear my anguished plea
for I am the last brethren
who still journeys this dark sea
and with my endless song now over
I am, forever... free
