The King's Taxes

As Anna stepped out of the castle and into the winding streets of the Southern Isles, she was met with a stark contrast to the grandeur of the royal residence. The streets were narrow and cramped, with buildings that seemed to lean in on each other as if sharing a secret. The air was thick with the smell of smoke and desperation, and the sound of murmured conversations and hammering on metal echoed through the air. The people of the Southern Isles went about their daily business with a sense of resignation, their eyes cast down at the ground as if afraid to meet Anna's gaze. She saw a young mother clutching a small child to her chest, her eyes sunken with exhaustion and worry. An old man sat on a bench, his hands shaking as he begged for scraps. Anna's heart ached as she took in the scene, her mind racing with questions. What had driven the king to tax his people so heavily? What had driven him to crush any dissent with such brutality? And what had driven Hans to madness? As she walked, Anna noticed the tax collectors standing on street corners, their eyes scanning the crowds for anyone who dared to defy the king's rules. She saw the fear in the eyes of the people as they scurried to pay their taxes, their faces pale and drawn. She approached a group of women huddled together, their faces worn and weary. "Excuse me," Anna said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Can you tell me what's going on here? Why is the king taxing his people so heavily?" One of the women, her eyes flashing with anger, spoke up. "The king doesn't care about us," she spat. "He only cares about lining his own pockets and maintaining his grip on power. He's taken everything from us: our food, our homes, our dignity. And if we dare to complain, he sends his soldiers to silence us." Anna's eyes widened in horror as she listened to the woman's words. She had heard stories of the king's brutality, but she had never imagined it was this bad. As she continued her journey through the streets, Anna saw more and more examples of the king's cruelty. She saw a family forced to live in a tiny, cramped apartment, their belongings scattered about the floor. She saw a group of children playing in the streets, their eyes hungry and their faces dirty. And everywhere, she saw the king's men, their faces stern and unyielding as they enforced the king's rules. Anna's heart ached as she took in the scene, her mind racing with questions. How could one man be so cruel? How could he justify taking everything from his people? As she walked, Anna noticed a group of men gathered around a makeshift stall, their faces tense and worried. They were talking in hushed tones, their eyes darting back and forth as if they feared being overheard. Anna approached them cautiously, her eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of trouble. "Excuse me," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Can I join you?" The men looked at her warily, their faces skeptical. But one of them, an older man with a kind face, nodded. "You can join us," he said. "But be careful. The king's men are everywhere." Anna nodded, her eyes scanning the crowd for any sign of trouble. As she listened to the men's conversation, she realized that they were talking about the king's taxes, and the growing unrest among the people. One of the men, a young man with a fiery spirit, spoke up. "We can't take it anymore," he said, his voice rising in passion. "We have to do something. We have to stand up to the king and demand change." The other men nodded in agreement, their faces set with determination. Anna smiled, a sense of hope rising in her chest. Maybe, just maybe, there was a way to bring about change in the Southern Isles. Maybe, just maybe, she could help. As she stood there, listening to the men's conversation, Anna felt a sense of purpose rising within her. She would help Hans, yes. But she would also help the people of the Southern Isles. She would help them stand up to the king and demand their rights. And as she walked back to the castle, Anna felt a sense of determination rising within her. She would not be silenced. She would not be deterred. She would fight for what was right, no matter what it took.