Chapter 17: Tax Collectors
I spent far too much time recovering from my cold and numerous wounds. The waters were not kind on my limbs, and they were just barely functional when Silvana roused me. Little did I know, my peaceful time at the village would soon come to an end.
"Wake up. You must hide!" Silvana hissed.
I stumbled to my feet. "What? Why?"
"The collectors are here! The Falcon has passed orders to investigate any suspicious activity or people near the roar, and this village is at the heart of it. Any caught will be taken to the capital, where mages would surely discover your nature. Every collector has an escort of twenty men and a knight. Unless you mean to slay them all, follow me and hide!"
I rubbed my eyes. "Can't I just stay here?"
Silvana half dragged me to the door. "The manor of this village is connected to Godfather's castle through a linked Waywood door. Such magical artifacts are precious to even archmages. What do you imagine the soldiers would do if they discover it? "
I wanted to hit myself. Of course the mansion was magic. How else would it be five stories tall? "You're hiding the door then?"
"To any other, this manor is but an ordinary lord's home. Speak with the villagers. If the collectors do inquire, you are a cousin of mine from a nameless nearby village who has taken a liking to Alice. I have a horse and a cloak. If they ask, you will tell them that they are both yours and I will agree." Silvana said, shaking me. "Do you understand?"
"I'm your cousin, and your horse and cloak is mine. I am from a nearby village." I repeated. The words felt bitter on my tongue. An acceptable lie to keep myself safe from needless harm, but a lie nonetheless.
"Find Alice. There is no need to act the part, leave the explaining for me to do." Silvana said, pulling a cloak out. It was dark, the fabric soft to touch. A riding cloak. She wrapped it around my shoulders before pushing me out the door.
There was no need for me to find the villagers. They found me. "Milord! Milord has recovered!" I heard Eric call.
A swarm of villagers rushed from their homes to greet me. There was Alice, Ambrose, a rabble of children, and almost every farmer. In moments I was buried beneath words of admiration, praise, and a hug from Alice. They were different now. Their faces shined with a healthier glow, and flesh lined their faces. I tried to wrestle Alice off me only to realize that she was stronger.
She was so pretty now it was alarming to notice. Was this the same disheveled thing I had seen only days weeks ago?
Then Eric came. "Sorry milord, me rowed too far." He said, his head hung low.
I smiled and patted his head. "It's fine, Eric. It was my fault, I should apologize. I didn't realize the current was so strong. Now, why were you so eager to row?"
I saw him bite his lip before he shrunk away like a shadow. "What's wrong?" I called after him, but he had ran away. I frowned and made a mental note to ask again later. Then I heard the footsteps.
These were not villagers. None of them had good boots. Then there was the hoofbeats of a horse trampling the grass. No peasant ever had those. The crowd parted as I saw my first armored knight. Behind him, an escort of twenty men. They held their spears in hand, and uniforms with a blue sword crest were painted atop them.
The knight was what drew my attention. His armor was plate, half plate of shining metal. Directly atop the shining metal was the image of a falcon. He held a flag in his hand, and a blue sword was in front. As the wind blew it, I could see the silver falcon behind it. A sword was at his side, though he had not drawn it. No helmet covered his face, and I saw a blue eyed youth with golden hair.
The peasants gave a bow as he dismounted. "Who do you be?" He asked.
"Leon. A cousin of the lady here, Silvana." I said.
He gave a smile that earned a few gasps from the village girls. "Aye, I am Galahad, squire of the blue swords." His armor clanked as he bowed. "I seek to collect the year's taxes from the honourable Lord Zalam, lord of this manor. Might you lead me to him?"
"Godfather has left the duty of providing tax to me, Master Galahad." Her voice came from behind me.
I saw him turn to her. "You do be?"
"Silvana Forraest, lady of this manor." She said, drawing her skirts up in a curtsy.
He bowed again. "An honor to meet you, sweet Lady Forraest. The sight of your beauty makes my heart rise."
"An honor to meet you too, master. I'm afraid that we are a simple manor, and cannot provide entertainment befitting of a knight. Let us resolve the issue of taxes before nightfall. It would be ill manners for me to force a march through the darkness upon you." Silvana said.
He flashed his winning smile again. "To me it would be a great enough pleasure to gaze upon your lovely face. Please, allow us a night to stay and a bed to sleep." He tossed a few coins into the air. Gold, I saw. Nothing else glittered like that.
I saw that anger shimmering beneath the surface of Silvana's face again. "Of course." She said.
"I am also in need of a servant. Would you kindly allow me to take one of your peasants for a maid?" He asked.
Something flashed in Silvana's eyes. "There will be no need for that, sir. I would attend you myself."
"Nay, how could I demand such I thing? You are a young lady, it would be unbefitting for your station if I were to make a servant of you." Galahad turned to Alice.
"Would you agree to accompany me for the day, fair maid? I would promise a handsome reward." He said, holding up his pouch.
Alice covered her blush. "Oh- of course, Master Galahad."
I bit my lip as I saw venom in Silvana's silver eyes. I tried to hear what she was saying to the squire, but the villagers' clamor drowned it out. Congratulations to Alice, and a lot of it.
How could I have known the darker side that the squire hid behind his armor?
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