john
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Post by john on Apr 23, 2009 21:28:09 GMT 1
Prince John rode into the town square, there where many of his men with him & even move where out side the village keeping an eye open for any trouble & such forth.
He held up his hand, to signal to his men to stop, as he came to a stop on his stallion that lightly danced under him. With that some of his men got of there horses before moving to collected the taxes form people, when they where of there horses Prince John moved once more fallowed by a few of his men, to head for the other end of the town to start collecting taxes there as well.
He also figuered there would be at least one or two that could not pay & he wanted to find them to make them pay, in many ways it was his pass time. For after all pesants where below him & needed to remember there place.
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Post by kight on May 1, 2009 1:53:02 GMT 1
Rigoletto rode in to town with Prince John, he was fully armored & his helm was on keeping his face & identity a secret form the towns people & the others that where with them. Why the one group had stopped to start getting taxes Rigoletto had fallowed Prince John, as he moved to head for the end of town. He would do as ordered, stay in favor of Prince John & when the time came make the destine that would decided his fate & how his life would ether end or begin.
He wandered in the back of his mind if those he knew would be taxed today, if those he knew he would have to watch & help to carry out the order & in the end bring them even more pain. With that he could only watch in ride tell Prince John stopped giving his men order to go & get the taxes?
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Post by makenna on May 1, 2009 2:33:31 GMT 1
Charlotte Bennett much was busying herself with sewing, as she did so often. Her frustration grew as she stitched again incorrectly and she tore at the thread, again starting over. Charlotte was not patient with such tedious tasks that commanded her day, unless everything went by quick and efficiently, which it so rarely did.
Letting out a deep sigh and slamming the fabric down on her lap, Char looked up at the ceiling. She was sitting on the floor, that she had yet to sweep because dust was collecting since it had been so long since she had last done so. And she had prepared dinner already a short while ago, but still no sign of Peter and she figured it wouldn't taste nearly as good now, but he would have to live with it.
She twirled the needle in her fingers and felt a sharp pain stinging her left thumb. What an idiotic thing to do, she scolded herself as she watched a few drops of blood escape a small puncture. Char grunted as she wiped it angrily on her skirt, where it showed up barely.
There was still a slight stinging in it as she flexed her fingers a little and then picked up the cloth, returning it to its proper position and then the needle.
Of course, at that moment there was a slight rapping on the door. Peter? Was her first thought, but what reason would he have to knock on his own door? No, she decided, it wasn't Peter. Rarely did anyone visit unless it was for... oh no, not now, Charlotte pleaded in her mind. The tax collecters? It seemed so early but maybe, time had escaped her. And where was Peter!? She couldn't pay the taxes without him there, he carried the majority of their money and the slight bit that he didn't carry he hid, and that was completely for emergencies.
Again came the rapping, and Charlotte was forced to drag her feet to the door. There was no point in attempting to ignore the constant knocking, tax collecters were persistant and were not going anywhere. She remembered once when they had just opened the door themselves, a complete lack of regard for the people's home and them.
Charlotte felt a sense of dread as she saw that her assumption had been correct after slowly opening the creaking door. She waited for them to speak.
(Hope you don't mind I joined in.)
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john
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Post by john on May 1, 2009 11:19:57 GMT 1
(Your are welcome to join the post)
Prince John, had watched as his men went to house after house getting the taxes that where owed, one by one the people paid those that could not it could go two ways for them depending on how things went for them it could go where they simply had to pay more the next month or it could go where they where ordered to go to jail, where there debt would be paid off for most the time if they where able they where placed in join but, would work in the mines, fields or something to make good on what they owed. Prince John did not miss that his Black Knight waited on his orders but, so far things where going well & he was thinking on sending him to cheek on him to cheek on his other men with in the town.
When the guards got to Charlotte door they knocked, waiting for an answer it took long enough that it almost made them question if anyone was home but, Charlotte had answered the door & with it the guard spoke “Your taxes are do today” The guard was not a cheerful looking man & his tone was no where to being nice, after he spoke he looked at Charlotte as expecting she had the money.
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Post by makenna on May 2, 2009 5:37:41 GMT 1
Charlotte looked over the dreadful looking man. Not that he looked bad, just intimidating and the thing he was about to ask her to do, pay her taxes, was a dreadful thing to take in. And on top of all that she didn't have the money, and Peter wasn't anywhere to be found.
“Your taxes are due today."
