Crown of Mist

Chapter 3

'Sorry High Lord I don't have any money to pay for the Tithe.' Said a water wraith.
Aelin walked into the throne room in her human form with a big smile on her face.
'Hello, am sure you are so exited to see me Tom or is it Tim... oh well I don't particularly care either way.' Said Aelin in a cheery voice.
'Unless you want to pay leave.' Tamlin spat at her.
'Why don't you slap yourself.' She said and Tamlin slapped himself. 'Oh come now is that the hardest you can? Try again.' Tamlin slapped himself the hardest he could almost breaking his jaw and leaving a big red mark on his face. His subjects gasped.
'Get the fuck out of my court.' Tamlin half spat half screached at her.
'Oh come now Thor didn't your parents teach you any manners? Am a guest you should really be kinder to me.' She said looking a little hurt.
'Get the fuck out of my court please.' Tamlin spat.
'Why don't you get on your knees and kiss my ass?' She suggested and Tamlin got to his knees before her but when he was about to kiss her ass she went to sit on his throne. 'Or maybe not I don't like when prices of shit kiss me even if it's my ass. But am feeling generous so you can kiss my shoes.' She said and Tamlin  bowed even lower and kisses her shoes. Half of his subjects gasped half tried not to laugh.
'What is this gathering for anyway?' She asked all innocence. Tamlin got up. 'Did I say you can get up now?' Tamlin went to his knees again.
'Am collecting the Tithe.' He said anger and humiliation clear in his voice.
'So taxes? Why don't I do that for you.' She said the smile on her face growing wicked. She indicated for the water wraith to come forward.
'I don't have any money and the river my sisters and I reside in has no fish.' She said a little scared.
'Then what do you eat?' Aelin asked.
'What we hunt on land but it's not good for us.' She said.
'Well that can't happen now can it?' She said.
'Someone will deliver fish to your river by tomorrow morning.' She said looking at Tamlin as if he just slaughtered a newborn puppy right in front of her. 'Right Tim?'
'Yes.' He spat.
'When have you first informed him of it?' She asked.
'I didn't.'
'Why not?'
'The High Lord wouldn't have done anything about it anyway we told him during the Tithe a few years back when we had the same problem.' She said half apologetically.
'And he didn't do anything about it?'
'He said we will have to pay double next Tithe.'
'Slap yourself' Aelin told Tamlin and he did. 'Now apologies for being so shit.'
'Am so sorry for being so shit.' He spat at the wraith.
'Mean it.' Aelin said and kicked him in the side.
'I am so incredibly sorry for being so shit.' Tamlin said with more respect than anyone thought him capable of especially when speaking to his subjects.