Telac smiled at the clink of the gold weighing down his horse.

“Collecting taxes is the best, ain’t it boys!” He shouted.

A chorus of raucous roars answered, coming from the band of men riding beside him. The six were all tattooed in the same fashion, the matching markings showing they were brothers in arms.

Telac stretched, trying to ease out the stiffness in his joints. All this travelling was hard, a far cry from the pampered life he’d held on his father's estate in Calista, and it was starting to wear on him. He was getting too old to be spending a quarter of every year on the road, touring around all the villages in his province, collecting the taxes they owed him and enjoying all the hospitality they could heap upon him.

Still, buying the rights to tax this province was the best decision he’d ever made.

Maybe next year he’d hire someone to do the collection for him, though who could be trusted to not embezzle a little for themselves? He was under no illusion that even his men, as much as he could rely on them to protect his back, would pocket a large portion of the takings the moment they were out of his sight.

No, if you wanted a job done properly, you had to do it yourself.

The wooden wall surrounding the village of Littlestream came into view at the end of the road, peeking out through a gap in the trees. Telac perked up at the welcome sight, he was eager to be out of the saddle. Spurring his horse on, he rode up ahead of the group to the wall.

“Open up! Tax collection!” He yelled.

A little flare of irritation lit within him at the lack of immediate response. They surely knew he was coming, all these little villages had nothing better to do but gossip to one another, and he’d spent long enough in Aldsville that they’d had more than enough warning. A lustful smirk twisted his mouth as Telac remembered just how he’d spent his time in Aldsville, how… accommodating they’d been.

But even that pleasurable thought wasn’t enough to quench his annoyance for long. They’d had more enough time to greet him, and his patience was wearing thin. They probably just needed a little encouragement.

Raising his hand, Telac called on his magic with a thought. Instantly, a blast of fire engulfed his hand and shot into the air in a towering column of flame.

“Open up this instant, or I will burn this fucking place to the ground!” He roared.

A panicked voice came from further along the wall, the head of a young man bobbing along as he ran towards the gate.

“Coming! Coming!” The man shouted, before disappearing down off the wall towards the gate. A few clatters and thumps sounded from within, and then the gate ponderously swung open, revealing the village and an out-of-breath young man, carrying a spear, standing to one side.

“Please… come… in.”

Telac rode in through the gate, this men following behind, and continued to the village square. Each villager he passed gave the group the same bitter look before turning in the opposite direction and hurrying away, the same look that greeted him in each village each time he’d visited for the last decade.

Typical peasants, nothing but dirt and straw between their ears. Unable to recognize greatness when they saw it.

A young boy ran up the group, taking the reins that Telac and his men shoved into his hands as they dismounted, leading the horses away to be fed.

Telac walked up to the door of the largest house bordering the village square, an ornate construction with far more detailing than all the others. The mayors house. Telac slammed his fist against the door.

An old man answered, dressed in rich robes reminiscent of the fashions of the city, instead of the drab garb of the rest in this pitiful place. He sported a long, immaculately-kept black beard, and a floppy hat that covered the top of his head.

“What in Vistol’s name do you want this early in the-”

The imperious expression on his face died as he took in exactly who was to his door, replaced with fawning deference.

“Oh, L-Lord T-Telac… It’s so good to see you. I trust your journey was uneventful?”

“Spare me the shit, Graham. I’ve come for the taxes. Hand them over, so I can get to drinking.”

Graham wrung his hands, looking worried.

“About the taxes, you see we had a bad year. The chimeras have been more active, and we haven’t been able to-”

Telac slammed his fist against the door frame, making Graham jump, his hat slipping down his head.

“I don’t give a fuck about the chimeras. We have an agreement, you pay me the taxes I ask, I let you keep your village. That. Is. How. THIS. WORKS!” The last few words came out as shouts.

Telac paused and took a deep breath, fighting down his anger. The danger of travelling on the road always made him irritable. Incinerating this simpering fool wasn’t worth it. Yet.

If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

There was still time for that to change, however.

“You know what? I’m thirsty.” Telac jabbed a finger into Graham’s chest, the old man flinching away as if it was a sword. “You bring me my money by the end of today, in person. Or you know what will happen. Don’t. Test. Me.”

With that, he turned and strode off towards the tavern, his men following behind.

—

The tavern was full of people, each small group crowded around a table laden with tankards. A wave of uncomfortable silence spread through the air as the patrons noticed his arrival. Telac scanned the room, smirking as his eyes fell on one particular person.

A young woman sat against a wall, a strained smile plastered on her face as she listened to an animated young man. Her blonde hair was tied up into a bun, fashionably so, adorned with a sparkling net of crystal beads. Her clothes also looked expensive, dark green and impeccably tailored, an intricately detailed wrap circling her shoulders. The man sitting opposite her was similarly well-dressed, with slicked back hair, an embroidered doublet, and tight trousers making up his ensemble.

Telac barged across the room towards the couple, the villagers he shoved out of his way not daring to protest as they were jostled. The blonde haired woman looked up and spotted Telac, their eyes meeting. Telac’s smirk widened as her fake smile vanished, replaced with wide eyes that darted about, looking for an escape.

