the altar crowns the summit
where circling currents rise
the wind begins its turning
in ever-widened skies

the heavens do not settle
but move in painted streams
each line of light unfolding
like fragments of a dream

gold threads of force awaken
and stretch from stone to air
they pulse with quiet motion
as if a breath lives there

the ridge below now gathers
in arcs that bend and hold
a cradle formed in shadow
to lift its crown of gold

The Gold House holds an emergency regional governor’s meeting at the Altar of Obedience, the flat black smooth stone used by Thou Shalt encased within a golden shrine north of the Ridge of Revelation near the Lake of Solitude. 

Pure Nation, Seven Mountains, and Inflame Fury join TS and the Governors from the Hills of Hope, Grove of the Greeks, Woods of Wisdom, and Field of Freethinkers. Tension carries with the swirling cools winds. Inflame Fury turns to the Governors and says:

welcome, honorable governors
of this mountain to rename
we gather here as one now
to rekindle the holy flame

from ash and shadow
a new path we raise
where order defines us
through discipline and praise

Inflame Fury turns to the distance Sea and adds:

the sea holds no council
no voice and no claim
so we take what lies open
and fold it into our name

Inflame Fury turns first to the Governor of the Fields who responds enthusiastically:

we stand with this vision
our minds intertwined
the divine map unfolds

through a perfected mind

in numbers and reason
we strengthen the whole
this system we build now
will govern the soul

The Governor of the Woods responds indifferently: 

the woods keep our silence
no judgment we bring
we’ve seen many visions
that rise and then swing

if this be your choosing
we offer no fight
yet wisdom moves slowly
beyond wrong or right

The Governor of the Grove is next and says stoically: 

the greeks taught of order
through reason and frame
we see in this motion
a shaping of name

though balance must guide us
and temper the hand
we lend reluctant blessing
to the shaping of the land

All eyes to the Governor of the Hills, who stands defiantly and says:

you speak of order
and yet call it by grace
but force dressed as virtue
blasphemes this holy place

altar of obedience remembers
what none here will say
that mercy once entered
and lamb of god was freed that day

you cannot rename it
by power or decree
what lives in its meaning
was never to be

and though you may gather
and bind what you will
the hills will not yield
to a silence made still

The circling winds draw inward, and for a moment even the air seems to listen. TS, ignoring Hope, steps forward and declares:

the regions are now mountains

the six bow down to seven

we rise as one moral force

to lay our claim to heaven   

After the Governors depart the shrine, TS turns to Pure Nation and says:

the mountain has spoken
our path is now clear
go cleanse what remains

and remove what we fear