Part 4 of 'Of Elder and His Kingdom' |
Elder's Rule And In the kings reign Nothing was the same. All good deeds came with a price. As bloodlust grew, You would think they knew Murder was brewed the price. He found favor In a commoner And told to her His plan. "Only tell some, But the end has come. Surviving sum Is small." He summoned flood, All reduced to mud His thirst for blood Unquenched. Unquenched even when Each citizen Of his city then, Needs help. Their plea to Elder After their capture, Was again to conjure A price. As if a chore, Of his citizens so poor, He demands more Sacrifice. "To kill a lamb, pure, With the blood on your door, I will save you more But I warn: If blood doesn't adorn Your doorframe by morn' My assassins will kill Your first born." None were swayed, And all obeyed While assassins filleted All else. The capturer's son Was one of the some To fall victim to this price. Once the kingdom was free They got down on their knees And expressed to he Gratitude. "Freed by me You now owe thee Penance and Reform. Sanctify unto me The first born of thee And pleased I shall be Once more." He issued a decree, "All indebted to thee Must pay a fee, Repent." An offering Everyone must bring To he, the king, For rights. If he forgives, Then all will live, By laws he gives But In fear. He placed a ban On the cripples and On any man blemished. On lepers and Any whore of man And their children All cursed. He will find right To threaten a life If laws one might Just break. The penalty, For crimes of any, Just might well be A life. Elder admonished that He could use his witchcraft To get his subjects to obey Anything that he did say. He summoned bugs and darkness To harm his enemies. He used the power of that darkness To kill their plants and trees. He would scare and starve them 'Til there was nothing left. And if any girl should sleep around, She would be put to death. As would the stubborn children And disobedient of mind. Soldiers hardened by this rule Left this all behind. In battle, when Elder waged war, They each captured virgins As their whore. Shadow Elder Found delight In this expression Of a soldiers might. He ordered that His enemies suffer Horrors like cannibalism And hunger. His war must be total, Some shunned and displaced. Once Elder had a city Cursed to waste. Just as he would do To any who Walked contrary Unto him. If you were mad, It would be sad, Your end would be Quite grim. For he did decree To kill all of he Who dare disagree With him. |