With a look of worry playing on her features she looked around at the floor, knowing that something would be made out of this, no excuses would be accepted even if they were legitimate. She sighed, slowly, exhaling the breath she had been without thinking, holding. She clasped her hands in front of her, twiddling her thumbs nervously as she prepared an answer.
"My husband has the money..." Charlotte began to explain weakly, knowing fully well this response would not be acceptable. "I cannot pay the taxes until he returns, Sir." Charlotte didn't know what else to do. She couldn't magically conjure up the money to pay and there without Peter she was helpless.
For a moment her thoughts lingered on the fact that she could be possibly, and most likely, taken to the dungeons for this, or even worse hanged, simply because her husband wasn't home at his usual time.
She waited anxiously for his response as she continued to twiddle her thumbs with the nervous feelings welling up inside of her, multiplying as time went so slowly onward...
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john
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Post by john on May 3, 2009 11:33:00 GMT 1
Prince John watch so far everything was going alright, that was an odd feeling that things where for once going so. No one was saying no & so far everyone had been able to pay most of the taxes, Prince John liked to have the full taxes played but, if one could not then he could add interested to it so it work out best for him.
He looked over at Rigoletto "Black Knight, go & see how the other men are doing with there taxes" He never address him as Rigoletto unless it might give him reason, he was after all the Black Knight & one that struck fear in others he was not about to make the knight look mortal.
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Post by kight on May 3, 2009 20:16:06 GMT 1
Rigolletto silently watch & listened to the sounds around him, with the helm on his guard was higher for one could only see so much. At hearing Prince Johns words, Rigoletto looked at him & you could see the helm as it moved a bit.
With his words Rigoletto nodded before turning his horse, to head back to where the other men where getting taxes at a loop as he approached where the men where he could see them at different houses some getting played, others knocking & some appeared to decided that they would cheek to see that none where home. Others where taking people away since they could not pay or where more so deep in debt to Prince John to pay the interested he charged.
He continued to ride to see that all was being taken care off, for the most part he was not requested to help or settle any maters but, if one did the guards knew that Rigoletto was above them & it was not wise to go against him, for to do so was to go against there prince.
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john
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Post by john on May 4, 2009 0:04:07 GMT 1
The guard heard her words “Where is his he” But, it was clear that she answered his question with his new words. He then spoke again “And when is he suppose to return?” It was like the guard might of tried something but, he held back with the arrival of the Black Knight he knew better, to strike one of the peasants might be one thing if he was getting the money & the people where behind in paying but, to do so knowing that they where not behind & she said that her husband had the money he had to hold back form any rash action tell her husband returned.
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Post by makenna on May 4, 2009 2:20:49 GMT 1
“Where is he?"
Charlotte inhaled deeply in annoyance, if only she knew the answer to that question. Where was he? He should be here, but she assumed he was at the mill, working. If he wasn't there where else would he be? Char had never known him to be the kind of man to toil around anywhere else. "Well, I assume he is at the mill, Sir. If he is not there, then I have no idea," she responded frustrated at him not being there, still.
“And when is he supposed to return?”
With a sigh Charlotte again scanned the area behind him for her absent husband and again saw nothing. Just a few yards away was that wretched Prince John. "He should have returned by now," Char responded lightly trying to sound as polite, yet firm and completely honest as possible. Anything that could make them think you were lying was bad idea.
She eyed him closely, waiting for his response, even though she wasn't sure if she wanted to hear it. What if he thought she was lying? Or he didn't care whether she was or not and just knowing she didn't currently have the money ended the case. She swallowed hard and dropped her gaze for a moment. What if they really didn't have the money? What if Peter spent it on something or had made less than usual. She didn't keep up with the money like he did and if they really couldn't pay their taxes then they would really think that she was lying even though she never had not paid them before and had no reason to believe that they couldn't pay them now.
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john
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Post by john on May 4, 2009 23:40:10 GMT 1
The guard heard her words -Well, I assume he is at the mill, Sir. If he is not there, then I have no idea,- Her words where not helping the matter, did she expected for them to wait for this man if there was one to pay the taxes? Then he heard her second words -He should have returned by now-
The guard knew that he could not do more for the moment so he backed off but, if she was lying or this man did not show up it would not be good for her. As he steeped back form her door, he call a guard over to wait for this man & to get the taxes that where do & the guard knew what to do if the man or taxes where not turned in today
With that he spoke to her “Let us hope he, returns soon then for your sake“ With that he thought a moment before he spoke again “And lets hope you are not lying” With that he yells to one of the other guards there to go to the mill & see if they could not find this husband, it would not be hard since most the towns people where here & the name of who was to pay was on a parchment as well.
