The Book of Temples Chapter 18
Several months had passed
with a ruling queen,
most people were living well.
The people did work
in their chosen roles.
Queen Pondiron was accepted.
Some people still balked
at authority
and resented being ruled.
Decisions were made.
Queen’s law was ignored.
They wanted to live freely.
Queen Pondiron deployed
the Hearthowl Guard troops
to locate these malcontents.
Their farms were scattered
around the tower
where Pondiron and their god ruled.
The Guard menaced them
with threats of violence
and said they lost protection.
The Hearthowl Guard seized
livestock and their lands,
recompense for tax they owed.
They were destitute
and now had no worth,
neighbors encouraged exile.
With no other choice
they then swore fealty
promising to aid the queen.
Oaths sworn publicly,
their standing redeemed
they were accepted once more.
They were put to work
on neighboring farms
autonomy gone for good.
Displeasure grew strong
while in servitude
though exile was a worse fate.