The messenger rides with a single order.
Find thine enemies and show no quarter.
Sent by the king to do his will.
Bound by oath to maim and kill.
He rides at night in the falling snow.
Armor shimmering in the moon's faint glow.
Into winds that chill to the bone.
He makes the journey all alone.
Riding like a wraith in the blistering cold.
He remembers the words he last was told.
"Go thee yonder and find the offender"
"Show no mercy, accept no surrender"
"Silence the one who has spoken the word"
"And end the lives of all who've heard"
"Still the toungue which blasphemed the king"
"Deafen all ears that have heard this thing"
Alone he rides upon his steed.
On a trek to perform this deed.
Traveling through a forest of leafless trees.
He bounds through snow up to the knees.
Into the wind which carries the sounds.
Of howling wolves and baying hounds.
Hours into the darkness and miles of past.
The end of the ride is in sight at last.
He waits and watches from upon a hill.
Until the lights go out and all is still.
The wind is gone, silence fills the air.
He ventures downhill with utmost care.
Only sounds of footsteps and a racing heart.
The pawn of the king must play his part.
From room to room he carries out his order.
He accepts no surrender and gives no quarter.
The silence is broken by screams of fright.
The smell of fear permeates the night.
All are dispatched except for one.
The lone survivor tries to run.
Easily caught just outside the house.
The messenger pounces like cat on mouse.
As the prey lies dying in the cold.
He utters the thing that he was told.
With his final breath he speaks against the king.
The messenger can't believe he's heard this thing.
The words ring true as they travel through the night.
The messenger now knows why they caused such fright.
If they got out the kingdom would fall.
The people would revolt and destroy them all.
He finds himself now infected with the thought.
But he still must do what he was taught.
He alone is the last to have heard.
So he must sacrifice himself to silence the word.
By falling on his sword he is carrying out his order.
He accepts no surrender and asks no quarter.
