[Dover, England: September 1594 (the Recollections Of A War-weary Mariner)]



Hearken Boy; For I Would Tell Thee A Tale Before We Set Sail For The Bay Of

Biscay On The Morrow. I Was Not Always Called By This Name, You Know... To

You, I Am Caleb Blackthorne, Battle-scarred Master Of An English Galleon,

Survivor Of A Score Of Sea-fights, Cheater Of The Notched Blades Of Many An

Over Ambitious Spanish Pirate... The Scourge Of Medina Sedonia! But To Many

Others Over The Countless Centuries Since My First Birth, I Have Been Known By

A Host Of Other Names... So Many That Even I Begin To Forget All But The Ones

Distinguished By The Most Vivid Deeds... For I Hide A Wondrous Secret, Boy...

A Secret Some Would Call A Blessing, But Which Others Would Deem A Grim Curse.

Aye, It All Began A Very Long Time Ago...



Memories Of Death And Life...



For Countless Thousands Of Centuries I Have Walked The Earth...

I Have Seen Endless Battle,

And Untold Centuries Of Slaughter.



I Am Reborn Once More!

The Same Grim Spirit Once Again Given Flesh...

O' To Be Ravished By The Seductress Death...



[The Scion Of The Storms:]

Dethroned 'ere Atlantis Fell, Haunted By A Dark Queen's Curse,

My Son's Soul Shackled By This Spell Of Endless Death And Grim Rebirth.

Fly, O' Skyborne Steed Of Lyonesse, Ride The Tempest's Wings,

I Am The Scion Of The Vengeful Skies, A God To Warriors And Kings!



[Reflections On Lifetimes Of Carnage:]



I Have Been Slain By Roman Gladius,

And By Norman Spear Dealt A Mortal Wound,

The Threads Of My Ensorcelled Destiny

Endlessly Woven On Some Unknown Cosmic Loom.

I Have Lost My Life To Longbow Shafts

Fighting For The English Crown,

And Mayhap I'll End This Mariner's Life

A Good Three Score Fathoms Down!



I Marched With Vast Armies 'ere Gleaming Atlantis Sank Beneath The Waves...

I Reddened My Blade Against Caesar's Legions Long Ago...

I Stood Beside Boudicca At Colchester...

I Dealt Honed