Like a panicked deer in the face of his flames.

Telac stopped behind the young man, placing his hand on his shoulder. The man spun about to stare incredulously up at him.

“What do you think you’re doing, oaf?” The man sneered.

“Move. Rachel and I need to catch up.” Telac said. “Besides, looks like she’d done talking with you. I’ve never seen her so bored.”

“I beg your pardon!?” The man spluttered, his face going red. “Who the hell do you think you are!?”

“Get out of this chair, boy.” Telac growled. “Or I’ll make you.”

The man puffed himself up with righteous indignation. “I’ll have you know that my father is the Mayor of Aldsville, and you can’t-”

Telac raised his hand, his eyes flashing with purple light as he wreathed his hand in fire. The young man’s tirade snuffed out as his eyes fixed on the flickering flames, his face going pale.

“So you’re Erhart’s son. No wonder he’s kept you away from me, I would have incinerated you years ago for being such a rude little shit.”

“What do you-”

A backhanded strike across the man’s face sent him reeling. With a crash, the chair and the man both hit the ground, the sound echoing through the silent tavern, followed quickly by the man’s high-pitched scream as he writhed on the floor, clutching his burned face.

Telac released his magic and bent down, his voice clear in the silence. “Run along, little boy, before I decide to finish the job.”

The man scrabbled to his feet and fled, banging into tables and people alike, Telac’s men’s jeers chasing him out.

Turning to the girl pressed up against the wall, Telac let the smirk curve his mouth again. “Looks like it’s just me and you now, Rachel. How about you show me some love, it’s been a whole year since our last… sweet encounter.” Her face went white as Telac licked his lips, looking her up and down lecherously.

Striding around the table towards her, Telac grabbed a chair, dragging it screeching across the wood floor. The rest of his men grabbed chairs from nearby people, laughing to one another as they shoved the previous occupants to the ground.

Rachel looked around in panic, tensing as if to flee, but she was surrounded by Telac’s band on all sides.

There was no escape.

The clattering of chairs sounded all around the room as the remaining patrons quickly vacated the premises. Telac smiled widely and shuffled even closer to the girl, putting his arm around her and yanking her towards him despite her attempts to recoil away.

“So tell me, what are you doing chatting with a pansy like that boy?”

She didn’t respond, her head bowed as she avoided the stares of the men surrounding her. Telac waited a moment, before grabbing her hair and yanking her head over to put her ear next to his mouth.

“I asked you a question, girl. If you don’t want to talk, I’m sure I can find more interesting things to do.” He stuck his tongue out and licked her ear sloppily.

Rachel shuddered and quickly responded. “My dad wants me to marry, he’s the son of the Mayor from the town over. It would be a good match, he says.”

“You? Marry?” Telac sat back and laughed, releasing his grip in her hair. “I can’t be having that. Who will I visit when I come around each year?”

She whipped her head around to stare at him.

“But I thought-”

“But I. But I.” Telac taunted. “No. You are mine. This village is mine. This entire damned province is mine.”

Rachel stared at him, dumbfounded. A solitary tear formed in her eye and rolled down her cheek.

Telac stared back at her, his smile widening. Eventually, he looked away from her, staring across the room at the innkeeper cowering behind the long bar.

“Bring me some booze!” He shouted, kicking out at a chair and sending it clattering along the ground. His men guffawed and repeated the shout, banging on the table and floor noisily.

The innkeeper gave a strained smile and waved a serving girl over with a tray of drinks. The timid girl picked her way across the room and careful placed the tray on the table, studiously avoiding looking at any of them. One of the men took the opportunity to grab her behind, making the girl let out a shocked yelp. With difficulty, she extracted herself from the groping hands and dashed back to the kitchen.

Telac leaned over to Rachel, putting a hand on her leg. She tensed at the contact, her eyes going wide.

“You know, your father claimed the village didn’t have my taxes.” He said, slowly squeezing her leg tighter. “I’m sure that can’t be right, though. It’s not like I ask for much.”

“W-well, the c-chimeras-” She stammered.

“Shh. Let’s not insult me with excuses now.” He leaned in closer to her. “I’m thinking if he doesn’t cover the rest, then I may decide to make up the remainder by taking you. It’s about time you left this dump.”

He tightened his grip even more, digging his fingers into her thigh and causing Rachel to gasp and grab at his hand, trying but failing to squirm away from him.

“Please, you’re hurting me.”

“I’ll do what I like with you.” Telac growled, giving her a final squeeze. Rachel sagged as she was released, curling up and letting out a quiet sob.

Telac grabbed one of the tankards and sat back, drinking deeply, and scanned the room. Most of the remaining villagers were sitting with their heads down, doing their best to pretend they couldn’t see a thing. Only one woman was staring at them, at the far side of the room. She was sat with two hooded figures, but she was ignoring her companions, instead staring unblinkingly at him.

Telac smirked back, matching her gaze. It seemed his stay here would end up being quite lively.

What could he say, he just had a way with women.