asked.
Havid laughed. “I would have to raise quite the little army to drive the wagons and fill the casks. It would be no easy feat to find spare men. Harvest time is upon us and many of the young men and boys are already out in the fields. And then there is the matter of horses or oxen. They do not come cheaply. I would say I could have the first casks of water coming through the gate in a week. Maybe longer.”
“A week?” Elissa exclaimed.
“My queen, I can’t just snap my fingers and have everyone jump at my command to get something done. In the real world, some things take time. And sometimes they can’t be done. Even those of noble blood have their limitations. I will have to raise funds to hire men, pay for feed for the horses. I consider myself wealthy, but not that wealthy. If you want it done more quickly, maybe you should exchange your dress for a good set of work clothes and join us.”
Marik’s face turned red, and he responded with much anger in his voice. “Havid! How dare you talk to your queen like that!”
Elissa placed a hand on Marik’s shoulder. “Marik, it’s okay. He’s right. I’ve lived my entire life in the castle without knowing what is going on. I had no idea about taxes. I never thought anything about that. It just didn’t matter to me. And I ask others to do things without being willing to do them myself.” She turned to Havid and said, “If you need my help, then tell me what to do.”
Havid smiled and said, “And you wonder why people will be willing to fall to a knee to honor your presence. They don’t do it out of fear, they do it out of love. Love for a queen who is willing to do more than just tell people what to do.”
“I do want to help.”
“I need horses to pull wagons and men to load the casks. I cannot afford to pay them, but you can.”
Elissa nodded. “It is done. Whatever it costs, I will pay. Any men you need, the city guard will help, too.”
Havid gave the queen a deep bow. “You are too generous. I must take my leave now and start finding those horses and men. I said a week, but if all goes well, in three days we will have a steady flow of water coming from the river.”
Marik waited for Havid to leave before he turned to the queen and said, “Lord Martin and Lord Kirwal will be livid.”
“How so?” Elissa asked.
“Well, two reasons. One, you figured out a solution to the water problem that they could not. And two, they will lose out on tax money. Your father lived very lavishly. Don’t get me wrong, he was a fine king. But I don’t think he quite knew how much the tax burden could be on the average citizen. It wasn’t bad, mind you. But I just don’t think he ever really knew.”
“And nor did I,” Elissa said. “I guess I feel guilty, now.”
“Don’t feel guilty,” Marik said. “Sometimes it’s just the way life is. Kings, and queens, have many responsibilities, but a job is not one of them. You need to fill the kingdom’s coffers somehow. And taxes are just one of the ways. The taxes aren’t oppressive; you aren’t taking every hard earned cent. But if you take all of your income away, there will be nothing left to run the city.”
Elissa shivered and said. “I don’t like taking money from my people. It feels weird.”
“I’m afraid in time you will get used to it. Come, we should return to the castle and let Lord Martin know about your nefarious
Havid laughed. “I would have to raise quite the little army to drive the wagons and fill the casks. It would be no easy feat to find spare men. Harvest time is upon us and many of the young men and boys are already out in the fields. And then there is the matter of horses or oxen. They do not come cheaply. I would say I could have the first casks of water coming through the gate in a week. Maybe longer.”
“A week?” Elissa exclaimed.
“My queen, I can’t just snap my fingers and have everyone jump at my command to get something done. In the real world, some things take time. And sometimes they can’t be done. Even those of noble blood have their limitations. I will have to raise funds to hire men, pay for feed for the horses. I consider myself wealthy, but not that wealthy. If you want it done more quickly, maybe you should exchange your dress for a good set of work clothes and join us.”
Marik’s face turned red, and he responded with much anger in his voice. “Havid! How dare you talk to your queen like that!”
Elissa placed a hand on Marik’s shoulder. “Marik, it’s okay. He’s right. I’ve lived my entire life in the castle without knowing what is going on. I had no idea about taxes. I never thought anything about that. It just didn’t matter to me. And I ask others to do things without being willing to do them myself.” She turned to Havid and said, “If you need my help, then tell me what to do.”
Havid smiled and said, “And you wonder why people will be willing to fall to a knee to honor your presence. They don’t do it out of fear, they do it out of love. Love for a queen who is willing to do more than just tell people what to do.”
“I do want to help.”
“I need horses to pull wagons and men to load the casks. I cannot afford to pay them, but you can.”
Elissa nodded. “It is done. Whatever it costs, I will pay. Any men you need, the city guard will help, too.”
Havid gave the queen a deep bow. “You are too generous. I must take my leave now and start finding those horses and men. I said a week, but if all goes well, in three days we will have a steady flow of water coming from the river.”
Marik waited for Havid to leave before he turned to the queen and said, “Lord Martin and Lord Kirwal will be livid.”
“How so?” Elissa asked.
“Well, two reasons. One, you figured out a solution to the water problem that they could not. And two, they will lose out on tax money. Your father lived very lavishly. Don’t get me wrong, he was a fine king. But I don’t think he quite knew how much the tax burden could be on the average citizen. It wasn’t bad, mind you. But I just don’t think he ever really knew.”
“And nor did I,” Elissa said. “I guess I feel guilty, now.”
“Don’t feel guilty,” Marik said. “Sometimes it’s just the way life is. Kings, and queens, have many responsibilities, but a job is not one of them. You need to fill the kingdom’s coffers somehow. And taxes are just one of the ways. The taxes aren’t oppressive; you aren’t taking every hard earned cent. But if you take all of your income away, there will be nothing left to run the city.”
Elissa shivered and said. “I don’t like taking money from my people. It feels weird.”
“I’m afraid in time you will get used to it. Come, we should return to the castle and let Lord Martin know about your nefarious
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