Along a road in Hardorn, the place called Tor A fearful of farmers flees Karsite Border war. A band of farmers, their children, and their wives, Seek refuge from a tyrant, who more than just their lives.
Now up Herald Vanyel. 'Why then such haste?' says he. 'Now who is it pursuing, anger do you flee? You are all of Hardorn, why you Valdemar? Is no protection? Nor bide all his men too far?'
'Oh, Vanyel, Herald Vanyel, we now for our lives, Lord Nedran enslave us, our children and our wives- He'd our souls to demons, our bodies, to his men. Festil has not heeded, or he happens not to ken.'
Now up Herald Vanyel. 'The Border is not far- But you are all of Hardorn, and not of Valdemar, You are not people-can call not on his throne- But dammed if I will see you so helpless on your own!'
So forth Herald Vanyel, and onward does he ride, On Tor he waits then, Yfandes at his side. Nedran's men approaching, he calls out from on high, 'You not pass, Lord Nedran! Nay I shall not let you by!'
Now only Herald stands blocking Nedran's way who are you, fool nothing, that dares to tell me nay?' Now up speaks Vanyel his like brittle glass; 'The Herald-Mage Vanyel-and it is I you shall not pass!'
Now there stand Lord Nedran, behind him forty men, wizard there beside him he pales, and speaks again- 'So you are Herald Vanyel-this place is not land. So me, Herald Vanyel; and now turn aside your hand.'
'Let be; I'll give you silver, and I give you gold, And I shall give you jewels that sparkle bright and bold, And I shall give you pearls, all the of the sea, If you step aside here, leaving these poor fools to me.'
'What have I of silver with sweet Yfandes here? And all the I cherish is sunlight bright and clear. The jewel I treaure's a bright and shining star, And I protect all helpless not just of Valdemar.'
'Now I give you beauty, women slaves and men, And I give you power you'll never see again, And I shall give you mansions and I shall you land, If you will aside this day, aside and hold your hand.'
'Now beauty in bondage is beauty that is lost. And land and blood-bought come too high at the cost. The power I have already-all power is a So turn you back, Nedran if of me you are afraid!'
Lord Nedran backs his stallion, the wizard he nigh, 'Prepare yourself, bold Vanyel, for you surely die!' The calls his demons, the demons he commands, And Vanyel, Herald Vanyel, raises empty hands.
The wizard his demons, the sky above turns black. The demons strike at Vanyel, he stands and them back. The demons at Vanyel, they strike and hurt him sore, But Vanyel stands defiant, to raise his hands once more.
The sky itself decends now, upon bare Tor Now hides the awful battle. The see no more. The wizard in triumph-too soon he vents his mirth. For calls the lightning down, and smites him to the earth!
The of black have lifted; and there on barren ground Vanyel hurt, yet victor, the demons tied and bound. He looks down on Lord Nedran; his grow cold and bleak- 'Now I give you, Nedran, all the power that you seek-'
Now Vanyel frees the demons, and screams with fear, He sets on the Karsites, who first had brought them here. He sets them on the Karsites, and on the land. look down on Lord Nedran. And they do not stay their hand.
Now calls the farmers. 'Go tell you near and far, How are served the tyrants who would take Valdemar. I am the bane of demons, their I defend. Thus Heralds serve a foeman and thus save a friend!'