About an hour later Tia returned to get the tray, and when she went into Angara's room. She was not surprised. She found Angara asleep in bed, and the tray was moved to the table next to the fireplace. Tia went over to the table, and grabbed the tray. Tia then left the room, and when she got down to the main floor, Asen found her.
"Tia, I was wondering if I could speak to Lady Angara." Said Asen.
"I am afraid not. One, she's got a cold, and needs to rest. Two, she's asleep." Said Tia.
"Then would you tell her when she wakes up." Said Asen.
"Sure, when she wakes up." Said Tia.
"Please let her know that I have everything in place for the first of next month." Said Asen.
Tia said that she'd tell the lady when she woke up, and then turned to head to the kitchen. Asen then went back to the barracks.
Later that afternoon, Tia went to take Angara her lunch. She carried the tray up the stairs, and one of the passing staff members opened the door. She walked in, and Angara was sitting on her bed, looking out the balcony doors.
"My lady, I have brought you lunch." Said Tia.
Angara then sat up against her pillows, while Tia came over with the tray. Before long, Angara was eating, and as Tia reached the door, she turned back.
"My lady, there is something I needed to tell you." Said Tia.
"What is that?" Angara asked.
"Asen wanted to let you know that he has everything ready for the first of the month for the trip into the forest." Said Tia.
"Thank you, Tia." Said Angara.
Meanwhile, the Collector's were near finishing up with their trip to the villages. Alto seen the village arch coming into view, and sighed. The guard with him looked over.
"Everything alright?" Saro asked.
"Yea, it's just that I am tired, and want to get this trip over with." Said Alto.
"Didn't you say that this is the last village on the trip." Said Saro.
"Yes." Said Alto.
As the two came to the village arch, the leader of the village came to meet them. Alto could see that the man had a slightly worried look on his face.
"Hello, I am Shiro. I am the leader of this village." Said Shiro.
"Hello, I am Alto. I am a tax collector for Lady Angara." Said Alto.
"I have gathered what the village could for the taxes, but I am afraid that it isn't even half of the amount required. You see, we had a bad harvest, and could only sell very little of the crops. The rest has to go for the winter." Said Shiro.
"That is ok; I am not here to collect tax money this year." Said Alto.
Shiro looked shocked, and Alto explained why he wasn't going to collect taxes. Shiro seemed to have a look of relief come across his face. Alto gave Shiro the document that stated that taxes have been pain, and then went back to his beast. When the two left; Shiro stood there dumbfounded. Alto looked back long enough to see some of men in the village come up to Shiro.
"So, what's going on?" Siren asked.
"The cat said that our taxes have been taken care of. He didn't take any of the coin we had put together." Said Shiro.
Shiro explained to the ones who gathered, and they were shocked. Siren then said that there was no point in worrying about it further. That the new Noble was thinking more about the people than of herself. The others agreed, and then went back to their work. Shiro looked to the sky, and thanked the ancestors for this new lady. He then went back to work himself.
That evening the village felt a sigh of relief; now they didn't have to worry about how they would survive during the winter. When dusk came, everyone went to get some sleep, so they could further their preparations for winter.
Back at the palace, Angara had finished supper, and was asleep when Tia came for the tray. Tia soon came, and found the tray on the table near the fireplace, but before she went for the tray, she walked over to the bed. She touched Angara's head, and noticed that she still felt warm. With that simple touch, Angara snuggled into her pillow some more. Tia smiled, and then went to get the tray. When she got to the door, she opened it, and walked through. She closed the door, and headed to the kitchen.