บท 622: Bait Taken

The duo + rabbit are made to wait around half an hour for the trio to finish up, the time passes quickly while watching them perform feats that'd take ordinary smiths days, if not weeks to do in mere moments.

Eventually Andre and Vamos stand up, Coaugh handing the large undead man a sword as they walk over to them.

Andre "Alright, first I'd like to show ye the lasses weapon." he says, holding out a longsword suited for a women. It has an inscription written across the blade in Izalithian, meaning "Compassion".

Geralt takes the blade and it begins to glow blue, Reima recognising the blade to have been magically enchanted, making it strikes affect the soul itself. He gives it a couple swings before slashing as hard as it can at a nearby stone wall, carving a chunk out of it without even scratching the blade. "Hmm, good steel." he mutters.

Andre nods, "It better be, my years in this craft demand it!"

Reima "I'm guessing you managed to wrangle Rickerts help for the magic enchantment?"

Andre sheepishly nods, "Aye, we did. Made us bang out special nails, or bolts or whatever they're called. Not fun work I'll tell ye'." he says handing Gerat a beautifully designed sheath for the blade that *clinks* as it slides tightly into it.

Vamos walks up with one sword in each hand, "Me and Coaugh put some effort inta' these, hope ya like em atleast a bit." he says handing the first to Geralt who sets aside the first.

The moment the handle touches the Witchers hand it bursts into Dark Red Flames, causing him to extend it away from himself due to the heat it is giving off, though strangely it doesn't affect his hand.

Geralt "You said the last one was called "Compassion", what's this one? Fury?" he asks.

Vamos shakes his head, "Nah, fine guess though. This one's called "Might.", I ain't a poet or nothin' but I feel it suits it."

Reima shrugs at the side, "Chaos Flames for might? Can't think of anything else which describes it better, apart from maybe entropy, power, fire... They probably wouldn't make "good" names though would they..." he mutters, those in the room ignoring him aside from Snuffles.

Geralt continues to admire the blade, the pommel unlike the circular one on Compassion, instead, being pointy on both sides, harming the user and the opponent. It's two-handed and requires strength to use it, though Geralt isn't lacking any. He nods and slides it into its sheath, the flames disappearing as he does so.

Vamos hands him the last one, this one bursting into crackling golden lighting as he holds it. "Coaugh calls it "Justice", personally never thought of Gwyn's old weapon to be "just", but that's just me."

Geralt waves it around, poking the lightning with his finger and flinching causing Reima to chuckle. It's a longsword most similar to his own preference, its pommel shaped into a rounded point with no edge making it only good for precise stabbing. He nods at it and sheathes it, "I appreciate the effort you put into this, they are fine blades." he says.

Andre and Vamos grin, both grabbing eachother's forearm, "Aye, well done you gutless, heavy-handed fiend!"

Vamos "You two you fleshy, toothless ape!" he laughs.

Coaugh hums contentedly in the background, immediately beginning another project when he hears Geralt's words.

Reima "Need any help delivering them Geralt?" he asks.

Geralt shakes his head, "No, I'll have Yen teleport us there. She looks like she could use a break from... Whatever her and Ciri are getting up to."

Reima "I thought you hated portals?"

Geralt nods, "I do, but "someone" lost Roach... Won't even come when I whistle..." he says, shaking his head and continuing, "That and I doubt I'd be able to travel through Kaedwen, Redania, and Novigrad without getting into trouble."

Reima crosses his arms, "Yeah, I guess you're right... I should apologise, it's my fault the world's after us." he sighs.

Geralt shifts the weapons under one arm and cups Reima's shoulder, "Reima, our situation now is better than I could have hoped for... Without your help I doubt we would have gotten through the battle against the Wild Hunt alive. Even if I'm wanted by the world, as long as You, Ciri, and our friends are safe I'll be fine." he says, looking more like a father figure than Reima had ever seen before, almost bringing a tear to his face.

Reima's about to respond by a *Neigh!* behind them interrupts the moment, both turn and see Varteand, Reima's new spy riding up to them atop Roach. "Greetings Lord! I've accomplished my mission and retrieved the things you asked for."

Reima grins widely at him, "I don't suppose you got that raise from Mensfeld then?"

Varteand laughs, "Oh, I did, just made sure to retire from his services immediately afterwards, buying these as I left."

Geralt "Hmm, managed to get Roach back, I owe you... What's your name?"

Varteand "Varteand sir, do not worry about me, Lord Reima did my a favour in sparing my life for my treachery... Afterwards providing me with a well-paying career."

Reima "Seems my investment paid off though, did they take the bait?" he asks.

Geralt "Bait?" he interjects, confused at what they were talking about.

Varteand grins, "Indeed sire, the Kaedweni are under the assumption that we have no military might, with only the Masked Assassins to defend ourselves."

Geralt "Hold up, are you trying to start a war or something?" he quickly asks, knowing full well that they were probably the most powerful group on the planet right now.

Reima looks at one of the men he admires most and nods, "Yeah, I am. They've pissed me off, sent enough spies for me to start a sweatshop with and even attempted to kidnap Ciri. I feel it's time to let everyone know who's in-charge on this continent."

Geralt shakes his head with a small smile coming to his face, "Hmm, fine. Just try not to get anyone killed, and don't hold back against the countries. I've seen their true faces and know the lengths to which they'll go for victory." he states.

Reima nods, "Don't worry Geralt, they don't stand a chance."