The shadow hovers o'er us, old and long Its power fuligin and vast Tradition slithers 'round us Like serpent's coils it's bound us Bound us to the shadow of the torturer's mask An ancient place the one I have and hold An ancient lesson I do learn Our job to slay the people Our place to do the evil "Pity the poor prisoners, may the torturers burn!" We must not sway beneath our heinous work; Compa**ion is the greatest crime I take one life in kindness They damn me for my blindness And I'll bear that stigma 'till the end of my time Her memories haunt me when I'm most alone; No longer can I see the right Unwilling penance claws me
Conciliation draws me Into my grim future, into Urth's blackest night The sword of this sad lictor of uncounted d**hs can tell Her blade marks the division between living d**h and Hell So as I journey toward a hated post Despair is in her finest hour Upon God's path must I tread My fate to make and raise dead Wielding like a sword an old and Urth-saving power If I but knew the use of what I've learned Some hope might override my strife Can d**h be so appalling? Humanity is calling Me to be their Savior at the risk of my life While I must sow the d**h from which a new sun must rise