Chapter 11: King vs King
(Hagge, Mouth of the Pontar Valley, Pontar Valley, Kingdom of Aedirn, Witcher-Verse)
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(King Aethan I Jaenerys of Cidaris POV)
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Aethan and Henselt had agreed to face each other until one of them drew First Blood. Aethan - unlike Henselt - wore light armor - specifically Cat School Gear. Witcher Gear was naturally resistant to damage on a far greater level than your standard run-of-the-mill gear. As he'd been trained by a Witcher from the School of the Cat, His fighting Style naturally relied upon speed, agility, adaptability, and versatility. The School of the Cat gear represented that because he'd gotten his Runewright to inscribe the runes that kept his armor strong and hid blades sharp into his blade.
The inscription was the final thing he needed to keep an edge against a more experienced opponent, amongst the lessons his teacher taught him, was that when faced with a more experienced opponent, victory was typically next to impossible. You could have superior equipment or you could be more skilled, but that counted for little against a more experienced opponent. What did count, was being able to maintain old advantages and seize new ones when the old ones were advantages no more. His gear helped him in that regard. The Cat School Gear was - at least up until a point - resistant to slashing and piercing damage and covered his arms so, Henselt could only draw first blood via his face, just like he could because of Henselt's heavy plate armor.
But wearing the Cat School gear also naturally suited his fighting style, Henselt would have to be forced to expend more energy than Aethan if Aethan had any chance at victory. The Cat School Gear gave him greater movement and allowed him to use less stamina than Henselt. This means he'd have to fully utilize his fighting style against Henselt. The fact that his precious lionors a'baeth was designed in a style similar to the swords of Elves meant he was able to perfectly adapt his style of fighting against King Henselt, as the fat rapist would soon learn.
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(POV Shift: Eskel)
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The diagrams were the easy part.
Fighting the Miasmal was not much harder.
The hard part was putting his brother Wolf to his final rest.
Reinald was a hell of a Witcher being able to keep that demon at bay for so long. It wasn't easy getting him to let go of his rage, even in death a Witcher's mutations still held strong, his rage at being treated as he had by the whoresons who hired him was difficult to dispel, but Vesemir had done it. And the fight against the Miasmal hadn't cost them anyone. They'd taken injuries sure, but thanks to having brewed extra potions of Swallow and White Raffard's decoction, they were able to beat the demon.
Now it was just a question of whether they actually took up King Aethan's offer. Vesemir was concerned that they'd be giving up their neutrality, but that Griffin Witcher Keldar had argued that their purpose had always been to protect the world from monsters, the only difference was that King Aethan was hiring them to protect the people and Eskel found he could agree that it was a good counter-argument to Vesemir's point.
Still, there was the argument that King Aethan had employed some of their group for a number of tasks prior to putting forth this great idea of his. So if they did take his deal, some rules would need to be put in place. It wasn't just the question of whether the boy King would never break those rules, it was whether those who followed him would.
They needed to weigh that in with everything else.
''So about the King, what exactly do we know about him?'' The Viper from Gulet asked.
''One of my brothers trained him, then tried to kill him.'' He heard Gezras say.
''Why didn't the Cat kill him right away then?'' Asks Letho.
''Mavis wasn't a good person by any stretch, but she was by far the most cunning and strategic Cat the old School ever produced. I can't speak to why exactly, but from what I understand is that King Ethain didn't trust her as far as he could throw her. They were never alone, and Count Ebland eventually grew impatient. He manipulated a local brigand leader into trying to seize power. When the insurgency gained traction, Ethain had no choice but to call a war Council. That was the opportunity for Mavis. But Princess Eilliana was with the prince. Count Ebland supposedly cared little for which of the girls he'd rule through as a proxy, and Mavis took that as reason enough to kill them both. But Mavis had erred, she had failed to realize just how exceptional her target was. You all know the rest.'' Says Gezras.
''Have you seen him fight? Has anyone?'' Eskel found himself asking.
''I've sparred with him.'' Ivo said simply.
''And?'' Vesemir Asks, prompting Ivo.
''And what? The boy is skilled.'' The Belhaven native responds gruffly.
''What Vesemir means is what is your assessment?'' Asks Eskel.
''If you're asking me what kind of person he is then ask his wife, of your asking me what kind of fighter he is, then you have my answer.'' The bear bites back.
