The Warrior's Prayer

Grandfather, tell me a story!

All right, go and get your storybook

No, no, not one of those, a real story!

A real story?

Yes, tell me about when you were a boy

Well, then, I shall have to take you back with me

A long way in time...

It was my thirteenth year on a cold winter's day

As I walked through the enchanted forest

I heard the sound of horses, and men at arms

I felt compelled to walk on

And find the place of these sounds

And when the forest did clear

I was standing on a hill

Before me was a great plain

Upon it, the armies of the worlds standing, waiting

I thought to myself

For whom or for what are they waiting?

Suddenly a gust of wind came up from the north

There appeared a lone rider, holding a sword of steel

Then from the south came another, bearing a battle ax

From the east came a third holding a spiked club

And finally from the west, a rider who wielded a great hammer of war

With them came their soldiers of death

Followed by an army of immortals

They were few in number

But the look in their eyes told all who beheld them

That they would leave this day only in victory or death

And there was a great silence...

My heart began to pound

Storm clouds filled the sky with darkness

Rain came and the four winds blew with such anger

That I held fast to a tree

I watched the four riders raise their weapons into the air

Without warning, screaming their war cry

They led the attack, down to the battle they rode

They met the armies of the world with a mighty clash!

I could feel the ground shake

The earth drank much blood that day

Each of the four, was unto himself

A whirlwind of doom!

When the smoke did clear, many thousands were dead

There was much blood and gore

Their bodies lay broken and scattered across the battlefield

Like brown leaves blown by the wind

And I saw the four ride together to the top of the hill

While below them the soldiers of death assembled

All those who would now swear allegiance to them

And the four spoke the words

Of the warrior's prayer

Gods of war I call you, my sword is by my side

I seek a life of honor, free from all false pride

I will crack the whip with a bold, mighty hail

Cover me with death if I should ever fail

Glory, majesty, unity, hail, hail, hail

And as I stood and looked on

I heard the armies of the world hail them without end

And their voices of victory

Carried long and far throughout the land!

Well, that's it, did you like the story?

Yeah, it was great!

Oh good, I'm glad, now off to bed with you

Grandfather?

Yes?

Who were those four men?

Who were they?

They were the metal kings!