Prince John did not hear the words spoke but, he did see one of his others guards mount there horse & start to ride & they did well to stop & tell him of where he was going. With a nod the man set off, to head for the mill & do as asked.
Prince John decided to cheek into this matter, as he approach he say his one guard looking at him he spoke “What is the problem?” His voice was cold like ice & held an edge of sharpness like a knife. His man told him & he looked at him as he found out how much was to be paid though it was more to make one feel uneasy. He looked at Charlotte as he spoke his tone the same as before
“I am not a man that like to wait, when it comes to taxes that are due” Alright he was not patient for real anything or that but, he would say that as if they should of know the taxes where due today.
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Post by kight on May 13, 2009 3:54:55 GMT 1
Rigoletto had gone down tot he other end of town, not as many people where on this side so he knew the gaurds would be done faster then on the others side of town that Prince John was on. As he cheek to see that the taxes had been taken care of he waited to see that all was well before, he moved to head back to the others side of town where he could give his answer to the matters of the taxes.
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Post by makenna on Jun 8, 2009 8:33:50 GMT 1
Charlotte stared at the man trying her best to not make any facial expressions that could be taken in offense and praying to the good Lord that Peter was there. Where else would he be? In town? That was possible. And what in the world would he be doing there? Drinking? That was possible, she supposed. Not knowing his wifes life was depending on him either being at the mill or getting home in the next few minutes.
"I'm not lying," Charlotte sneered annoyed at his lack of understanding. Her eyes widened as she realized how rude that sounded and she bit her lip. "Forgive me," she muttered quietly. Behind him she could see Prince John, acting all high and mighty. She couldn't stand him.
And more to her dismay he was riding towards then. She didn't trust herself to answer him so she waited for the guard to, it wasn't her place anyway. Charlotte didn't want to get hung because she couldn't keep her mouth shut. But what if he was expecting her to reply and got mad that she wasn't responding? It was impossible to know, so she waited.
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john
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Post by john on Jun 20, 2009 10:31:33 GMT 1
The guard heard her words his eyes flickered but, he did not move to strike her & that was odd more likely it was more because he waited the tax money that was due before he delta with her, at her second words he did not get anything said as Prince John rode over to them. His voice was cold & held command as he spoke to the guard “What is going on here, I told you to get the taxes & yet you can not do that”
With that then guard spoke on what was going on that she did not have the money, as if that would get him off the hook for him not having it. Prince John looked at the guard as he spoke before he spoke “That hardly excuses you” He then looked to Charlotte as he spoke “So you do not have the taxes that are do but, your husband does, let use hope for your sake you are right” He meant it so far Prince John’s day was going good so he was not a full jerk but, if something happened here well he would have no trouble taking it out on people that where below him any way.
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Post by makenna on Jun 30, 2009 16:16:49 GMT 1
When Prince John rode up Charlotte looked down to the floor, refusing to meet his eyes. She peered up to the rode for a moment searching for her husband there, but did not see him coming. Surely Peter would have the money to pay the taxes, right? What if he didn't... Charlotte refused to linger on such unpleasant thoughts.
Charlotte looked up reluctantly when he spoke to her. "I know it does not excuse me," she responded quietly. She knew money was always tight but Peter always had the tax money ready, he always had enough at the right times.
But where was he with that money? Her life depended on the fact that he was at the mill, if he was anywhere else, she would get it. What she would get, she wasn't sure, but Charlotte knew it wouldn't be pleasant. Hanging? Losing a hand? Losing a tongue? She bit her bottom lip as she looked up at the rode again, hopeful. Nothing... absolutely no one.
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john
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Post by john on Jul 9, 2009 10:32:54 GMT 1
Prince John heard her words he said nothing to her on them, after all she was below him how ever at least she knew well not to rise her eyes to his as so many others did. Looking to the guard that was still close to her he spoke “Stay here & bring in the tax money when her husband comes back” His eyes flickered a moment as he spoke again “If her husband does not have the money bring him, to me alive” Of course the man coming to him alive was one thing leaving in the same fashion was not always the same, Prince John was doing this also for if she where lying & had a husband but, no money they it would make it harder on her if she had no husband well then, he would deal with that when it came.
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