''I can tell you what everyone else has said. They say he keeps his word, that he values honor and integrity, and despises sycophants and traitors. But I've seen his compassion and mercy. He sent a few of us to rescue a family in the heart of Nilfgaardian Territory. The family of a general he caught in his palace. The general was prepared to die, and even though Aethan offered him a deal he declined. Aethan went through with his side of the deal anyway.'' Says Keldar.
''Yet, his retaliation against the Count of Ebeltoft shows a different side to what you've described. Mavis was a nasty old bat, but I doubt she had the effect of instilling that kind of retaliation in the boy.'' Says Gaetan.
''When your backs against the wall and you're out of options, men will do all kinds of nasty shit to survive and take vengeance. I've seen it before.'' Letho replies.
''So basically the moral of the story is don't target Aethan's family or betray him. But betrayal can take many forms and be interpreted in countless different ways. And King's aren't typically known for being even-handed or fair. They're always hungry for something, what is Aethan's hunger for?'' Eskel asks.
''Unification.'' Ivo offers up.
''Meaning?'' Asks Voren.
''Kerack and Verden are trying to ignite a race war with the dryads. A by-product of that is that it will inflame tensions with non-humans as a whole. Aethan understands the value of the non-humans. He had an elven lover before his marriage. He employs an Elven Swordsmith. He uses the dwarves, halflings, and Elves that call his kingdom home as couriers and spies. His coastal neighbors' racism will negatively affect his Kingdom and its people. Likewise, Henselt is an unpredictable man, and an unpopular ruler. He will likely turn his back on the entire North if Nilfgaard makes him the right offer. Thus Aethan wishes to unify the North.'' Says Keldar.
''Unify it how?'' Vesemir Asks.
''King Aethan doesn't trust his fellow monarchs on the Dragon Coast, and has agents in every level of their military and intelligence service. As well as their royal courts. If they go too far, Aethan will step in and take over. But he has little desire to seize the North by Force. The coast is one thing, that's his line to Cintra and he can hardly trust men who so easily ignite a race war when Nilfgaard hasn't been forced to a peace agreement yet now can he? So what does Aethan do? He forges alliances to his neighbors and theirs. He married King Foltest's daughter. Securing a powerful alliance with his neighbor and potentially having his successor inherit Temeria. A Temeria that already receives tribute from Brugge and calls Sodden a vassal and Mahakam the same. His sisters are to join hands with Hengfors, Lyria and Rivia, and Aedirn. Unification can take many forms, be it through force or the forging of alliances. Aethan seems to prefer the latter thus far.'' Says Gezras.
''And what happens if that changes and we take his offer? Will we be expected to take up military service?'' Asks Gaetan.
''Doubt it, Aethan hasn't had us participate in anything with his army beyond training some of his Personal Guard's best troops. Mostly our job has been training children to prepare them for future service. But he's also had us rescue that family. He's flexible in his needs but respects our neutrality and understands there are boundaries to what we deem acceptable with contracts.'' Keldar adds.
''And he pays us a fair rate for our work as well. Takes into account the expenses of repairs, potions, and basic necessities.'' Ivo adds.
''I've heard the King has an exceptional Herbs Garden? Do you have access to it?'' Asks Vesemir.
''Not officially, but so long as we are not seen, King Aethan agreed to continue paying for herbs. He calls it his challenge to 'bypassing his ring of steel', but I think we have to sneak in as much because of work he's doing there as because of some test of skill.'' Gezras says.
''Sun's coming up, we should break camp, it'll be a few more days before we reach Cidaris.'' Says Eskel.
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(POV Shift: Keira Metz)
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King Aethan was equal parts enigmatic and straightforward. His goals seemed straightforward enough, the protection and growth of his Kingdom. But it was the King himself that was enigmatic.
Every time she thought she understood him or his personality, something changed. He wasn't even eccentric which would explain the enigmatic nature he had. The opposite of eccentricity was stubbornness, and King Aethan most certainly was stubborn.
She didn't know if it was his nature throwing her off, or something else. Be it magic or her lusts.
Keira was all too aware of how horny she was, and she had been called a nymphomaniac previously. That was something she could deal with easily enough, and something magical was a thing she could figure out eventually. More than once she'd ''caught'' the King eyeing her lustfully. He hadn't gone past that though, he adored his Queen after all.
Shame.
She rarely slept with such a prominent person as her King, but Aethan was easy enough on the eyes, and he seemed a discreet enough person.
