"Honored Snake Mother Great Chieftain, the Mexica People's grain-collecting warriors and the Main God priests of Snake-Slaying City killed four more Banner Unit headmen today, and executed dozens of Laborers! One of those headmen was even an old man from our Golden Bay Tribe..."
"Oh? On what charge were they executed? Was it fair?"
"Ah! Three had too little grain to transport, and one was late delivering grain, all according to some Code or other..."
"Then that settles it. The Coastal Alliance previously promulgated the Kingdom Divine War Code... When not at war, those who are late delivering grain or short on the amount are whipped from thirty to eighty lashes, and strictly ordered to make up the quota; those who offend three times are beheaded... But when at war, those who are late delivering grain or short on the amount have their headmen beheaded, and one out of every five able-bodied Laborers is selected and beheaded. The rest must make up the deficit within a set time; if they offend again, the entire unit is beheaded..."
In the splendid palace of Golden Bay City, Snake Mother Miawa held a smile at the corner of her lips and knelt gracefully before a long black writing table. The table was made from Xolotl's favored Black Persimmon Wood, giving off a natural, insect-repelling fragrance. As for Snake Mother's gentle smile, it was not for her tribal confidant Sha She, who stood two steps away with lowered head, but for the daughter sitting quietly at her side, the two-year-old Xo Guangshe.
"Guangshe, did you hear?"
"Mother, I... heard. But I... don't understand..."
Little Guangshe wore an even smaller feathered crown. She blinked and nodded softly. She did not know many words, and there was some confusion in her clear eyes, but she sat