VIZIMA -
The morning light streamed through the tall windows of the throne room, the blue banners of Temeria hung from the walls in solemn rows. King Foltest sat upon his throne, his posture relaxed but alert, his sharp eyes fixed on the two figures who approached.
Sebastian and Triss, his yellow eyes swept the room, the placement of the guards, the shadows behind the pillars, the subtle shifts in the courtiers' postures. It was a habit he could not break, to see his souroundings. a survival instinct. The griffin medallion was still in his pocket.
The king rose from his throne, descending the steps, his smile was warm, his eyes crinkling at the corners with genuine pleasure.
"Sebastian!" Foltest's voice carried across the hall. "It pleases me greatly to see you standing before me, alive and well after that ordeal. I heard what became of those assassins, and I must say, the reports do you credit. They made a grave mistake in underestimating you, and that mistake cost them dearly. Your reputation will only grow from this."
Sebastian inclined his head. "They were hired to kill me, Your Majesty. I am afraid I brought trouble to your city, and for that, I apologize. That was never my intention when I came here seeking answers from a friend."
Foltest waved a dismissive hand, his expression one of genuine reassurance. "Nonsense! We have had plenty of trouble before you even set foot here. As you can see, the whole realm is not safe. The North itself is not safe. We are surrounded by enemies on all sides, both within and without, and every day brings new whispers of plots and schemes." He paused, his eyes meeting Sebastian's. "But you have already proven yourself in ways that many of my own knights have not. You turned an assassination attempt into a testament to your skill. That is not a small thing, and it has not gone unnoticed."
He stepped closer, his voice dropping. "Have you finally decided on an answer, Sebastian? I have been patient, as I promised I would be. But the road ahead demands certainty, and I would be remiss if I did not ask plainly."
Sebastian glanced at Triss, who nodded almost imperceptibly, he turned back to Foltest, each word carefully chosen.
"Yes, I have decided on an answer. I shall accept your offer. I will protect you and your family for the time period you specified." He paused, his voice hardening. "But you need to understand that I have to leave in two months' time. There are obligations I cannot ignore, duties that call me back to Kaer Morhen. The winter brings the witchers together, and I cannot miss that gathering."
Foltest's smile widened, a note of genuine satisfaction in his voice. "That is splendid news, Sebastian! Truly, it is. And do not worry, you will not be forced to stay against your will. I am not a tyrant who chains his protectors to their posts. When the time comes, you will be free to go, with my thanks and my blessing." He clapped his hands, the sound echoing through the throne room like a herald's call.
The doors opened, and a servant entered, bearing a velvet cushion with the reverence of a priest carrying a holy relic. Upon it lay two items: a small pin, its surface gleaming with the emblem of Temeria, the lilies and the sword intertwined in a symbol of royal authority, and a blade in a scabbard of tooled leather, its surface embossed with intricate patterns.
Foltest gestured toward them. "Everyone who sees that pin will know that you are part of the royal court. It grants you access to the palace, to my presence, and to the respect of my subjects." He paused, his eyes flickering to the sword. "And that blade is one of the finest we have. Forged by the royal smith himself, tempered with techniques passed down through generations. It is a weapon worthy of a king's protector."
Sebastian took the pin, examining it with his eyes, his fingers tracing the sword. Then he reached for the handle, drawing it from its scabbard. The blade gleamed in the morning light, its edge sharp, its balance acceptable for a ceremonial piece. But as his fingers traced the metal, his expression shifted, a flicker of disappointment in his eyes that he could not hide.
He sheathed the blade and looked at Foltest. "Do not take my words wrong, Your Majesty, but this sword is more ceremonial than practical. The ones I carry are far superior. This blade would not survive a true fight against a determined opponent. The steel is too soft, and the balance is off by a fraction."
Triss's voice was sharp. "Seb..."
Foltest laughed, the sound echoing off the high ceilings. "It is fine, Merigold. I like his honesty. Too many men would have accepted the gift with false gratitude and then hidden it away, speaking ill of me behind my back." He turned to Sebastian, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Is it now? Perhaps I will have to speak with our royal smith. He has been growing complacent, it seems. This will be a useful lesson for him."
"He could have mistaken the task, thinking it was for ceremonial use, Either way, I am good. I do not need a sword. I have my own, and they have never failed me yet."
Foltest nodded slowly. "Very well, we will depart for Rivia tomorrow. I will seek the kings and queens of the North, rally them to our united cause against the growing threat of Nilfgaard." He paused, "In the meantime, I would like to keep my head on my shoulders." His eyes met Sebastian's. "Can you do that for me?"
