Chapter 21: Breaking a tax collector

The late summer brought little relief from the heat. I did not mind but it had put Jasmine in bad mood. I had smiled when Melody pulled her into a basin and she actually sat and then began to relax as the water deepened. More of the children seemed to come to the basins each day and many times it was whole families.

She spent a lot of time in the basin now. Ash’s new companion Amara seemed to keep her attention so we had fewer worries. Jasmine and Gloria had found a few other mage children and provided companions to them. The eggs for the phoenixes had hatched and the tiny birds were the favorite of the children.

Covered nests had just appeared one morning. They were part of the stone wall for the house and looked like they had been built with the house. I fed the phoenixes every day and they paid me back with beautiful songs that delighted the people who tossed coins into the basins or brought them fruit.

At least two and sometimes three days a week we went to the Grinning Cat for breakfast. Teresa was pregnant and glowed as she served us. Her new husband was still in the guard but spent all his time off her helping and learning. The Grinning Cat was where I first heard about a new tax collector.

Instead of merchants and normal citizens he was going after thieves. I did not think anything of it since I was no longer active. I had even paid taxes on the treasure from the castle and the other places. Of course there were things you could not tax like the companions. Silver had been strangely quiet the few times he had come over.

I was watching the crowds of children playing around and in the basins with the phoenixes singing. Mage creatures and animated stuffed animals played with the children and were everywhere. The gargoyle was once more pink and was playing close by with a small group of young girls.

I turned to look at a small man walking towards my door. I cleared my throat, “Can I help you?”

He barely glanced at me, “No, I am here to post a tax seizure notice.”

I stood as those around me shifted away, “Seizure for what?”

He looked at me, “Being a thief you do not pay taxes on what you steal. Those are past due and I am here to seize your property until it is.”

I smiled, “Friend, you try to seize my home and you will have more trouble than you can handle.”

He snorted, “I am the king’s tax collector. If I need to I will have every guard in the city here to evict you.”

I stepped closer, “First I paid taxes. Second my home is protected by the king’s oath. Third you would have to prove I was a thief.”

I pulled a long dagger, “As for the city guard, they know better that try anything here. The king and emperor are in my debt. I would turn and walk away as fast as you can.”

He snorted and looked me up and down, “I will check your...”

I slashed and he gasped as the sharp blade of the dagger cut through his vest, “One.”

He opened his mouth and I sliced down and across to cut through his vest again, “Two.”

He spun and began to run and I watched him before putting my dagger away. I glanced around, “Jasmine I have something I need to do.”

She stood in the water holding a struggling Melody and Ash and nodded. I started walking and Jewel flew to land on my shoulder with Dragon. Griffin and the drakes filled the air above and I looked back to see the gargoyle following. Somehow I knew the cats would be following and then I looked up at most of the phoenixes.

I grinned and then chuckled as I went to the alley with Calvin’s shop. The guards looked at me and then moved away when they saw all the creatures. I smiled as I opened the door and walked in. Calvin turned and frowned, “Not again.”

I smiled, “I have always paid my debt and last time you got gold for a bit of talk.”

I stopped at the counter as all the creatures found someplace to sit. He sighed, “Yeah but now that damn tax collector is snooping around.”

I smiled, “Speaking of the tax collector.”

His eyes narrowed, “You going to kill him?”

I pulled a gold coin, “How much does he take and keep?”

He grinned, “Well his name is Depree and I heard a few of his ... marks that said only half of what he took was filed with the tax clerk.”

I grinned, “And he has only been taxing thieves?”

He nodded and I glanced at his two men, “So where did he get the thieves names?”

He straightened, “I did not...”

He stopped talking before glaring, “I will find out.”

I tapped the coin on his counter, “Where does he live?”

He grinned again, “The old merchant Milenbrot died and his estate was sold for back taxes.”

I shook my head, “Milenbrot was a scrooge but he always paid his taxes and what he owed.”

I tossed the coin, “I think I will have to pay the tax collector a visit.”

He laughed as we left and I headed towards the rich part of the city. I walked around the estate and the tax collector did not have guards or spells protecting it. The manor was small but the grounds were large. I decided to wait until it was night and headed back to my house. The crowd around the house and basins was quiet.

There were several guards with the tax collector. He looked smug as he strutted towards me with the guards following, “I told you I would have the guards come.”

I looked at the guards and smiled, “Go ahead and see what happens.”

They did not look happy as he turned and gestured, “Post the notice and start bringing everything out.”

The guards looked at each other and a sergeant cleared his throat, “I do not think we can do that.”

The tax collector’s eye narrowed, “You will do as I tell you.”

I laughed and crossed my arms, “Did you even bother to check me out little man?”

He looked at me a snorted, “You are a thief.”

I grinned, “Who has paid his taxes every year. Now if you had checked you might have found out a few things. The guard is not going to do anything to violate the peace of my house. I would go look up what happened to duke Albert before you return.”

He glared before turning and pushing through the guards. I looked at them as they reddened and turned to follow him. I crossed to the basins and grinned at Jasmine, “I will be out most of the night.”

She let Ash and Melody go and turned to climb into a basin, “Do not get caught.”