Lord Zorven relaxed in his tall chair, holding a goblet of wine. A sly smile played on his lips. Lady Lyra, his wife, observed him carefully, her own goblet lifted with ease.
"He really thinks he has a claim, doesn't he?" she said softly, her voice smooth against the crackling fire.
"Our dear Lord Varion. He's convinced the throne is his just because his ancestors sign
sat on it first."
Zorven chuckled dryly. "Oh, he believes it with all his heart. The Valmorins are proud. And predictable." He sipped his wine, enjoying it.
Lyra put her goblet down, the soft clink breaking the moment.
"What about the little queen? Calyss is tougher than I expected."
Zorven leaned closer, the firelight catching his features. His smile turned serious.
"The girl has guts. I almost admire her. Soon she will fall along with Varion and the Crown will belong to us. We just need to wait."
Lyra's smile sharpened. "Then we just need to steer them, dear. Let them wear each other out. And when they're weak…"
"House Halvek will be ready," Zorven said, raising his goblet in a silent toast.
The fire crackled, sparks flying upward. The husband and wife shared a moment of perfect understanding.
***
Geralt stood before the tall walls of Fenroth. They reached up to the sky. Soldiers positioned at every angle including numerous watchtowers.
"No kingdom in its right mind will dare attack Fenroth, with such marvelous walls." He said to himself. He knew getting past them would be tough. Without an official pass, he needed a disguise.
Then he saw a merchant from Kingdom of Zeth. The man was riding a carriage full of goods toward the gate.
Geralt approached him with an offer: a good amount of money for a ride into the kingdom. The merchant's eyes lit up, and he quickly agreed.
As they neared the gate, guards asked to see the merchant's pass. The merchant handed it over. They studied it closely, then glanced at the carriage. One guard growled, "Who's in there?"
Geralt slumped back, pretending to be sick and shivering.
The merchant stammered, "Just my slave. He's not well. I'm taking him to Fenroth for treatment. Then I will sell him off. Ever since I bought him he is just so useless"
The guards exchanged greedy looks. "A slave? That'll cost you more," they said, holding out their hands. The merchant slipped them a small bribe.
The gates creaked open, and the carriage rolled inside.
Geralt looked out at the barren lands that looked like a desert, he already knew that was another measure of defense for the kingdom of Fenroth. It would take a full day ride on horseback from the gate of Fenroth to even reach the closet province, Avalor.
He understood the delay; it gave the people time to hide before any attack gets to them and also gives the soldiers time to prepare.
By night, they arrived in Avalor. Geralt paid the merchant and slipped into a quiet inn, to rest his head.
***
Geralt had incredible luck at the card table. He kept winning, and his opponents were getting mad. But one guy, a big man with a scar over his left eyebrow, looked suspicious. Geralt caught him staring at the cards.
When the game ended, Geralt collected his winnings. The scar-faced man stood up, his chair scraping loudly. "You cheated," he growled, sounding threatening.
Geralt just smiled and pocketed his coins. "It's just luck, my friend."
The man's expression became dark. "I saw you. You marked those cards." The tension in the inn grew thick.
Geralt felt a warning in his gut but kept smiling. "Prove it."
The scar-faced man snarled and pulled out his sword. Geralt's eyes widened, but he quickly grabbed his own blade. The sound of clashing steel filled the inn.
In the end, Geralt won, leaving the scar-faced man motionless on the floor. But his victory didn't last.
The man's three angry friends charged at him. The fight was fierce, with swords clashing and tables flying. Geralt fought smart, taking each opponent down one by one.
When the last man fell, Geralt was out of breath, his sword still shaking. He sheathed it, grabbed his winnings, and left the inn, vanishing into the night. The guards would be looking for him soon, and he needed to hide.