Disclaimer: Swan Princess doesn't belong to me.
Author's Note: Happy New Year! Been mad long since I wrote a chapter for this, but I have been MAD busy (school/vacation/school/work), distracted (playing Dragon Age 2), and had a small writers block – couldn't figure out how to put my thoughts into words and I rewrote this chapter 4 times before I was satisfied with it. It's a shorter than I had originally planned but I hope you enjoy it. :)
"Legacy"
By Shinshia101
Chapter 6: Taxes
When she was told that the work day started early, she had assumed that it would at least be sunrise before she was wakened. She had not expected being dragged out of bed just when she had finally gotten to sleep. And yet here she was, staring at the blurry ebony sky mere hours after arriving back from the shop that night (or would one call it morning?). Adel yawned, pulling her clothes tightly to her figure as she slowly followed the tall silhouette that was supposedly leading her to the river to collect water. She looked down at the large empty bucket in her hands. Who needed water at this ghastly hour of the night, the princess did not know.
She sauntered to the left and then to the right, not truly being able to walk straight in her partially conscience state. She attempted to walk briskly, however her feet tangled, causing her and her bucket to and fall onto the grass below.
"Owww…" She moaned, her head pounding from the impact it had with the ground. It was wet and muddy, and yet the surface below her was offering her an attractive invitation. Her eyes grew heavier and her head found comfort as it lay on the soft green bristles…
"HEY!"
The sound of loud clapping rang her ears causing her head to shoot up and her eyes to open. In a swift motion she was hoisted up and was once again standing, with her fallen bucket mysteriously in her hands again. She met a pair of golden eyes; in this darkness it was all she could see. They soon morphed into her golden colored sheets at home, which beckoned her to sleep. Her head drooped and she began to close…
Again the clapping came.
"No sleeping!" Rian warned. He groaned at her inability to stay awake. As a matter of fact, it surprised him. He was the one who did most of the work yesterday. She wasn't the one slaving away in front of a hot oven forging weapons from dawn till dusk. All she had to do was just clean the floors and attend to potential customers. Besides, didn't nobleman stay up all night during their lavishing parties?
He grabbed her hand and continued to lead her to the river. "Pay attention, 'cause you're going to have to do this every other morning."
"Do we weally eed to bet the wadder dis early?" he heard her ask, her voice groggy and slurred.
Rian rolled his eyes. She never stopped with the questions did she? –Even when she was half conscience! "Not everyone has servants that prepare baths and provide water to drink," he replied. "Us humble folk have to live somehow."
After about an hour of walking they had finally reached the river. Normally, Rian or his mother (when she wasn't as ill) was able to reach the river in half the time, or even less, however dragging a tired girl behind him was taking a lot longer than he had anticipated.
He let go of her hand, knelt by the riverside and began to fill up one of the two buckets that he was carrying. As he filled the buckets he noticed Adel once again close her eyes. He looked down at one of his buckets and smirked.
Why not?
He took the bucket and dumped its liquid contents all over her, drenching her entire body.
She yelped. Loudly.
"Awake yet?" Rian laughed while covering his ears. Never had he heard someone scream at such a high pitch; the next town over could probably hear her.
The princess growled. Not only was she soaked with water, but it was a rather cold night and she was shivering. "Why you impudent…you…you disgrace of a man! What possessed you to do that?" She began swinging her bucket at him, which he easily parried.
"Looked like you needed to loosen up a bit." Rian took the bucket from her hands and filled it up with water. He picked up his empty bucket and handed it to her. "Come on. Fill this one up."
Adel looked at the wooden container but instead of taking it she extended her hands forward, pushing Rian into the river. She watched as he struggled to regain his balance but ultimately made contact with the water. She smirked.
"You looked like you needed to loosen up!" She turned to stomp away, paused, and then turned back. "And I hope you drown!"
-0-0-0-0-
They had gone back to the river a total of seven times before Rian said that they had enough water for the day. By the time they had completed the task the sun had risen, but all Adel wanted was to go back to sleep, which constant loud clapping didn't allow.
Her next duty was to prepare breakfast. However when they got back from their final trip to the river, Miriam was already up and starting her normal duties. Bowls and dishes were already set up on the table, as was as a pitcher of water.
Rian tried to usher his mother back to her bed. "Mother you don't need to do that, that Adel's job."
Adel glared at him. If she was doing anything, it was out of kindness and gratitude for what Miriam did for her, not because of some order from an ill-mannered host.
She decided to go outside to the small shed where Rian had stored the food that she had brought with her the day before. As she opened and entered the enclosed space her thoughts went to the previous morning and Rian's actions. She still couldn't understand why her food could not be in the house, or why the blacksmith had been bothered by her bringing the food.
Opening one of the sacs, Adel looked through the variety of colors. She picked up several apples and two loaves of bread. Perhaps she should've come with one of Miriam's baskets to hold more food. Quickly she exited the shed and headed for the house.
The distant sound of horses neighing and hooves caught her attention. She paused and squinted.
"It seems like we will be having visitors," Adel announced, placing the food on the table.
Rian, who was pouring water into a bowl for Cairo, raised his eyebrows. "Visitors?" He walked over to one of the windows and moved the curtain to see. His eyes widened and he cussed. He put his cup down and grabbed Adel's arm as she was heading outside. "You are staying here!" He pushed her behind him, before giving her a cold glare.
