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In the Hall of the Elau King

from Ale Whores of Mercia by SYMBEL

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about

Across a snow blown hill-path walks a man in a cloak. He is neither rich nor poor, and would not arouse interest were it not for his presence out in the open in such dangerous times. His name is Cedric, or rather, that is the name he is using around these parts - the sloping hills that approach the mountainous areas to the far west of Aengland may or may not be welcoming to him. He has heard that all is not well in the Mercian abode since his last visit, and that hideous monsters from beyond the hills are terrorising the lands - murdering many good men, women and children, and stealing all that is of worth.

Through the blizzard flakes, Cedric sees that wisps of smoke betray his destination - the hall of King Elau of Mercia. As he crunches in the snow, he hears that within the walls there are some frenzied exchanges of words. He senses an atmosphere of great agitation. Seeing the sentry post abandoned, Cedric slips inside the hall to watch from the shadows. A group of warriors are trying to get King Elau's son, Thane, to come to a decision.

lyrics

( The monster is killing them. Thane is prompted to call for war that night, but Cedric the poet warns against haste ).

The moon looks down in rage
invokes the spirit of this age
in bad maegen
the scale beasts horde
our gold and our flesh
in the hills
the ground wyrms shriek
their calls through the night.

''It took my children
bit of their heads
and strew their bodies in the bloodied snow''

Too long the wyrm unwinds
we feel it choking us inside
this once proud hall
what will you do?

Cut it into pieces!
Take from it its riches!

(Cedric emerges from the shadows and answers on behalf of the young warrior )

...ne sceal no te hatheort, ne to hraedwyde, ne to wac wiga, ne to wanhydig, ne to forht ne to fægen, ne to feohgifre, ne næfre gielpes to georn, ær he geare cunne. Beorn sceal gebidan, þonne he beot spriceð, oþþæt collenferð, cunne gearwe....

(* a wise man must be patient. He must never be too impulsive, nor too hasty of speech, nor too weak a warrior, nor too reckless, nor too fearful, nor too cheerful, nor too greedy for goods, nor ever too eager for boasts, before he sees clearly. A man must wait when he speaks oaths, until the proud hearted one sees clearly )

(Realising that Cedric has returned from his trip to the eastern Fenland Kingdoms, those assembled chant in honour. The hall erupts into a milling throng of beer soaked men and women. The poet has returned with tales and stories to entertain the King, who is called from his chamber. Cedric explains that the tale of the beast has spread to other lands and that there has was talk of the Mercian Kingdom angering the gods. King Elau roars with disapproval, but then thinks a while. ''Call the Cursed Hag in the Hood!'' )

credits

from Ale Whores of Mercia, track released May 5, 2007

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SYMBEL Birmingham, UK

Formed in 2001 to release pagan crust black metal.

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