Chapter 316: Hold the Line, and We'll Find a Way
Of course, the risk of getting involved was immense. This wasn't like any other crisis Lynn had faced. This was a war, a real war. Before a person's individual strength could break an army, even a monster as powerful as an ice giant or rock troll could be swarmed and killed.
But Lynn was determined to throw himself into the fray. Aside from the matter of his Northern loyalties, there was another crucial reason: if handled correctly, this crisis could be transformed into a rare opportunity.
Just imagine: if he could successfully help Count Torgier defend his castle and repel the Nilfgaardian attack, not only would the main and branch houses of the Tuirseach clan be grateful, but the entire Skellige Isles would owe him a great debt.
Let's not forget that King Eist of Cintra was also of the Tuirseach clan. He was King Bran's brother. In other words, Cintra would also be indebted to him. This web of connections and favors would, without a doubt, play an unimaginable role in his Big Plan for the future.
"I have to get back to Spikeroog immediately and warn the Count of the Nilfgaardian invasion." Gerd anxiously moved toward his mount.
But Lynn spoke to him. "I have a brilliant plan, but first..." He drew a Sign.
Charimier's eyes rolled back in his head, and he fainted.
"Help me get him onto my horse."
Gerd paused for a moment but quickly understood. He didn't ask why. Over the past few days, he had come to realize that Lynn never did anything without a reason. If Lynn said so, he must have a plan. So, he hoisted the unconscious Charimier onto his shoulder and, with Lynn's help, put the knight onto the back of Nidhogg.
Then, the two mounted their horses and galloped away. They didn't stop until they had traveled for a few miles, far away from the campsite.
Lynn had Gerd pull Charimier off the horse and drop him into a dense patch of grass by the side of the road. He cut the ropes tying Charimier's hands and feet, put the rope in his pouch, and returned the knight's sword to his side.
Gerd finally couldn't hold back the question that had been burning inside him. "Lynn, what in the world are you doing?"
Lynn didn't hide anything. "I just put him under a suggestion to make him forget his capture. When he wakes up, even though he won't know how he escaped, he'll invent a plausible story to avoid being labeled a traitor."
"What we need to do is go to the other clans immediately and gather forces to support Count Torgier."
There was no time to do the monster-slaying contract Count Torgier had given them—clearing Aethenir Castle. Without a moment's delay, the two split up.
Lynn would go to Kaer Muire Castle to ask Clan Drummond's elder for aid. Gerd would head to Kaer Trolde Castle to see Clan an Craite's elder.
Lynn was confident that Clan Drummond's elder, Lugos the Mad, would trust him because of the favor he'd already done for them. As for Gerd, even if he didn't know Craite's elder, Craite, the things Gerd had done on the islands had likely reached the ears of Crach an Craite. And since they each had a helmet from a Duchy soldier as evidence, Lynn was certain that Crach an Craite would not refuse Gerd.
As for the other clans on the more distant islands, they would have to rely on the Drummond and an Craite elders to send people to inform them. Lynn and Gerd, after delivering their messages, had to race immediately to Tuirseach Castle to warn and help Count Torgier defend the keep.
Thankfully, the clans had limited forces remaining on the islands, and Nilfgaard had only sent a sub-fleet, not their entire navy. It only had about 1,500 soldiers. After all, even if the Nilfgaardian navy wouldn't fight the Skellige fleet head-on, they wouldn't just pull all their ships back and let their coast get pillaged.
Lynn didn't know how many soldiers the Isles could muster, but they would be fighting on their home turf. As long as they could hold the line, there would always be a chance.
Meanwhile, Lynn raced day and night, finally arriving at Kaer Muire Castle. The guards at the castle naturally recognized the warrior who had helped their clan. They immediately went to inform Lugos the Mad.
Upon receiving the news, Lynn met Lugos in the lord's longhouse. The witcher didn't waste any time. He briefly recounted what had happened since he had left Kaer Muire Castle, then placed a Duchy soldier's helmet on the ground.
In this world, the armor of the Northern Kingdoms, the Skellige Isles, the Duchy of Toussaint, and the Nilfgaardian Empire all had distinct styles. For example, the design of Nilfgaardian Imperial armor was similar to the Holy Roman Empire in Lynn's past life. The Kingdom of Kaedwen in the North was a bit like Poland. And as for the Skellige Isles, you could smell the Viking influence from a mile away.
The Duchy of the Arcane Coast was no different. Because it had been ruled by the Kingdom of Redania for a time, the Duchy's armor had a strong Redanian flair. And on top of that, the coat-of-arms on the surcoat was the Duchy's winged merman-headed beast.
Even though the news that the Nilfgaardians were conspiring with the Duchy of the Arcane Coast was hard to believe, Lugos the Mad ultimately trusted Lynn. The witcher's past actions had more than vouched for his word.
So, Lugos the Mad had his son take two hundred of Clan Drummond's light infantry with Lynn to Spikeroog. These two hundred men were not conscripts but full-time, professional soldiers. Clan Drummond had already sent most of its standing army and conscripts south with the Skellige fleet in response to King Bran's call. The entire territory had only three hundred standing soldiers left to defend it, and Lugos was sending more than half of them. This showed just how much faith Lugos the Mad and Clan Drummond had in Lynn.
It took about half a day to gather the troops and prepare their supplies. Then, the group sailed from the port of Holmstein, leaving Clan Drummond's territory.
Besides sending troops, Lugos the Mad also sent word to the nearby islands of Spikeroog and Undvik for help. Count Torgier's territory of Spikeroog was northeast of Ard Skellig. Traveling from Holmstein, they would have to pass Kaer Trolde, home to Clan an Craite.
Come to think of it, ever since he had delivered that message for Clan Drummond, Lynn had gone to Spikeroog and hadn't kept up with what happened to Clan Drummond and Clan an Craite.
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