Someone Else's Kingdom, BOOK II - Scene XCI

Far across the land and sea Prince Reach too was tethered by the hum of death. Hardened by the blood and horror. The cruel sickness and dismembering normalised in his numb experience of the world. Still, he strained his heart to remember his earlier, more innocent soul. As he gave the order to charge the enemy once again - sending countless men to the agony of metal and fire - he looked out at the perilous vista. The vast sweep of sea and country; all in tumult and swarming doom. The swollen sea so high and mercurial. Every once green field now marred a colourless brown with mud. Like lakes of muddy water, cleaving from the darker ocean. The blood of countless thousands seemingly visible on the skyline, giving an under-paint of glowing red, all but hidden by the swampy darker colours of conquering nature.

The din of clashing swords and blast of cannon pitted the aural canvas similarly. Reach felt the urge to draw his own sword and rush headlong into the fray himself - the sense of perpetual death inspiring a madness and impatience - but he held firm to his duty, directing the torment from afar. Standing on the hillside: a lofty precipice under the writhing sky. The rain pelting down like hail from angry angels. The occasional stone or icy rock obliterating men and earth little differently to heavy cannonballs. Crushing the war in its own warlike tantrum.

Then, finally, a huge wave washed over the coast, cutting away a chunk of land. The men upon it as ants, easily washed away by a spilling bowl or cauldron. Prince Reach cursed the earth .. but continued the fight. Ceaselessly endeavouring to defeat the mainland, even if the territory was but a single stone in an endless water. A stepping stone above the eternal abyss.