> They were hurting the children born with horns, praising the ones born with wings. Then I became the new Lord of the town. The instigators of such behavior learned quickly I would NOT tolerate such. And all children, born human or not, were to be treated equally. And all citizenry, no matter what their species, were also to be treated equally. THAT is the new law of the land. -- Anon Guest
They call this place Havenspring. According to legend, it's where the last battle of the Xenophobia Wars ended in a peace agreement. Legend lies,of course. The Xenophobia Wars have been raging in other continents for hundreds of years after Havenspring reach its tentative peace.
Let me give a warning to all other kings and lords for a moment: _Never trust an official tour._ Offical tours only display what they're proud of. What they're willing to show off. If you want the truth of a place, go incognito.
You'll learn _far_ more about a place. More than any of them are willing to admit.
Walking into Havenspring as a common adventurer showed me so much. It showed me how they treat Hellkin, always _such_ a treat. Starting with being forced into their ghetto for my kind. Havenspring is split into three. One part for my kind, one for the Humans, and one for the Hallobloods. It's so strict you can see the border lines. They have a haha for the Hellkin side, and a pretty fruiting hedge for the Hallobloods.
It's no shock to find that one sort is treated differently from the other.
The Hellkin pretty much keep to themselves. Separate law, separate lawkeepers... a patrol of volunteers who walk the haha all night to rescue abandoned Hellkin newborns.
They have a very specific way of building in the ghetto nicknamed Pitfall. Everything is made to look as if it could fall or burn down at any second. I learned that if they tried to improve the look of the place, someone from the _rest_ of Havenspring would arrive with mallets and torches.
Hellkin don't burn easily, but they _do_ burn.
Those with horns or tails are punished for being alive. Those with wings or halos are praised for the very same thing.
I have weighed Havenspring in the balance and found it wanting.
When I returned to Havenspring as the Thrice-Sworn King, conquering lord of these lands and many others, they saw a gilded coach surrounded by soldiers. They saw pomp and circumstance.
And then they saw a blue Teufel with a crown made for his horns, stepping out of that carriage as the herald rattled through all my titles. The looks on their faces. I wish I could have sketched it on some birchbark. I shall have to draw it from memory later.
They _squirmed_ when they had to shake my hand. They flinched when I gave them a perfectly pleasant smile.
I know verdammt well all my teeth are sharp. I know what effect it has on people. Of course I use it on purpose, and with _great_ impact.
I sure as fuck made an impact on Havenspring.
They nervously showed me their traditions, and high points of their town. They _very_ nervously took me on a walking tour through the golden gates of their Halloblood quarter. Also known as Haven.
Some of the people there had never laid eyes on a Hellkin before. One on their own truly _was_ a sight to behold, that day.
Then I went off script. They were meant to take me to the central castle of their local Lord, but I saw the bridge to Pitfall and said, "Ooh! What's over there?" and immediately took off.
They're too polite to stop a king. They had no such qualms against a Hellkin.
They were completely shocked to see a king roll up his sleeves and pitch in to help people who were clearly struggling with their work. Against their objections, I told them, "It is the duty of those on high to help those who support their lifestyle. I have believed this all my life." And then the seemingly innocent question, "Why are all these people living in squalor? Why are the Hallobloods treated like nobles?"
Some have named me the _other_ great leveler. The first is always Death itself. I certainly lived up to that title in Havenspring. I had my army of engineers level out the haha, move half the hedge to Pitfall, and construct decent streets in there too.
They can't fucking burn _cobbles_.
_Then_ I laid down the new law. No citizen of _any_ settlement under my reign shall discriminate in any way, for or against, any because of how they are born. Rich or poor, Halloblood or Hellkin, full-blood or halfbred, _all_ citizens are to be judged on their personal merits or detriments alone.
Those found harming _anyone_ because of who or what they are will meet with _my_ justice. Those on high who do such will find themselves stripped of their lands and title before they enter one of my _special_ programs to teach them better ways. Havenspring's lawmakers and lawkeepers, especially, were under my scrutiny.
One of them was stupid enough to object. "You can't watch us every hour of the day! The instant you leave, we can begin undoing every horror you've done here."
I gave him one of my _wider_ smiles. "You didn't know I was here five days before my official visit. How can you possibly know whose eyes and ears are paying attention after I appear to leave?"
They'll be so paranoid about that, they may not have time to raise arguments against my taxation system. All the better for more people all around, if you ask me.
[Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@igapalacz?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Iga Palacz</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/wtlSHRt9uRc?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>]
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