Charge at Grunnar's Hill

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The dew of morn clings to the air
Infused with their cradled rot, my blade hums at my side
Sheathed, but it knows
Knots climb into my throat, looking below
At fifty thousand strong
Many in grotesque, cast-iron suits
I turn and nod to Aodin, he is a good man
He will die with honor this day
His fist clenches, archers knock their bows
Steady, steady now, not ‘til the sun rises
From behind us – over Grunnar’s Hill

Sweat builds, this chainmail extends my skin
Horses twitch and shake their heads, mine
More anxious than I
But I can only face my soldiers and tell them
I hope they said goodbye to their children
Drawing my sword skyward
Catching a glisten of sunlight

“Apollo gives us this day...
And when he sets, we will have long fallen...
But I would not sooner die
Fighting alongside any other men…
On this day, we bury the King’s wrath deep
Beneath their filthy skin!”
The hilt shivers within my grasp
End pointed downhill
“Blacken the sky!”

Silence falls, they grumble down the slope
And the spits of angry oak clamor
Eclipsing the sun, I see them – startled
Trembling, superior’s shrill orders
A grin tugs at my lips, there is no light
One by one, the storm descends
The reds of their eyes dusk over
And some thousands drop into Hell

“Brothers, the time is now!
We ride!”
The hammerfalls of hoofs, shouts
“For Ruina!!”
Bashing and clanging of steel
The threshold of adrenaline
Sweeping the hillside, ten thousand hellions
Almost with grace, we shook the Earth