“It simply will not do” said Lord de Vale as he sat in his cushioned chair in the audience chamber, several of his guardsmen were stood in the room, their cold steal armour gleaming in the light cast by the many lanterns and candles in the room. The room was furnished with many fine adornments, various tables covered with decretive platters, vases and other such clutter. The man knelt before Lord de Vale was nothing but a smear of dirt in comparison, his clothes were torn and ragged as well as covered in a thick layer of grime and mud. His face had a terrified expression as he stared in disbelief at what he was hearing. 
“As I have already said” said Lord de Vale as he stood and began to slowly walk forwards with his hands behind his back “If you refuse to pay the taxes that are lawfully due to me under the laws of the empire then there is simply nothing else for it. Captain, put him in a small cell in the dungeon and seal the door permanently. Take your men to his farmstead and burn it to the ground, tell your men to make an example of everyone there. Kill the men and do what you will with the women, that should ensure that everyone pays what is required”. 

The man scrambled to his feat and shouted “You can’t be serious! Please have mercy my lord!” As he did two guards moved in and grabbed each of his arms, already carrying out their master’s orders. The man broke out into tears and screamed and pleaded as the guards dragged him kicking and screaming from the chamber. 

Lady Tonia de Vale sat nauseated in the adjacent chamber, waiting for her husband as she always did after such audience meetings. It had once been a ritual born out of love and care, but it was now just a hollow shell of what it once was. She hated overhearing his numerous cruelties and atrocities, she hated that afterwards he would speak to her as if he were not a complete monster. She straightened her face and prepared herself as she heard his footsteps approaching as the sounds of his guardsmen leaving to carry out their orders could also be heard. 
“Apologies my dear” said Lord de Vale as he entered the room, smiling at her fondly with his dark brown eyes. 

“No need to apologise” she said softly, her every word carefully considered before she spoke it “Such matters need to be addressed.”

“Yes” he said somewhat dismissively as he walked across the room to a table that was decorated by a large pitcher and several ornate golden goblets. He poured himself a goblet of wine and took a generous gulp before adding “It is somewhat a shame punishing a man’s family for his crimes, but such examples must be made in these hard times so that the people know where there place is.” 

Tonia resisted the urge to say that the man’s wife and three daughters would be punished enough for his supposed ‘crime’, instead she simply nodded before standing and making her way over to him. “My dear, I am afraid that I feel a little drained by the last few days excitement, I will be in our bedchamber if you need me for anything”. 

“Of course my darling” he said before kissing her softly on the forehead and turning away from her. She turned and walked away, glad to be leaving his presence. He wouldn’t come looking for her until he stumbled into the room drunk to pass out on the bed. Thankfully he had taken to enjoying young whores and harlots much more than he did her, something that she was eternally grateful for. His mood may be tolerable enough at the moment, but he had taken to flying into rants and rages paired with violently unstable behaviour at times. Ascending the stairs in the castle she pushed the thoughts of what would soon be happening at the poor man’s home from her mind, there was little else to do. A single tear ran down her cheek and she immediately wiped it away with her sleeve before vowing to harden her resolve further.