The meek morning sun has parted the clouds as if to please King Weezlow who was out to take his early day walk. Nothing too strenuous. Just to stroll over the walls of his castle, maybe venture a bit to the inner-city walls and the Big Gate, just to see the many marvels of his majestic city. And today, the city of Lan was more majestic than ever before. Streets have been swept of dust and horse manure, the houses on main streets were all freshly painted and roofs redone. The flags were also hung at every street crossing as was the sixty-foot big tapestry featuring his victory over the Orcs that happened fifteen some years ago. The splendor and pride of his youth, it took twenty peasants three years to finish, and now he proudly displayed it above the Main Royal Square.

His entourage consisted of two of his top advisors, and a dozen fully armed King’s guards led by Martiuns, the winner of the last year’s King’s Sword Tournament. He kept the soldiers to the back as no security threat could be eminent on top of his own walls. Still, his advisors walked on his unprotected right flank just in case someone from far underneath was crazy enough to decide and shoot an arrow in his direction.

He did not worry about such incidents, considering himself extremely well-liked inside his own domain and respected by his fella kings. Who could want to cause harm to a king like him?

“Has everyone arrived?” the King asked as he set a semi-fast walking tempo.

Sir Remar the Foreign Advisor, and the taller of the two, cleared his throat and then answered. “Your Royal Majesty, almost everyone is here. However, we are still waiting for King Gombar . He is to arrive any time today as he has crossed our border yesterday afternoon.”

“The last,” King Weezlow chuckled. “I can't believe he chose to be the last.”

“Well, from the first report we heard, he did not even plan to come. But suddenly he changed his mind, your Majesty.”

“I see. Well, if he comes after dark, make sure that he is met by the locked gates. Make him wait outside the walls for at least an hour. No, make it better two,” the King said and chuckled at his own cleverness.

“That should teach him some manners.”

“Yes, your Majesty.”

King Weezlow smirked and shook his head. “This is going to be one in a lifetime event! I spared no expenses. What we are doing here has never been done before. Didn't you see King Revron's and his Queen's face when they rode next to my cascading fountains? Huh. I did. They stopped the carriage and had to stare at it for a long time! Ha! Let him try to outdo that! I will never let him have my engineers.”

"That is very wise, my Lord. Who knows next time we may need them."

“Well, rather soon, I would guess. They promised to work on something even more spectacular in a few months."

"Yes, Your Majesty, it would be wise to wait.

"Wait, wait, wait," King Weezlow said as he sighed deeply. "Sometimes I think that's all I do. Now, tell me, how are we doing with supplies?”

“Your Majesty,” Sir Mortar, the Minister of Interiors, has addressed the King before Sir Remar could say anything. “Our own storage have been filled up two weeks ago. And fresh supplies are being delivered from the country as planned. I am glad to say that the whole city is fully stocked. And more are pouring in as we speak. It seems our city has been turned into one giant open market, my Lord. Everyone is bringing in something to sell and trade. And prices are surprisingly staying stable. We expected them to go up as the Festival neared, but surprisingly, the loaf of bread and a mug of ale cost rather the same they did two weeks ago.”

“Good. But… Are we taking our share of taxes? This here has cost us quite a bit.”

“Yes, my Lord. I can call the Head of Finance to give you the fullest of the report with exact numbers. But I think, your Majesty will be very satisfactory from what I hear.”

King Weezlow stopped to look down at the river of people hustling over the stone-paved streets. “A lot of people here. Do we know how many came?”

“My Lord, all in all, we have documented over fifty thousand visitors as of last night. More are expected today and tomorrow.”

“Fifty thousand?”

“At least, my lord. Of those fifty thousand, the royalties and their entourage count to twelve hundred in all. Per your previous instructions, we allowed only limited security guards to escort them inside. The rest of their soldiers have been camping outside, by some estimates over two thousand of them."

"We could allow them in..."

"My Lord, we discussed this before. With so many soldiers from different kingdoms in one place, and so much wine and ale, it would not be long before a massive brawl would break out."

"Yes, I remember, the same way it happened a few years back. I remember. How many men have we lost back then?"

"Seventy-five, my Lord."

"Damn Gombar and his brutes! I would almost wish they would try something here. No, no. Better keep them out. We want to show to all six kings how... Royal we are here. Not like peasant like Gombar and his peasants. Better keep the troops out."

"Yes, my Lord. Besides, my Lord, all the taverns are already full. People are renting a free bed now, a quarter of King's Eagle for a night.”

“You don't say.”

“Everything is full, Your Majesty.”

“People will love me for it. The money they'll make. The fun they'll have. Have all the champions arrived?”

“We have five hundred and sixty signers, my Lord.”

“That many?”

