The spear-comrades entered the city, none could resist them
and they went to their work, disciplined in all things
this was no wanton pillage, it was not simply base looting
but an orderly conquest, so they might salvage what they could.
The saw a great sight when the made their way past the gates
there was a vast lake, and there in the middle of its waters
a great tower rose upwards, built out of fine marble
and all around the lake, there were other buildings
formed out of grey granite, built with little care.
Such was the city that the soldiers searched through.
Where citizens lurked, where they hid from the spear-comrades,
they were dragged into the open, the spear-comrades revealed them
and placed them in chains, that they might be brought to the spires
to serve Hallifax well, and to learn virtue through service.
Where there was something of value which could be easily taken
the spear-comrades retrieved them, took them as a tax
to be paid to the spires, used for the common good.
Where they found knowledge, that was the most valued
each book was taken and treated with far more care
than anything else. Where a learned person was found
he was kept away from the others, faced with questions
to learn what he knew, to learn what secrets he held.
Thus was their practice as they scoured the city.
Jekkex did not keep himself away from this duty
but rather led from the front, gave an example.
When a family cowered, hidden deep down in a pond
his keen eyes found them, he called his men over,
and pointed them out, those hiding children of Meridian.
He waded into the water, and pulled them each onto land.
The first was the father, he stood guard over his kin
he sought to protect them, struck out with bare hand
against honorable Jekkex, who passed the grim judgment,
condemned him to die, he who had acted as a combatant
and twisted the man's head with his hands, snapping his neck.
He let the body fall where it would, reached down again
and next pulled forth a child, she looked to be young
she could have seen no more than ten short years.
Jekkex pulled her onto land, acting calmly and coldly
and handed her over to the nearest of the spear-comrades
who put her in chains, as the water dripped from her
and fell to the ground, flowed from her face freely.
Next was her brother, perhaps six or seven years older
he did not resist, he had seen the fate of his father
nor did he beg, his face was fully hardened.
There was hate in his eyes, he hated his saviors
who would bring him to virtue, who put him in chains.
Another sister came next, and she was full grown
she begged for mercy, begged to be set out to wander
the world as she pleased, away from our great spires.
This could not be, for she needed to learn virtue
her words went unanswered, she too soon wore chains.
The mother was last to arise, and she did that as a corpse
she took her own life with a knife that she had carried,
consumed by despair, and the hatred of the virtue
she was so wholly corrupted, she thought it was hateful
to be faced with redemption. So she stole herself away
from the spires that she might serve, such was her spite.
Then that matter was settled, Jekkex moved on to the next
although he did so in silence, this was not from sorrow
for although such things had displeased him during his youth
he had long since hardened his soul, moved past that grief
stifled that mercy that young so often aim poorly
and those who deserve none, those who reject sweet virtue
and spread evil where they go. Those cannot be pitied.
Soon he made his way to the shore of that large lake
from which the tower sprouted, not unlike our own spires
but without the same glory, without elegance of form.
This tower he entered, he broke down the wood door
paused for a moment, pulled the ornaments from it
for it had been enlaid in silver, just like the gates.
He searched through this building, he went room by room.
He found those who looked to be servants in the first roosm
he put them in chains, he was deaf to their weeping
and their wailing could not move him to let them go free.
Then he moved on, he found a locked door to a vault
which be broke down, it was struck off its hinges.
There was great wealth within it, the wealth of a king
too much to carry, he called out of a window
that his comrades might claim it for the good of the spires.
Then he moved on, and there in the next room
there was a huge throne, carved out of pearls
and upon it a king, he bore no bright weapons
nor did he wear armor here, he was defenseless.
He did not rise from his throne as he spoke his words.
"I can offer a ransom, if it will move you to spare me,
to leave my power intact, and to go off in peace
whatever you wish, I swear that I shall give it
any alliance you like, all our secrets shall be yours.
Say what you want, make whatever demands please you
but I beg you to spare me, let me rule in this place!"
Jekkex regarded him coldly, spoke no words
but grasped him with his hands, put on the chains
treated him like the others, with calm disregard.
Such was a fate those fools brought down on their heads
they who could have been friends, if they loved virtue.
Their blood was shed, for necessity called for it
and they were all placed in chains, there was no other way
to lead them to virtue. So must it always be
there is no other way. They were foes of the spires
and so their walls were brought low, their gates were broken
the survivors found their way into chains, into service
and those who resisted died, their life's blood was shed.