If he wasn't so devoted to the Queen, then they could have had a lot of fun together.
One way or another she'd narrow down what made this King so different from the others.
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(POV Shift: Queen Meve of Lyria and Rivia)
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She'd expected Henselt to start something….just not with Aethan.: Queen Meve of Lyria and Rivia)
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She'd expected Henselt to start something…just not with Aethan. Demavend and Foltest sure, but he seemingly had a quarrel with Aethan and had been looking for an excuse to start something. Aethan railing against the murder of his cousin - a child - seemed to be the excuse that Henselt apparently needed to call for a fight.
Henselt had experience on Aethan, but Aethan showed a rare skill and strength that was allowing him to keep Henselt at bay and maintain the fight. Henselt was tiring however, and Aethan was taking full advantage by forcing Henselt to further expend his energy and stamina and tire himself out.
''He's quite skilled.'' Demavend notes.
''He's got a keen mind for tactics as well. He's tiring out Henselt, and forcing him to overexert himself further whenever he gets close.'' Foltest adds.
''That's probably that Witcher Training kicking in.'' Meve adds.
''Who do you think will win?'' Vizimir asks.
''Aethan.'' Both she and Foltest said at the same time.
''Henselt will likely lose. He's exhausted too much energy compared to Aethan, and Aethan is weighting for Victory.'' Says Demavend.
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(POV Shift: King Aethan I Janerys of Cidaris)
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''That's my victory.'' Aethan says as he reveals the blood on his gloves that he had run across his blade where Henselt had been cut. ''Don't challenge me again. I have better things to do.'' He says.
''This…isn't over.'' Henselt says struggling to breathe.
''For me it is, I think you'll find yourself unable to move for the next few hours. You've cut by a blade coated with a paralyzing agent. Enjoy it while it lasts.'' Aethan says as he wipes down his blade before sheathing it.
Making his way up to the other Monarchs observing the fight, Aethan says nothing as he stands beside Meve.
''Poisoned blade?'' Demavend asks.
''Paralyzing agent, he'll be down for at least five to six hours or more depending on how good his metabolism is.''
''Shame.'' Demavend said.
''I'll be journeying to Skellige soon, on a Pilgrimage. I'll take the opportunity to meet with Crach an Craite and King Bran let them both know that war is on the Horizon and they have a chance to take back Cintra. Meve? A word please?'' Aethan says as he walks to a nearby section of the wall overlooking the city.
''Crach an Craite will never shed Calanthe's blood. I doubt you will either. So let's all search for her, but if either you or me get her, we should ferry her to Kaer Trolde. Crach will fight to the death to protect her. King Bran the same. We'll use that if we're able to.'' He tells her.
''It won't be easy, we'll need to be very careful with how we proceed.'' Says Meve. ''This could very easily backfire on us.''
''No more careful than you already have been with the father of the babies I'm sure.'' Aethan says.
''Hugo and Calanthe.'' She tells him.
''Good names. Raise them well Meve.'' Says Aethan as he leaves her alone.
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(POV Shift: Philippa Eilhart)
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The meeting at Hagge had proven every bit as illuminating as was promised. The Kings were mostly in agreement regarding their solutions to the problems of Nilfgaard and Cintra.
The one fly in the proverbial ointment seemed to be King Aethan. He was not in favor of the killing of Cirilla.
Something shared not only by Queen Meve, but Philippa herself. The girls Elder Gene was too valuable to simply kill off. And Aethan himself was a partial carrier of the gene.
His Elder Blood amounted to very little, and that was largely because he was male. But if tied to the right kind of carrier like Cirilla, the children produced could be exceptionally talented and powerful Mages.
The only issue was that Cidaris didn't play that part in her plans. If she wished to see a Kingdom ruled by Magic, it needed to be Kovir.
Kovir was the strongest and richest and it was the only major source of Dimeritium in the World. Dimeritium was a weapon against mages like her, and having a Magic Kingdom at the source of Dimeritium meant they could control who received their only known weakness.
Perhaps it was time to arrange a meeting.
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(POV Shift: King Aethan I Jaenerys of Cidaris)
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Aethan and his party were riding near the border between Verden and Brokilon when they were interrupted by something or rather someone.
''King Aethan, My name is Philippa Eilhart, Court Sorceress and Royal Advisor to King Vizimir of Redania. I would have words with you.'' Said the legendary Sorceress from Redania and the original and future founder of the Lodge of Sorceresses.
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