The pain was too great of the loyal animal; it could take it no more. The last nails finally came out and with them the last of the horse’s tolerance. With no warning he rolled, and with him the general. The horse was wild with pain and despite the troops diligence they could not save their leader, he was crushed against a rock by the weight of his horse. His head had hit the rocks hard and he had no chance, he was dead. And with him the hope of the troops.

They had lost their leader, and superstitious lot like them could not let this pass lightly. Whispered rumors passed through the ranks: the mission was cursed, Vatila had hired shamans to undermine them, god was against them, Skintal had sold his soul to the devil and this was the wrath of god. In the minds of the troops, the death of the leader meant the battle was lost before it was fought. And yet the continued on, for the still had a war to wage.

The second in command took charge. Vice General Alex Certg was a brilliant strategist, but no leader. He failed to inspire the confidence the men needed after the loss of Skintal. Even the best laid plans come to no avail if the men carrying them out do not care.

The reached the front after a few more days, but by that time the troops were so demoralized that there was no hope of winning. Unless some miracle occurred all was lost before it began. And yet they had to fight, for if they didn’t they would have to watch their country be torn to pieces by the invaders, these men without morals who wished to take their homes away. And so they fought, and so they were slaughtered.

And so the men of Vatila came to occupy the country. For a while they pillaged and plunder to their hearts content, and then they settled down and claimed land. And they brought their families from Vatila, and the government of Vatila. So the people of Sintally came to be oppressed, for the men of Vatila made them their slaves. An entire country gone. All because of a missing nail.

For want of a nail the shoe was lost.
For want of a shoe the horse was lost.
For want of a horse the rider was lost.
For want of a rider the battle was lost.
For want of a battle the kingdom was lost.
And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.