His voice was stern and cold that it almost sent a shiver down her spine. She was about to open her mouth to say something when Rian interrupted her.
"I mean it!"
This time is voice was low, a hiss almost. He turned to his mother. "Go to the chest," was all he said before leaving the house and shutting the door behind him.
As Miriam fumbled for something behind her, Adel curiously peered through the window curtain to see what the commotion was about. They indeed had visitors – three men were mounted on horses. They weren't adorned like knights or guardsmen of the sort, but something about their countenance, the way they sat on their horses and overtly sneered at her host, didn't settle right with her.
"Miriam, who are those men?"
The older woman took a place beside her by the window. "Tax collectors," she replied, squeezing Adel's shoulder.
"Well isn't it our favorite blacksmith, Rian, son of Belial worthless the farmer." One of the tax collectors taunted. "Surely you have tribute for your beloved King Cassius as you have been booming with business since the start of these foolish riots." He opened a scroll and read. "Let's see, it says that you owe 8 aurei."
Rian's jaw tightened. His mind had be so preoccupied lately that he had completely forgotten about the arrival of the tax collectors. And eight aurei? It was six last month! He took a deep breath. "I ha—" Noise from the side of the house and loud neighing interrupted his sentence.
The head collector gently kicked the side of his horse with his foot, ushering it to move to where the sound was coming from. He was utterly surprised to find a large stallion, whose black coat gleamed in the sun, making it appear slightly dark brown. It stood tall and wasn't over fed, but rather healthy looking and strong. It was obviously superior to any horse he had seen. He shook his head.
"Tsk, shame on you for keeping this fine animal all to yourself… Perhaps this is your tribute?" The collector passed his fingers through the horse's fine, soft black hair, to which the animal responded with a neigh of disapproval and shook its head to remove the foreign hand. "I wonder how much money it would make at market…?"
"Night is mine!"
The men turned and stared at the young female walking toward them. Adel marched and cut between the publican and her loyal pet.
"And who might you be?" the visitor asked, amused.
"She's my cousin," Rian quickly said, stepping next to Adel. He cursed internally. Why didn't she just listen to him and stay inside the house? "Her father was a horse breeder up in the north before the raiders killed him along with the rest of her family."
"Interesting." The tax collector appeared intrigued by the story. A smirk formed on his face. "You do know the additions to your household double your tribute, Sorean. Otherwise…" He grabbed Adel by her braid, tugging her towards him. A yelp of pain escaped her lips. "…someone will be taken to work in the fields to work off the debt." He released his hold and shoved her into Rian's arms.
Rian's eyes narrowed as the words repeated in his mind. He hadn't heard that threat in such a long time, not since he was a small boy. Memories of being taken away by the collectors had always been a fear of his as a child, as his mother had not nearly made enough coin as he did now. Yet, somehow, she had always been able to get just enough. Now that he was in a desirable trade, he was now able to have sufficient tribute for the publicans and never had to worry about the possibility of leaving his mother to fend for herself in her old age.
But then came the noblewoman. Her presence here just added to his burden. He had wanted her to stay inside the house, so the tax collectors wouldn't see her, but of course she didn't listen to him and it would cost him 16 aurei – literally a month's earnings before Bastion and the damned government took their share. Did he even have that much in the house? He wasn't completely certain.
Damn it all.
He glanced at Adel, who held tightly to him. Her large blue eyes appeared wider than usual, and her face was muddled with confusion and fear, with a hint of anger. Her expression was as he expected as she probably didn't have to deal with such ordeals in her home country. For him, however, this was just a reoccurring reality.
Rian returned his attention to the tax collector. "You'll get your money," he replied, in a cold voice.
No sooner had he said those words, his mother appeared beside him with the small pouch full of coins. She presented before the tax collector, who grabbed it from her hands. He opened the sac, scanned its contents before handing it to one of his companions.
"Well it seems you do have enough." His voice sounded disappointed. He looked up and down at Adel. "Until next time." With that, he kicked the side of his horse and the three men rode off.
Adel hadn't even noticed she was holding a breath until she let it out after the collectors had left.
"Damn them all!" She heard Rian say. He muttered something else, but she could not hear it properly; rather, it sounded foreign.
She was immediately bombarded by Miriam, who gave her a tight hug.
"Thank goodness. I was worried that the men would see you and take you away. Luckily we had enough."
Startled by the older woman's words, Adel asked, "Why would they?" She turned to Rian. "Can they really do that? Take me away, I mean."
"As long as you and I remain kin," Rian said, bluntly. He folded his arms. "Those who cannot pay their taxes one month are first warned by the removal of several livestock animals, which takes away most people's livelihood, especially small farmers. Another month without paying in full, most of the land is gone and you can't feed families. Third month, family members are taken to the field to work off your debt."
His golden eyes narrowed as he grimaced with disgust. "Tax collectors prefer executing the latter first, especially if there are young females in a family. And they aren't going to the fields to work off a debt." He looked down at her, wondering if she got the message. The confusion in her face surprised him and he almost laughed at her naiveté and innocence.
Adel tilted her head to the side a bit, trying to processes what had been spoken to her. "But then what are they-?"
"It matters not, dear." Miriam quickly injected, hugging her again. "Don't trouble yourself over such things. Come, let's finish breakfast."
