All That Is Evil Is Not Dark/Chapter 40

Jano stood outside the vaulting gate of K'eld Ner. The large number of Drakel who lived outside the city walls startled him, and he remarked upon them.

"Why do they not live in the city?" Jano asked inquisitively.

"They are De'me'thar," Shirian replied matter-of-factly.

"De'me'thar?" Jano asked.

"Yes. Drakel who are denied citizenship within the K'eld."

"What have they done to be exiled?"

"They are not exiled. They never have lived in the city. Exiles cannot live within Drakel lands at all. De'me'thar are quite different: they are denied life in the city not for what they have done but for what their ancestors did."

"What their ancestors did?"

"All of them have family by blood or marriage who lived outside of or broke Drakel law and customs, and consequently they are not allowed the privileges of the K'eld."

"How many generations does this restriction extend?"

"Permanently. Only T'palo or bond servants of the crown can ever move outside the ban."

"But T'palo cannot return until their mission is completed."

"Yes, but their descendants are citizens. Those who swear their lives to the crown, too, can enter."

"How many of these are elementally-aligned casters?" Jano asked.

"None. Those who are sworn to a temple cannot live this close to the city..."

Jano frowned softly; what kind of sense did it make to hold a child from privileges based on the acts of their ancient lineage?

"If a citizen of the city marries one of those without, they must leave..."

"Indeed, and their families. It rarely occurs."

"I see..."