“Be careful! That box you’re carrying is worth more than all the money you’ll get in your lifetime!” One of the guests yelled behind me, as I almost dropped a big heavy box I was carrying down the stairs. “In fact, more than your own life, I would say.” He muttered to himself. I sighed and kept carrying the box. It was going to be a long, long day.

The Gathering was just about to end, and that very last day was always the most complicated, as you had to help people carrying their luggage down the stairs, and either put it in carriages or give it to the sailors that would load the cargo in the ships. This would last until the middle of the afternoon, but even when they were all set and ready to go, it wouldn’t be over, as it was mandatory for everybody to go to the main square for the farewell of the Lords and the King. This was the part of the Gathering that everybody was truly excited for, as they could get to see the Lords and the King in person . Because of this, Jay always left before sunrise with his entourage and headed off to the castle for the final preparations – and without saying goodbye, too.

However, while somebody like Jay had his own entourage to handle his things – and therefore, saving us a lot of trouble – many noblemen always needed that extra hand, and so Marian, Tamara and I carried things up and down, while Lady T stood at the entrance waving people goodbye, saying she hoped to see them again next year – and getting big fat tips while she was at it. But I’ll spare you the details of all the huffing and puffing of the day until the last guest finally left the inn and we headed for the main square for the final event.

It was already full when we arrived. Right in the middle of the square, there was a big stage that had been set so that everybody could see the Lords and the King. Eight big chairs had been put on stage, each of them decorated with the symbols of each land, and right in the middle, stood the King’s throne, which was covered in the best silks and a big heavy crown at the top. There were several guards around the stage, making sure nobody would get close to it, while others were scattered around the square, riding on horses, checking the surroundings.

We picked a spot in a corner, from where we could see the stage from afar and avoid being the crowd - directions from Lady T, who hated crowds with a passion. A few minutes after we arrived, we heard the sound of the drums, the sign that the Lords were just about to come up on stage...and then, the crowd went wild, as each of the Lords got on stage, waving and smiling at the people. One by one, they made their own speeches, mostly about the big decisions that had been made during the Gathering, and how they hoped that Tharsic would become more and more prosperous. At the very end, people always cheered, as if they forgot how things actually went on during the rest of the year.

Yet all the cheering for the Lords was nothing compared to when the King himself got up there, because as soon as he did, the crowd went absolutely wild, throwing flowers as he walked to the center of the stage. However, this year the King wasn’t alone, as by his side was the mysterious woman that everybody was talking about. As they walked in, people gradually stopped talking until they were completely silent. It was the first time I was seeing her, and all the rumors seemed to do her no justice, for she was truly the most beautiful woman in all of Tharsic. She was very tall and had dark long auburn hair that fell in wild, untamed curls down her back, making her look like a wild creature. On her head, there was a complex golden headpiece, with strings falling down her hair and, shining in the sun, and she wore a big red cape that covered her completely. The most striking thing about her, though, was her unsettling, big hazel eyes, that looked at the crowd as if looking right into their souls – or like a snake about to kill her prey, I thought morbidly.

“People of Tharsic!” the King’s voice boomed in the square, raising his arms towards the people. ”Today is a day for great rejoicing! Another Gathering has passed, and it certainly won’t be the last!” the people laughed. “This year has been of extreme importance, as we now hold many solutions to the problems that have afflicted us during this year. Our concern for your welfare is greater than you can ever imagine, and so we have considered every new measure quite carefully. I am more positive than ever that this year, our prosperity will reach great heights–“ the King’s speech died on his lips, as a man covered in a dark gray cloak appeared from the crowd, holding a dagger in his hand pointed towards the King’s heart.