The Tragedy of Rainden, Part 2
From the Spinner's Writ
Morning dawned and Rainden woke
eager to begin his new life.
He spoke with many of
the people dwelling
near the fields, just as he did,
seeking to employ them.
“I stand above you now.
The Children have placed me
at the peak of our society.
I would hire the most
skilled builders to erect a castle.
You will be well compensated.”
Work began on a stone fortification
but did not progress far,
for soon Rainden sought to employ
more servants and his plans
went awry.
“Enter my service.
Work my fields.
Grow my food.
Tend my house.
Work for me
and you will
earn wealth.”
No person had ever worked
in the service of another.
All People worked together,
acquiring resources
and sharing them.
Protecting the homes
and living in equality.
Rainden thought that
equality would be abrogate
for the right price
and his people would
bend to his will.
No person was willing
to accept his jewels
in exchange for their time and effort,
leaving their own work incomplete.
Workers abandoned his castle,
only a single segment of
one wall had been built.
The People shunned Rainden
and cast him from their lands,
saying that no person
stood above them.
If he desires to rule a place,
he should leave them and
find his own lands.
Rainden agreed and departed
with his wealth wheeled on wagons
pulled by his horses.
He knew that he could find
other People to take into his service.
Surely there were other people
eager to be paid with treasure.
In the wilderness of the early world
he found no such person.
As weeks passed by,
from time to time,
he would find a group of strangers
that shunned him
and cared nothing for his wealth,
not even to steal from a lone nomad.
Rainden and his treasure vanished
into the unknown expanse
of an uncaring world.