King Foltest stood at the entrance of the palace, his traveling cloak draped over his shoulders, ready to continue the journey. His expression was one of genuine warmth and gratitude as he faced the Elder-in-Chief, his hands clasped before him in a gesture of respect. Behind him, the caravan was forming up, the soldiers and horses stirring to life, the banners of Temeria fluttering in the mountain breeze like the wings of distant birds, a group of dwarven soldiers joined them as well.
"Elder," Foltest said. "I cannot thank you enough for your hospitality. The dwarves of Mahakam have proven themselves to be the most gracious hosts I have ever known."
Brouver Hoog inclined his head, a man who had learned to value honor above all else, his silver beard gleaming in the morning light. "Ye are always welcome in these mountains, Your Majesty. Mahakam is proud to be a part of Temeria, and we will always open our gates to ye and yer people. The mountain remembers its friends, and it does not forget those who have shown us support."
Foltest's smile widened. "The world is changing, Elder. The shadows grow longer, and the enemies of the North grow bolder with each passing day. But as long as I have allies like you, I know that we will endure. Your strength is our strength, and your wisdom guides us."
Brouver Hoog nodded. "Mahakam will stand with Temeria, Your Majesty. We have weathered many storms together, and we will weather this one as well, when the time comes, we will be there, whether the enemies are the black ones or otherwise."
They clasped forearms, the gesture a bond that had been forged through years of shared struggle and mutual respect.
Then Foltest turned and walked toward the carriage, his gaze fixed on the road ahead. The caravan began to move, the wheels of the carriage creaking against the stone, the soldiers falling into formation. The dwarves of Mahakam lined the streets, their voices rising in a chorus of farewell, their hands raised in salute. The banners of Temeria fluttered in the breeze, and the sound of hooves echoed against the ancient stone.
Sebastian sat in the carriage, his yellow eyes fixed on the landscape beyond the window. The peaks of Mahakam rose around them, their snow-capped summits glowing in the morning light, the air itself was fresh and clean.
Foltest settled into his seat, he turned to Sebastian, his voice carrying a note of genuine curiosity that cut through the comfortable silence.
"Have you had proper rest, Sebastian?" Foltest asked, his eyes searching the witcher's face with the perceptiveness of a man who had learned to read people. "I know the dwarves are generous with their hospitality, but their feasts can be... overwhelming. They do not know the meaning of moderation."
Sebastian's voice was flat, his gaze still fixed on the landscape beyond the window. "After a night like that, Your Majesty, I do not think anyone is well rested. The dwarves know how to feast, and they do not do things by halves."
Foltest laughed. "True indeed. The dwarves know how to feast, though I knew you left the castle sometime during the night. The guards mentioned it to me."
Sebastian's eyes narrowed slightly. "The guards mentioned it to you? I did, yeah. I had some matters to attend to."
Foltest smiled. "It is not like I have eyes on you, Sebastian, but they said you were in a hurry. Was there some sort of issue in the city that concerned you? Something that could affect our journey?"
Sebastian was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on the landscape beyond the window. Then he spoke. "I had a friend who lived there, and I learned that he died. He was killed, Your Majesty. Murdered in a tavern by a man who left one single survivor."
Foltest's expression softened. "Oh... my condolences, then. May his soul find respite in whatever comes after this life. It is never easy to lose someone close to you, especially to violence. The world is cruel to those who do not deserve it."
Sebastian's voice carried a note of quiet resolve, his jaw tightening. "Thank you, Your Majesty. He was murdered, and I found out who did it. The man who killed him left a trail, and I followed it to its source."
Foltest's eyebrows rose, he was impressed. "All in one night? My, you witchers are surely the best trackers and investigators I have ever encountered. You uncovered the truth in a matter of hours. That is no small feat."
Sebastian smiled. "This one deliberately wanted to be found. He left a trail for me to follow, a message for me to find. He wanted me to know who he was and what he had done."
"A confident murderer. He must be no ordinary fellow. Most killers try to hide their tracks and cover their crimes, this one wants to be found? Interesting indeed." Foltest said.
Sebastian's voice was flat. "That remains to be seen. I have not faced him yet, but I will. When the time is right."
Foltest was searching Seb's face as he said. "Surely you are not thinking of abandoning us and going after this murderer of your friend? I would understand if you felt the need to seek justice, but I would be remiss if I did not remind you of your duty."
Sebastian cut him off. "No, I will honor my agreement with you, Your Majesty. In a way, thanks to you, I managed to learn about all of this. If I had not been here, I might never have known what happened to my friend."
Foltest's eyes were distant. "Life is full of unexpected things. The world has a way of surprising us when we least expect it. But destiny and fate are truths one can never escape." He paused, his voice softening. "I just hoped that you would have learned a more happy news. That you would have found your friend alive and well, So I really can't be happy about this."
Sebastian was quiet for a while, his gaze fixed on the landscape beyond the window. The peaks of Mahakam were beginning to recede, replaced by rolling hills and open plains. The world was vast and beautiful, but it was also filled with shadows.
The carriage stopped for a moment and the door opened, and Triss entered, her robes rustling against the seat as she settled in.. "What did I miss? You two look like you were having a serious conversation. I hope I am not interrupting."
Foltest's voice carried a note of lighthearted amusement, his eyes gleaming with humor. "Lady Merigold, we are just talking about fate. It is a topic that seems to follow us wherever we go, we blame fate for everything."
Triss smiled, her eyes sparkling with playful mischief. "Your Majesty talking about fate? I never thought I would see the day. You are usually so practical, so grounded in the realities of the world."
Foltest smiled. "I know, I know. You are used to me being practical, but I do believe in fate and destiny. I have seen too much to believe that everything is random. There are forces at work that we cannot always see or understand."
The journey continued, the peaks of Mahakam gradually gave way to rolling hills and open plains, Sebastian's voice was soft. "Beautiful world, despite everything. It is easy to forget how much beauty there is when you spend your life hunting monsters."
Foltest agreed, his eyes fixed on the landscape beyond the window. "If we only manage to rid ourselves of the monsters, Nilfgaard... and all those who wish to lay ruin and chaos in the world, I would be able to appreciate these scenes as well. But when you are a king, you become blind to the beauty around you."
The trip continued smoothly, with nothing unexpected happening on the road. The prisoner mage walked chained and shackled with dimeritium, guarded by soldiers whose eyes never left him. He was silent, his head bowed. But as they marched, he looked around, a cold smile playing at his lips. He said to himself. "Just you wait, bastards. Just you wait.."
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