Sebastian's voice was flat. "I can. So I assume I have to trust no one.. even your court."
Foltest laughed again. "My court especially. I still believe they are decent men, for the most part. But one can never be too careful. Trust is a luxury that kings cannot afford. You would do well to remember that."
Sebastian inclined his head. "So be it, then."
Foltest's voice softened, that seemed to catch even Triss by surprise. "You will have your own quarters in the palace, alongside your friends, who are more than welcome to stay as long as they wish. Or, if you prefer, you could stay with Merigold." His eyes twinkled with amusement. "I see that you two are really close. It would not be the first time a witcher and a mage have shared.."
Triss's face flushed a deep crimson. "Your Majesty, we are not.."
Sebastian cut her off, his voice calm with no hint of embarrassment. "No, we are not like that. She is more of a big sister to me, and a great friend. I respect her too much to reduce our relationship to anything less."
Foltest's smile widened, his eyes carrying a hint of mischief. "Whatever you say, witcher." He paused, his voice returning more formal "You are free to go now. Rest, prepare, and be ready for the journey ahead. We leave at dawn, and I expect you to be at the gates."
Sebastian bowed his head and turned to leave, Triss falling into step beside him. Their footsteps echoed against the marble floor as they walked through the corridors.
Triss leaned closer, her voice carrying a note of playful reproach. "Big sis, but not a mentor as well? I seem to recall teaching you a few things that saved your life more than once from Vesemir. You were not always so confident in your flames, you know, you could have burned the keep once."
Sebastian smiled. "You really cannot let go of the fact that you helped me a long time ago to control my flame powers, can you?"
Triss's smile was mischievous, her eyes filled with satisfaction. "Well, I saw it as magic, and I wanted you to act like it was magic so you could shape it however you wanted. That way, you could control it far more than you could imagine." She paused. "You can burn what you want to burn and spare what you want to spare. Your control, I assume, is far better now."
Sebastian nodded. "Much better. I no longer worry about setting things on fire by accident, and I can use it with incredible precision. Your lessons stuck with me."
Triss's expression softened. "What are you planning to do now? Besides keeping the king alive, I mean."
Sebastian's voice was thoughtful, his eyes distant. "Keeping Foltest alive is the priority. Maybe I will learn a thing or two about politics and statecraft along the way, you never know. Rivia is not far, it will take us a couple of weeks to get there, maybe less if we go through Mahakam." He paused, his eyes narrowing. "If we do pass through Mahakam then I have a few friends there I'd like to meet. I think they might still be there, waiting for news."
Triss's voice carried a note of surprise. "You already made friends? In Mahakam? That is not a place where witchers are exactly welcomed with open arms."
Sebastian leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper that only she could hear. "We met in Redania, and they are Scoia'tael."
Triss's eyes widened. "What?! You know you cannot mention this to the king, right? The Scoia'tael are criminals. They are hunted across the North. If Foltest finds out.."
Sebastian's voice was calm. "I saved them from Redanians. They are good people who are just trying to survive.. at least, these ones are. They are not the monsters that the propaganda makes them out to be."
Triss sighed. "Seb... you cannot save everyone. You know that, right? You are a witcher, not a knight in shining armor. The world is full of suffering, and you cannot carry it all on your shoulders."
"That is what I said to myself back then. But I could not just let them die. They were outnumbered, and they had children with them, and people who could not fight, against full-plate-armored Redanian soldiers who simply wished to slaughter them because they were non-humans. I made a choice, and I stand by it." Seb said calmly.
Triss's voice was firm. "Okay. You really do not need to mention this to the king or anyone in the royal court. Ever. This is the kind of secret that could get you in trouble."
Sebastian smiled. "Of course. I am not stupid. I know how to keep secrets."
Triss's voice softened, her eyes meeting his. "I will be accompanying you during this journey to Rivia. I will make sure you do not do anything stupid, and I will uncover the secrets of the mask along the way."
"Any progress?" Seb asked.
Triss's expression was thoughtful."I barely had enough time to work on it, with everything that happened. But I managed to make a few runes on it start to glow. I suppose that is progress, though I am not yet sure when it will activate."
"I have no idea what that means, but good work, hopefully it will be ready before we head back to Kaer Morhen." Seb said.
Triss was quiet for a while, her face unreadable, then she spoke. "Yes... yes, it will."
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