章 180: Geralt Imprisoned
Wayne was pleased with the thousand-crown reward. Two days' work for such a bounty, along with the newfound friendship of the dryads, was quite profitable. However, the Queen's next announcement caught him off guard.
She was assigning two dryad sisters as his permanent bodyguards? While he was undeniably delighted by the prospect, he couldn't help but wonder why the Dryad Queen would bestow such a favor upon him.
Marika and Aglais were equally surprised. They gaped at the queen, unable to voice their questions. In dryad society, the queen's word was law. Eithné had ruled for over a millennium, her authority absolute. She was practically a mother figure and undisputed leader to her people.
Seeing the confusion on the dryads' faces, and sharing their bewilderment, Wayne decided to address the issue directly. "Lady Eithné," he inquired, "I am honored by this gesture of friendship, but I must ask, why this sudden generosity?"
"Why assign Marika and Aglais as my bodyguards?" Wayne inquired, curiosity evident in his tone.
To his surprise, the Dryad Queen, known for her wisdom and cryptic nature, answered directly. "Wayne," she said, her voice steady and resolute, "I have used my powers of foresight to glimpse your future and discern the bloodline you carry. The power within you is intertwined with the destiny of the world. I only ask that when the time comes to make a choice, you remember the kindness shown to you today and grant the dryads a place in the future world."
A glint appeared in Eithné's silver eyes as she gazed into Wayne's, as if peering through time itself. "Prophecy is but one possibility," she added softly. "When the moment of truth arrives, the decision rests solely with you."
...
Two days later, Wayne arrived in the capital of Cintra aboard his flying carpet. While he had appeared nonchalant during his conversation with the Dryad Queen, he was secretly delighted to have two beautiful dryads as his companions and protectors. However, given Cintra's animosity towards elves and dryads, he left Marika and Aglais in Brokilon, disguising himself as a human once again to avoid unnecessary conflict.
As he soared through the skies, Wayne was in high spirits. His brief time in Brokilon had yielded not only a thousand crowns but also the valuable remains of a Minotaur and a Royal Wyvern.
Most importantly, he had gained the friendship of the dryads and acquired two permanent guardians, the dryad sisters, who were practically family heirlooms.
These dryads weren't merely bodyguards. Aglais, though young, was a rare healer among her kind. While not a skilled fighter, she possessed innate druidic abilities, using nature magic to mend wounds and manipulate plant growth. She was a versatile and valuable asset.
Marika, on the other hand, was a proficient archer and warrior, adept in melee combat. As a dryad, she possessed natural camouflage abilities and wielded a variety of nature-based spells. Her combat skills far surpassed Aglais's, making her a formidable force and a captain among the dryads.
For Wayne, combat prowess wasn't the sole factor. The Dryad Queen's designation of Marika and Aglais as his guardians ensured their loyalty. Treating them well would guarantee their unwavering devotion, allowing Wayne to utilize them for sensitive tasks. This was a boon for a witcher constantly on the move and in need of trustworthy allies.
Upon arriving in Cintra's capital, Wayne stowed his flying carpet and entered the city clad in his green dragon scale armor. This was his second visit to a major human settlement, after Vizima. However, Cintra felt less prosperous than the bustling city of Vizima. It was smaller, less populated, and noticeably devoid of non-humans. Only a handful of elves and dwarves could be seen among the throngs of humans.
This wasn't entirely unexpected. While Cintra had enjoyed some renown in past decades, it was far from a powerhouse. It wasn't until Queen Calanthe, the "Lioness of Cintra," ascended the throne that the kingdom began to truly prosper. Her decades of rule had strengthened Cintra, earning her widespread recognition in an era where women faced discrimination.
None of this concerned Wayne directly. Upon entering the city, he followed Geralt's instructions and located a rundown tavern called "The Boar and Parsley" in the southern district, hoping to find his fellow witcher.
The news he received was surprising. He had assumed Geralt might not have arrived yet and had planned to wait and explore the city. However, the innkeeper informed him that Geralt had been imprisoned for brawling. His belongings and horse were being held at the tavern, and he was already two days behind on rent. If payment wasn't received soon, the innkeeper intended to sell Geralt's possessions.
Wayne was taken aback. He paid Geralt's outstanding bill and inquired about the incident. The innkeeper, always eager for gossip, revealed that Geralt hadn't been alone in the brawl. The infamous bard, Jaskier, had also been involved.
Upon hearing this name, Wayne understood. In his experience, wherever Geralt and Jaskier went, trouble was sure to follow. Countless times, the pair had landed in jail together, usually due to Jaskier's antics with Geralt taking the fall.
In this entertainment-starved medieval era, the charismatic and smooth-talking Jaskier was a walking aphrodisiac. Like Geralt, he had a penchant for bedding women, often married ones, including the wives of wealthy merchants and nobles. This frequently landed them in trouble with aggrieved husbands and, subsequently, jail.
Though exasperated, Wayne had no choice but to locate the city guard station and prison. After bribing his way through, he met with the captain of the guard, a grizzled veteran.
Unlike Geralt and Dandelion, Wayne always dressed impeccably, exuding a noble air that surpassed many aristocrats. The captain, unsure of Wayne's identity, treated him with deference, inviting him into a private meeting room.
This was precisely what Wayne had hoped for. Once alone with the captain, he subtly employed the Axii sign, a witcher's hypnotic charm. However, Wayne, well-versed in magic, knew Axii's limitations. It could not fundamentally alter a person's beliefs. If the commanded action was too drastic, the subject would realize they had been manipulated once the spell wore off, causing further complications.
Therefore, Wayne used Axii subtly, influencing the captain's perception to believe he was a nobleman from Temeria. He then offered a bribe, pleading for the release of Geralt and Jaskier, portraying them as his impulsive companions who had acted in the heat of the moment.
This approach proved effective. In the medieval world, the same actions often had vastly different consequences depending on whether they were committed by a nobleman or a commoner.
With the combined influence of wealth and status, the captain swiftly agreed to Wayne's request and escorted him to the Cintra prison. There, Wayne was reunited with Geralt and Jaskier, who had been imprisoned for three days.
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