Ralph and the Pixie

The wife of one Merchant, who elected to stay behind with her husband, confronting the Thane, said to him, ‘You have betrayed us, we who have given so much in terms of employment and security.’

‘Madam,’ replied the Thane, ‘what your class has given us is the crumbs from your table as you gorged yourselves upon the fat of the land, hoarding most everything for yourselves. As long as you exist, you are a threat to Justice, personal freedom and Equality, as you claim all the wide lands and everything within as your own. If you truly believe that you have a just claim in keeping all that you have accumulated, then here is my sword, that you may fight to keep it.’

‘But I am no Swordmain! And besides; I would need an army to fight for all that is mine,’ she objected.

‘And I have provided you with one,’ said the Thane. ‘Here are all those whom your class pitted against each others’ boundless greed. They have murdered many Merchants, many citizens, many free people, and each other as well.’

‘But these mercenaries hate us!’ she protested. ‘They would just as soon slit our throats!’

‘They are as you made them,’ the Thane replied, ‘and as such are yours in every sense. They are the tools you have fashioned to take what doesn’t rightly belong to you, and what is a tool, after all, but an extension of the hand and mind. You would do well to examine your tools closely, for on them you will find the blood of your fellows, mingled with that of many, many innocents.’