Chapter 14

"The Law of Surprise?"

"Yes, it is a tradition of my kind used when you save someone's life," I explained patiently.

"And it's a boon whose nature is unknown to either of us," Elrond questioned while Graghin looked confused.

"Correct! Now you are getting it," I exclaim excitedly.

"…"

Elrond and Graghin just stared at me without knowing what to do. Meanwhile, I just stared at them with a happy grin. I had always wanted to use the Witcher's Law of Surprise but never found any situation where it hit as a good joke. Now, I get to use it for real.

"What do your kind usually ask as a boon," Elrond asked cautiously.

Pretending to think about it, I put a claw to my chin and tilt my head while looking up at the cloudy sky.

"Well, Geralt usually asks for the firstborn child. It is interpreted as 'the first thing that comes to greet you' and 'what you find at home yet don't expect.' So, it could be anything."

"MY FIRST BORN! ABSOLUTELY NOT," Elrond practically shouted at me.

The high pitch messed with my dragon ears, so I dug a finger in to help clear the ringing.

"We don't have to do firstborn. It could be secondborn, thirdborn, or even fourthborn. Up to you," I shrug. Which causes me to wince as my left wing still hurts.

Elrond and Graghin continue to stare at me in bewilderment. This is starting to get tedious. Could this be a mistake?

After we stared each other down, Elrond shook his head and sighed.

"I can not agree to these terms."

Grinning, I shrugged again (again, a mistake) and winced before winking at Graghin.

"Very well, Elrond. I guess I can lower my standards and ask you to teach me magic," I say haughtily.

This was the true goal of this negotiation. The Law of Surprise part was just a smoke screen to hide my goal: learning magic. After all, what is the first thing everyone wants to learn in a fantasy world?

Sighing in relief, Elrond visibly relaxed as he glanced at Graghin, who just shrugged at him.

"We can agree to teach you Elvish magic, Urulóki. But. You must swear a binding oath not to use it against my people or the other races of this army."

Hmm. I can make this path as long as I am guaranteed to use it in retaliation for an egregious offense or self-defense. I will not stand for some Elf burning my nest and cannot do anything about it."

Elrond nodded understandingly and gestured at Graghin to step forward and actively join the conversation.

"I can offer the blacksmithing of the Dwarves, Jurgen. Most of my people are not fond of your kind, but with the oath and guarantee of my Lord, we can get you a Master at least," Graghin explained politely.

A polite dwarf is funny. I was used to the gruff and rough dwarves from the movies and books.

So, while the Last Alliance fought the remnants of Sauron's army, we hashed out a deal that would shake the foundations of Middle Earth forever.