Chapter 122: Redania's Support
POV: Adam
Tretogor announced itself through architecture that screamed wealth.
Where Skellige built from necessity—stone walls against storms, fortresses against raiders—Redania built for impression. The capital's spires reached toward heaven like prayers made physical, gold leaf catching sunlight on every surface, gardens maintained with obsessive precision despite the resources such vanity consumed.
"Ostentatious." Ciri's assessment through our bond carried distaste she couldn't voice publicly.
"Deliberately so. Radovid wants visitors feeling small before negotiations begin."
The palace guards who escorted us wore armor that cost more than Temerian refugees earned in lifetimes. Ceremonial, impractical, but undeniably impressive. Everything in Tretogor served the same purpose: demonstrating power through display rather than exercise.
King Radovid V received us in a throne room designed to dwarf petitioners.
He was younger than I'd expected—early twenties at most, barely older than Ciri. But the intelligence burning behind those pale eyes made age irrelevant. This was a mind that calculated constantly, assessed threats continuously, planned movements years in advance.
[ Entity Assessment: King Radovid V ]
[ Level: 42 (Political/Strategic specialization) ]
[ Classification: Ruler, Genius Strategist ]
[ Note: Known for brilliance AND instability ]
"The Element Master." Radovid's voice carried across the hall without apparent effort. "And Princess Cirilla of Cintra. Or is it Tuirseach now? Your clan affiliations grow complicated."
"Both bloodlines claim me." Ciri's response came steady. "Neither defines me."
"Interesting perspective. Blood usually defines everything in politics." The king gestured to seats arranged before his elevated throne. "Sit. We have much to discuss."
—Scene Break—
POV: Geralt
The witcher watched the interaction with professional wariness.
Radovid's reputation preceded him—military genius who'd turned Redania into the continent's strongest kingdom, but whose methods included purges, executions, and persecution of anyone he perceived as threatening. His hatred of magic was legendary, making Adam's presence here dangerous in ways the young man might not fully appreciate.
"Your abilities interest me." Radovid addressed Adam directly, cutting through diplomatic pleasantries. "Three elements mastered, fourth approaching. Tell me about the Wild Hunt's weaknesses."
"Silver affects them like it affects most spectral beings. Fire counters their ice magic. Concentrated magical assault can disrupt their dimensional coherence temporarily." Adam's answers came factual, professional.
"And if Princess Cirilla were surrendered? Would they cease threatening the continent?"
The room's temperature dropped—not from magic but from the tension that question created. Geralt's hand moved toward his sword before conscious thought intervened.
"They'd consume her power and attack anyway." Adam's voice carried no heat despite the provocation. "Elder Blood opens doors between worlds. With Ciri's abilities absorbed, they could invade any dimension they chose. Surrendering her doesn't end the threat—it removes our best defense while enabling unlimited expansion."
"So her protection serves strategic purpose, not just sentiment."
"Both. But if strategy alone mattered to you, Majesty, you'd have calculated that already." Adam's response made Radovid smile—the expression of a chess master appreciating an opponent's move.
"I like you. Most people grovel or threaten. You simply state facts and let conclusions follow."
—Scene Break—
POV: Adam
The private meeting revealed Radovid's true agenda.
"Post-Hunt arrangements interest me." The king had dismissed all attendants, leaving only Duke Valgray as witness. "Redania commits significant resources to this defense. Resources that deserve return."
"What kind of return?"
"Access to Elder Blood research. Your services as military asset. Lodge oversight ensuring sorceresses don't exploit victory for their own purposes." Radovid's demands came matter-of-fact, as if discussing trade goods rather than people. "Reasonable requests given what we're providing."
"We're not commodities to be traded."
"Everything is commodity, Element Master. People simply dislike admitting it." The king's pale eyes held no malice—just cold assessment. "I could demand these things as condition for support. Instead, I present them as opportunities for mutual benefit."
"The distinction is cosmetic. You're still demanding control over us in exchange for fighting a threat that endangers you as much as anyone."
"Perceptive." Radovid's smile widened. "Then let's negotiate honestly. What will you accept?"
Geralt stepped forward before I could respond. "Witcher neutrality offers precedent. We serve no kingdom permanently, but provide services when hired. Adam and Ciri could owe Redania one favor—unspecified, within reason, exercised post-war. Binding but flexible."
"A blank check for future use." Radovid considered. "Risky for you, advantageous for me. But requiring trust on both sides that it won't be abused."
"Trust is how alliances survive."
"Trust is how fools get exploited. But very well—I prefer future leverage over immediate control anyway." The king extended his hand. "One favor, to be named later, within reasonable limits. In exchange, Redania provides full promised support without additional conditions."
I took his hand, feeling the weight of undefined debt settling around my neck.
[ AGREEMENT FORMED: Redanian Favor ]
[ Terms: One unspecified favor owed post-Hunt ]
[ Limitations: Must be "reasonable" (subjective interpretation) ]
[ Risk Level: Moderate-High (Radovid's definitions of reasonable vary) ]
—Scene Break—
POV: Ciri
The military coordination that followed proved more comfortable than politics.
Redanian commanders understood war in ways that politicians didn't—straightforward men and women whose concerns were logistics, positioning, and survival rather than leverage and ambition.
"Five thousand professional soldiers." Commander Valden spread deployment maps across the planning table. "Three thousand to Oxenfurt—our primary population center, must hold regardless. One thousand to Kaer Morhen as reinforcement. One thousand mobile reserve for wherever the Hunt concentrates."
"The Oxenfurt garrison can hold?" Adam studied the defensive positions marked on the map.
"With proper preparation. We're fortifying walls, establishing kill zones, positioning mage detachments for magical support." Valden's finger traced the city's layout. "Hunt riders can teleport, but they still manifest physically when attacking. Silver weapons, fire-based siege engines, concentrated magical assault on arrival points—we'll make them bleed for every inch."
"And if they concentrate their full force on one location?"
"Then we lose that location unless your strike team reinforces." The commander's honesty was refreshing. "No defense is perfect against enemies who can appear anywhere. We're buying time, not guaranteeing victory."
"Buying time is what we need." Through our bond, Ciri felt Adam's satisfaction—Redania was taking the threat seriously, committing real resources despite Radovid's political games. "The longer each location holds, the more opportunities we have to disrupt their coordination."
[ XP Gained: 350 (Political Navigation, Military Coordination) ]
[ Level 48: 40% toward Level 49 ]
[ Redanian Relations: 45/100 - Pragmatic Alliance ]
MORE POWER STONES == MORE CHAPTERS
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