Wall
The pickaxes rang.
The wall, Hades said, was a necessity of life. It kept his workers safe from outside threats, kept his queen safe from those who would dare steal her away, and kept his riches safely guarded from thieves.
The pickaxes rang and the shovels struck.
Inwardly, he knew, it was more than keeping things out. The wall kept his loyal workers in, kept Persephone within the borders of Hadestown, and ensured all money never left his domain without his permission.
The pickaxes rang and the shovels struck and the bricks and mortar were laid.
The greatest thing the wall gave them was work for idle hands, an eternity of being useful and needed. If a shade grew tired, or questioned, the rallies would remind them of all the wall gave them. The wall kept them free, and building it kept them busy.
The pickaxes rang and the shovels struck and the bricks and mortar were laid, and the endless wall grew higher and longer.