Servants had been a part of society for a long time. A poor wizard or magical being would work for rich wizard to pay off debts and avoid prison. In exchange for their work, the servants received free room and board (sometimes for their families as well), and were freed once their debt was paid. It was a win-win and it worked.

Under the umbrella of wizard superiority though, there were the usual classes of income levels. Servants, because all their money went to their debts, were in the lowest level— lower than poor individuals not in servitude. The wizard class was a proud one, and subjecting yourself to another was an unspoken but unspeakably high crime, although there was no law against it. Until the Ordinance of Wages, that is, which deemed the servants' salary income and placed exorbitant taxes on it.

Terrance Winchester, the president of the council, banged a gavel to start the meeting. "Gentlemen, the Council will now come to order. We are gathered here, not to discuss whether the queen's demand for more taxes is correct," He cast a stern glance around the room of noble aristocrats. "Because we are not Her Majesty's advisors. We are here to decide how this tax shall be distributed, and how we will go about enforcing it. Is this understood?"

Twelve heads nodded or muttered affirmations. Perry Kinley opened his hand and a light blue mandala briefly pulsed. The wizards turned expectantly. "The taxes here are already so great, if we raise them one Rune, Bayfield will revolt!"

"Then we will have to do it discreetly." Ashley said.

Terrance glared at his twin brother. "You did not ask permission to be recognized."

Returning the look, Ashley spread his fingers and a silver mandala blazed to life. Terrance nodded and Ashley repeated himself, twisting a long golden hair angrily.

"What do you mean 'discreetly'? These are taxes, Mr. Winchester!" Kinley asked hotly. "How are we to hide them?"

"Do not raise the taxes—"

Terrance turned to Ashley, shocked. "Brother, are you mad?! You want us to defy Her Majesty, Queen Guinevere XVIII?!"

"Let me finish!" The blonde twin snapped. Recomposing himself, he huffed in indignation and spoke. "No, I am not suggesting defile of the queen's direct orders. I am suggesting, rather than taxing tax-payers and stirring them up to a revolt, tax those currently not being taxed."

"And who would that be?" An orange mandala, the symbol of fire magic, blazed.

Ashley smiled. "The servants."

"Order! Order!" Terrence called at the subsequent uproar of voices. He cast his own silver mandala, which was slightly different than Ashley's. "You must be recognized!" Everyone finally settled, Ashley was allowed to explain.

"We all have servants." He began. "They work for us, and they work for wages, but those wages go to their debts. Do we agree?"

Eleven heads nodded. Terrance remained motionless.

"At the same time, wages are wages. Wages are income. And income requires—"

A blue mandala lit up, denoting a water wizard. "Income requires income tax, sir."

"Exactly! And are the servants paying this tax on their income?"

Everyone knew the answer. It was the solution to their tax problem. Still, Terrance recognized himself. "And what of revolts? Will not the servants, who have never been taxed, fight this sudden tax more than any other?"

"No." Ashley answered confidently. "If they go, we will fire them. They will not have jobs and will live in debtors' prison. Where the tax will still stand and they will not have a say. It is an unfortunate alternative, but salty oats bring a horse to water, right? Call it the Ordinance of Wages."

It was settled in a unanimous, (though semi-reluctant) vote: the Ordinance of Wages passed and word was sent out.