Chp.4

Rishan was already tired and he'd just begun. Two Gathered women sat in the carriage a few paces behind him and he tried to put his mind far from them. Ever since the travelling party had left Beria, there had been a nagging feeling in the back of his mind. His neck prickled, he was snappy and hisspirit was restless. Infact, it began when they'd arrived, and not when they left.

He chalked it down to his dislike for the Gathering tradition.

They  were expected to reach the next province by nightfall. He wished he'd just get the women and be gone the same night, but he knew taking women from their families in the dead of the night would be frowned upon. He'd be expected to to stay the night then choose the women come morning, before they'd depart. Propriety demanded it. And propriety sucked ass.

He wanted to not choose any woman. He'd ask for willing participants,for volunteers. Not rip unwilling women away. He didn't want the tears and sorrow of any woman on his head or he might as well draw out his sword and impale himself with it. And He'd done a great job so far. Well, that's if you minus one of the two women seated in the carriage.

She tried to run away,  he tried to tell himself but knew it was a moot point. So? He'd have wanted to run if it was him too. He was ashamed to admit to himself that he took her because it seemed like the easy way out. Only one female volunteered and he had been desperately praying one more also did the same. But all the people did was stare back at him till he began to regret the whole situation. Then she tried to run, and he chose her so they could get the hell out of there. Picking the run away seemed better than picking an innocent, random girl hiding in the crowd.

She's innocent too, the voice whispered mockingly.

"Shut up." He mutteredunder his breath. "Pardon?" Var asked beside him. "Nothing." He replied before descending into his thoughts once more.

They reached the next province, Nero, at sunset. As their party rode through the town, people peeped and peered and cowered. It was a cozy town, at least nothing like Beria. The people here seemed contented and okay with the little they had, as they weren't living in astute poverty like the province they'd just left. He was relieved to see that the state of the people was noticeably better and felt a pang of guilt. He'd been livomg in excellent conditions at the Gold Palace and had been pitifully ignorant of the state of most of Amanith. Or at least, those that didn't directly concern him and his job. People had been suffering...

He shrugged off the heavy thoughts for the time being as he signaled the procession to halt at the square. The Lord and Lady of Nero stood a few feet far ahead. Rishan dismounted from his stallion and stalked towards them, giving them a slight bow, his right hand, Var, and his Third, Borth, doing the same as they traioed behind him.

"Lord and Lady Nero, we come in the name of the King for reasons known to you. And we require a place to lay our head and feed our horses for the night before we Gather come morning."

Lord Nero nodded eagerly. "Of course! We have prepared our best guest chamber for you, as well as nice accommodation for your men." He said.

Rishan cooked a brow. "And for the women?"

The Lord faltered for a bit, glancing towards his wife. "Uh, the Berian women, you mean?" Rishan's brow rose higher as he remained silent. "O-Of course! We will have them placed in the quarters, surely!"

"Which quarters?" Rishan pressed. "Oh, um, the...servant quarters. But surely, you know they are from Beria and have no status..."

Rishan felt a surge of anger and opened his mouth to speak, but Var, thankfully, stepped in. "These women are Gathered in the name of the King, and are therefore, under his royal charge. They have the immunity and prestige that the Gathered status bestows on them. They will not sleep in the servants quarters. " He said firmly.

Spots of pink appeared on Lord Nero's cheeks. "Of course. They will receive excellent accommodations immediately. This way, please."

As Rishan and the party headed for the Nerian Manor, he thought wearily, This Gathering will be a lot of work.