Shadow Stalker: Demonsbane Mercedes Lackey

A song from the CD Shadow Stalker, by Mercedes Lackey. About Vanyel defending farmers from a sadistic Hardorn Border Lord. Sung by Heather Alexander, I think.

Lyrics:

DEMONSBANE

Along a road in Hardorn, the place called Stony Tor
A fearful band of farmers flees Karsite Border war.
A frightened band of farmers, their children, and their wives,
Seeks refuge from a tyrant, who wants more than their lives.

Now up rides Herald Vanyel. "Why then such haste?" says he.
"Now who is it pursuing, whose anger do you flee?
For you are all of Hardorn, why seek you Valdemar?
Is Festil no protection? Bide all his men too far?"

"Oh, Vanyel, Herald Vanyel, we flee now for our lives,
Lord Nedran would enslave us, our children and our wives—
He'd give our souls to demons, our bodies to his men.
King Festil has not heeded, or our peril does not ken."

Now up speaks Herald Vanyel. "The Border is not far—
But you are all of Hardorn, and not of Valdemar.
You are not Randale's people—can call not on his throne—
But damned if I will see you left helpless on your own!"

So forth goes Herald Vanyel, and onward does he ride.
On Stony Tor he waits then, Yfandes at his side.
With Nedran's men approaching, he calls out from on high,
"You shall not pass, Lord Nedran! I shall not let you by!"

Now Herald Vanyel only stands blocking Nedran's way
"Now who are you, fool nothing, that you dare to tell me nay?"
Now up speaks Herald Vanyel in a voice like brittle glass;
"The Herald-Mage called Vanyel—and I say you shall not pass!"

Now there stands great Lord Nedran, and behind him forty men,
Beside him is his wizard—but he pales, and speaks again—
"So you are Herald Vanyel—but this place is not your land.
So heed me, Herald Vanyel; turn aside and hold your hand."

"Let be; I'll give you silver, and I shall give you gold,
And I shall give you jewels fair that sparkle bright and bold,
And I shall give you pearls, all the treasures of the sea,
If you will step aside here, and leave these fools to me."

"What need have I of silver more than sweet Yfandes here?
And all the gold I cherish is sunlight bright and clear.
The only jewel I treasure's a bright and shining star,
And I will protect the helpless even outside Valdemar."

"Now I shall give you beauty, slaves of women and of men,
And I shall give you power as you'll never see again,
And I shall give you mansions and I shall give you land,
If you will turn aside here, turn aside and hold your hand."

"Now beauty held in bondage is beauty that is lost.
And land and mansions blood-bought come at too high a cost.
And power I have already—all power is a jade—
So turn you back, Lord Nedran if of me you are afraid!"

Lord Nedran backs his stallion, the wizard he comes nigh.
"Prepare yourself, bold Vanyel, for you shall surely die!"
The wizard calls his demons, the demons he commands,
And Vanyel, Herald Vanyel, only raises empty hands.

The wizard calls his demons, the sky above turns black.
The demons strike at Vanyel, he stands and holds them back.
The demons strike at Vanyel, they strike and hurt him sore,
But Vanyel stands defiant, to raise his hands once more.

The sky itself descending upon bare Stony Tor
Now hides the awful battle. The watchers see no more.
The wizard shouts in triumph—too soon he vents his mirth.
For Vanyel calls the lightning, and smites him to the earth!

The clouds of black have lifted; upon the barren ground
Stands Vanyel hurt, but victor, the demons tied and bound.
He looks down on Lord Nedran; his eyes grow cold and bleak—
"Now shall I give you, Nedran, the power that you seek—"

Now Vanyel frees the demons, and Nedran screams with fear,
He sets them on the Karsites, who had first brought them here.
He sets them on the Karsites, and on the Karsite land.
They look down on Lord Nedran. They do not stay their hand.

Now Vanyel calls the farmers. "Go tell you near and far,
How thus are served the tyrants who would take Valdemar.
I am the bane of demons, who flees them I defend.
Thus Heralds serve a foeman—thus Heralds save a friend!"