“There are over three hundred archers, over fifty knights and we think more will sign up before the deadline tomorrow at noon.”

”Isn’t that more than ever before?”

“Certainly. When King Exium held the Wedding Celebration for his Firstborn two years ago, there were less than five hundred participants, and that was the biggest event ever. Your Majesty offered such great rewards, even to those that pass the early rounds, that a lot of folks have decided to come.”

“Well, I always thought that it should not only be the top winner to take the entire purse. I always felt that if we give something to people that can demonstrate a great level of skill, they should still earn something. More people will come to sign up, more visitors to watch them. More the merrier.”

“Yes, my Lord, that was very insightful.”

Sir Rimar had his own remark and added, “And to have the wisdom to add other disciplines, like a woodcutting or ax throwing, that has attracted a lot of attention as well. Very wise indeed, your Majesty.”

“Now how about the security?”

“All our forces are ready. We quadrupled the patrols through the city and the area. No major problems.

“Have the problem with the Paleskins been resolved?”

“My Lord, the last information we have is that they have camped deep inside No-Kings Land. The Knights of Ramtin have asked for help. They say that the army of Paleskins has been growing stronger, not weaker."

“Where exactly are they?”

“Three days march from here.”

“That’s very close. That’s too close for my comfort.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

“We need to rout that scum out. Sent the troops from the Northern border to roll them back to their mountains and their caves. The last thing we need is for them to attack our border.”

“How big of contingency would you think we would need to send, your Majesty?”

“How big is needed? Five hundred horsemen?”

“I am not sure that would be enough, my Lord.”

“What? How many Paleskins are there?”

“The report from the Knights of Ramtin states there are at least ten thousand warriors.”

“Warriors my ass! One of our horsemen is worth ten of theirs. Fine. Send then fifteen hundred footmen and archers to follow them along. That should do it.”

“We could ask other kings for help with the troops, my Lord.”

“And appear weak? No! We’ll deal with this problem ourselves. And deal with it quietly. They should have never been allowed to come this close to us in the first place. Not asking anything from other kings. The troops from the North will do.”

“Yes, my Lord.”

“What other news you have for me?”

“Your Majesty, our Master Astrologist is happy to report a suddenly appeared star in the night sky, right above us.”

“Oh, something new?”

“So, it seems, my Lord. He said the star is very bright and... changed even the color a few times, glowing green, then yellow, now red."

“that is damn strange. Isn’t that damn strange?”

“It is my Lord, Master Astrologist is stating how that must be the sign of great things to come, that it is probably a lucky star phenomenon. They usually don’t last very long.”

“Well, I’d like to see that lucky star. Tonight should be a clear sky. Make sure that my magnifying glass is cleaned up and ready.”

“Yes, my Lord, as you command.”.

“Now, tell me the most important thing, the Star of Bardan, is the High Priest bringing it with him?”

“We are not sure, my Lord."

"You think it is as powerful weapon as everyone says it is?"

"My Lord, we cannot know for sure."

"And when are we expecting him?"

"The High Priest came here yesterday on his own barge. He also came in numbers. Our spies report that the lower hull of the barge is full with his priests.”

“Of course, the Monastery has been destroyed. Probably looking for a new home. Finally, he comes to beg. After all the years we tried to court him. He is finally here. Let him wait now.”

“My Lord, the report says, there must be over a hundred priests there with him.”

“Those priests make me nervous. Make sure to watch them. peasants troops ready to confront them if they try to leave that barge. Send them out of the city. They are not to enter. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, your Majesty. How about the High Priest himself? He is asking for a private meeting.”

“He is asking? Who is he? A king???”

“So, we should then deny him the request then, my Lord?”

“Don’t deny him anything. If he wants to enter the city, let him. Let him marvel at our achievements and our glory. We’ll call him to attend our feasts of course. Grant him a private meeting only after the Celebration is over. He’ll then be called to demonstrate what he has been declaring to have. But… Don’t let him leave. Close the river if you must. Now that he is here, he is mine. I can't have him leave without sharing the Star with us. I want our best spies to follow him. I want to know every step he takes, every breath he makes. And get Lerk and his clan ready. If the High Prince will not share his... knowledge with us, we'll just have to take it by force.”

“How about his priests, my Lord? They are rumored to be great fighters.”

"Well, we'll see if his priests can measure against our knights. We are not poor, stupid peasants here, ready to be butchered, you know. I frankly would not mind to see our champion Martius,” the King said and turned around to look at his Captain. "To take a few of those priests' head off."

"It would be my pleasure, my Lord," the Captain nodded readily, his shoulder muscles stiffening with excitement.

"Maybe when the main party is all over, we'll have us a really bloody party of our own. I'd like to see that very much."