CH 7. Tribute Due The Princess

[Princess Elvie POV]

I skipped lightly down the main causeway. The whispers of my subjects coming short and quick to my ears. After my debut last week, no one dared approach or question my actions.

"What is the Princess doing here?"

"She'll be caught!"

"How did she attain such powers?"

Humming a tune, I stopped at a small lending house.

"But that's not what this place is." Asura growled in my mind, "Eh, Princess?"

I had to suppress a giggle, "No My Asura it is not."

Stepping inside, the jangling of a bell announcing my entrance. Prancing up to the main desk, I curtsied to the lone occupant. Smiling down at me I present myself.

"Princess Elvie to see the Head Tax Assessor."

[Mnemonsynis Art: Muse of Lies]

The man behind the desk lit up in recognition. It is so wonderful to have people remember what I wish them too. With Asura that will always be the case.

"Princess Elvie," He rasped, "It is so good to make your acquaintance."

Several pops and cracks rang out as the slender man stood. Bowing slightly, he reclaimed his seat. Long thin hands wove his words, as he presented 'his' proposal.

"As you know, I am Duke Duchatt's head tax collector. As such I am responsible for those in my employ. I have reached out to you so that I can perhaps strike a deal for my people similar to the one the guards enjoy."

"Hanging out the Duke to dry?" I pretend to be shocked, "You're so easy to turn your loyalty?"

"I am a tax collector, my loyalty is not to a singular personage," the man choked, "I can not much longer stand the Duke's policies. They run counter to good business sense. I just haven't had a better way. With your Majesty, I hope I do."

"And what would you do in the name of good business?" I wonder.

I repress another giggle as Asura deposits more memories into the poor man's head.

[Mnemosynis Art: Muse of Lies]

"I would recommend that the funds that sit in Duchatt's treasury be redistributed into the merchants and shop keepers. I would like to start investing in infrastructure and the training of skilled laborers. I want to stop bankrupting farmers and peasants so that Duchatt can give his pretty new fucktoy some pretty new gifts."

"You care about my subjects?"

"I care about efficiency and trying to take blood from a stone is not efficient. Better to divide the burden with those that can afford it. Better to keep the money moving," his eyes become downcast, "I also wish to avoid the purges that accompany a change of power. I am old, retirement gets closer by the day. I remember when the occupiers took power. I am the only survivor of that previous administration."

"And you see me as a way to keep the money moving? In addition to preserve the life of you and your employees?" I ask, "I'm not sure how I feel about that."

"Trust to my self-interest," He chuckled, "The selfish are easy to predict, as such my loyalty is easy to predict."

"So it is," I agreed, "alright then! I shall offer you the same agreement as I did the guard. Stay out of my way, listen when I talk, and do not hurt my people. I want to work with the tax collectors not against them. It will make a number of things easier."

"A noble sentiment," the old man agreed, "don't tear down what you don't have too. I do indeed think I will enjoy serving under you, Your Majesty."

As I curtsied once more, the man nodded his head in respect. Flouncing out the door, I chuckled at how easy this was all turning out.

"Enjoy the fucktoy while she lasts Duchatt," I snark, "Soon it will all come crashing down, and you'll have only yourself to blame."

My Laughter screamed out of me as I skipped throughout the town. No guard stepped in my way and none of the less desirable of the peasants sought to turn me in. Several retreated back into the shadows at my approach. All parted way before me. The whispers around me got louder.

"It's a power play. She's calling Duchatt's bluff!"

"And still looking out for us. She's making sure she is the only target."

Silently I laugh, as the quiet audience whispers their anxieties and prayers.

Their all wrong of course.

"Evie, are you alright," Asura asks, "you're acting a bit off."

"I have never felt better," I gloat to my dearest friend, "All is going according to plan."

"Alright, Evie step into that next alleyway," My Asura demands, "I need to check something."

"Of course," I smile, "Shall I drop my panties too?"

[Shadows: I Am Not Here]

Sidestepping into the shadows, I mutter a few words to disguise our presence. Nothing complicated for a mage of my caliber.

Green mist oozes out of my mouth, collecting itself on the ground the gunk begins to assemble the form of My Asura. Rising up out of my spew, he catches me as I fall forward.

Grabbing ahold of him, I whisper. "Why do I feel so weak."

"It has to do with the stress that I'm putting on your body," Asura explains, "further exasperated by the euphoria caused by my powers exiting your body. You need to be free of me for at least 3 days. Otherwise, there could be rather severe spiritual damage."

I look up into his face, staring down at me are two black eyes, crystalline facets glimmering in the lowlight of the alleyway.

"What happened to your eyes?"

"My powers mark me," He explains, "as I use them, they change the way I look. There is no reversing it unless I am remade. Do they bother you?"

I hold my hand up to his cheek, "I think they're beautiful eyes."

The world spun fast as I stared into those pools of liquid darkness, then his lips were on mine and energy poured into me.

_________________________

[Asura's (Doppelganger) POV]

[Displace Art: Transfuse]

Feeding her some of my Pathos, I draw Elvie to her feet. Fortunately, I had yet to disengage from her. Pulling all traces of myself from her fully, I stepped back.

"We should not be sharing energy either, Elvie," I stated, "That will intensify the Euphoria. I gave you just enough to get back. I'll watch you from afar till you are free from the city. You need to recover, fortunately, I can handle the next phase."

"Did you know?" Elvie asks, "Did you have any idea?"

Shaking my head, I answer. "No Elvie, I did not. I just figured it out at this moment. No version of me would ever hurt you. Get some rest, Please."

Smiling, she nodded. "Alright, I will go and rest. Apparently you are my drug of choice."

Chuckling at her joke, Elvie strutted back unto the street, soon she had disappeared.

[Colloge Art: Swarm Network]

[Colloge Art: Shared Whispers]

[Mnemosynis Art: Further Reflection]

Contacting Fortress Asura, I sent my memory of everything that happened. I then broke the connection and started a new one with my Agents. Watching through many eyes, I observed the Princess leave. Tasking Agent 3, 4, and 5 to follow her unobserved, I felt them shift into ravens, their Argos helping to keep pace with her.

[Mnemosynis Art: Keys To The Memory Palace]

Breaking the connection, I sorted through the library of my mind. I needed to review everything of the plan, my perfect recall aiding immensely. Changing a few things, I waited for my subordinates to report back in. This sudden complication with Elvie made things difficult.

"Still, things were becoming to easy anyway," I snark to myself, "at least my new life isn't boring."