185

The Skelligers held commitment, courage, and honor in high regard. For these rugged islanders, glory was valued above life itself. Faced with Eist's challenge, Queen Calanthe's usual composure crumbled. Her face flushed, her lips quivered, and tears welled up in her eyes.

The queen's emotional display caused a stir among the guests. They scrambled for makeshift weapons, grabbing chairs, metal platters, and candlesticks, vowing to avenge the insult to their queen and princess. Their anger was directed at Urcheon, who stood defiant in the center of the hall. The princes and nobles, who had come seeking Pavetta's hand and the Cintra throne, were not about to let an unknown interloper steal their prize.

Eist, however, managed to quell the brewing chaos. He insisted on hearing both sides of the story before resorting to violence.

At that moment, Baron Alyn Burt, the Cuckoo Knight, rose from his seat. "I understand many of you have strong feelings about this matter," he announced, his voice carrying through the hall. "But we are in the royal palace of Cintra, and we must maintain a semblance of decorum."

He turned to Queen Calanthe. "Your Majesty, with your permission, I would like to offer my opinion."

Calanthe, facing Eist's challenge, faltered for the first time. Her face flushed, her lips trembled, and tears welled up in her eyes.

The queen's emotional display caused a stir among the guests. They scrambled for makeshift weapons, ready to defend her honor. The idea of their princess marrying a stranger, allowing an unknown man to claim the throne, was unacceptable to them.

Eist, however, managed to restore order, insisting they hear both sides before resorting to violence.

At that moment, Baron Alyn Burt, the Cuckoo Knight, stood up once more. "Many of you have opinions on this matter," he said, "but as the one with the most say in this, no one has asked the queen her thoughts."

"I will never give my daughter to this stranger," Calanthe declared, her voice unwavering.

Urcheon, growing agitated, cried out, "But King Roegner's oath—"

Calanthe slammed her goblet down, cutting him off. With a deep breath, she turned to Baron Burt, a trusted advisor. "Continue, Baron. But be brief."

Baron Burt bowed to the queen and addressed the guests. "Indeed, this stranger has made a peculiar request. But in the face of the Law of Surprise, we cannot simply ignore it. According to this ancient law, a savior has the right to claim any reward they desire."

"Sometimes it may be the first thing they see upon returning home," he explained. "Other times, it may be something unexpected that arrives at their doorstep. Often, this turns out to be a child, a child of destiny."

Calanthe frowned and tapped her fingers impatiently on the table. "Get to the point, Baron," she said.

Baron Burt bowed again, then addressed the guests. "The Law of Surprise is no mere legend, good sirs. Many ancient heroes were Children of Surprise, chosen by destiny. Conversely, those who broke their oaths under this law often suffered dire consequences."

He recounted a cautionary tale: "The renowned Queen Zivlena ascended to the throne of Metinna with the aid of a dwarf. Yet, when he came to claim her firstborn child, she reneged on her promise and used magic to drive him away. Soon after, both the queen and her child perished from a plague. Thus, even the most powerful cannot escape the consequences of defying destiny, especially when witnessed by the gods."

Queen Calanthe's face hardened. She knew these stories were not mere fables; destiny was a force to be reckoned with. "Sit down, Baron," she commanded, "and spare us further tales."

But Baron Burt remained standing, bowing respectfully. "Your Majesty, I beg your indulgence. In ancient legends, human kings kept their word, and their vassals remained loyal. All our privileges stem from promises made to the people. Are we now to question the validity of such vows?"

Calanthe was rendered speechless by the baron's words. After a moment of silence, she seemed to make a difficult decision. "My lords," she addressed the gathered nobles, "you deserve an explanation. This Urcheon speaks the truth. My foolish husband made a foolish promise."

"But the baron's words remind me that I am not only a mother but also a queen. I will address this matter with the Council of Nobles tomorrow." Calanthe paused, then added, "To the noble knights present, I offer my sincerest apologies for the insult you have suffered."

Her statement only fueled the uproar. King Eist sighed heavily. "Calanthe," he said gravely, "you are inviting bloodshed."

Indeed, the queen's words had given the knights a pretext for violence. They began searching for weapons, calling for a duel with Urcheon to avenge their honor. Whether Urcheon survived the encounter would depend solely on his own skill.

As the chaos escalated and Urcheon found himself surrounded, Geralt finally took action. He stood, smashed his chair on the ground, and shouted, "Perhaps there is no need for a council meeting!"

All eyes turned to him in surprise, unsure of his intent.

Wayne, no longer a mere observer, noticed Princess Pavetta's tension. Her body was rigid, her magic coursing through her veins. As a source sorceress, her untapped power dwarfed that of a trained witcher. And as a young woman in love, pregnant with Urcheon's child, she was on the brink of unleashing that power to defend him.

Geralt, after a brief pause, addressed Urcheon directly.

"I said there is no need for a council meeting," Geralt repeated, his voice firm and unwavering. "You know what I mean, Urcheon."

All eyes turned to Urcheon, who stepped forward. "I heard the queen," he said, his voice echoing in the tense silence. "She found a convenient way to dispose of me. Very well, I accept your challenge, unknown knight."

Geralt shook his head. "I'm not here to challenge you," he clarified, "but to ask you to prove something."

Queen Calanthe instantly grasped Geralt's intention. She abandoned any pretense of referring to him as Ravix and snapped, "Geralt, sit down! Do not test my patience!"

But Geralt ignored her, his focus solely on Urcheon. "You must prove there is indeed a bond of destiny between you and Princess Pavetta," he stated. "The Law of Surprise dictates that only with the child's consent can the oath be deemed valid. This will prove that you are truly bound by fate."

The nobles erupted in outrage. "Who are you to speak on behalf of the Law of Surprise?" they shouted. "How dare you spout such nonsense!"

Faced with this challenge, Archdruid Mousesack, who had remained silent until now, stepped forward. "He is Geralt of Rivia, the White Wolf," Mousesack declared. "He, too, is a Child of Surprise, shaped by destiny into the witcher he is today."

Mousesack's status in Skellige was revered, and he was a known friend of Cintra's royal family. His words silenced most of the dissenters, though some still questioned Geralt's authority. "A Child of Surprise? What does that have to do with the Law of Surprise?" one noble asked.

Mousesack paused for a moment before responding, "He is a witcher."

A hush fell over the hall. Indeed, a witcher born under the Law of Surprise was more qualified than most to speak on the matter. The ancient law was sacred to witchers, a common method used by older generations to recruit new apprentices. It was also well-known that Children of Surprise had the highest survival rate in witcher trials.

As silence enveloped the hall, the midnight bell tolled. Wayne noticed the strange magic surrounding Pavetta, Urcheon, and the entire room thicken. Queen Calanthe, as if on cue, addressed Urcheon.

"The time has come to fulfill your oath," she said. "But first, you must uphold your end of the bargain and remove your helmet."

Urcheon, however, remained motionless, his gaze vacant, as if lost in a trance.

Wayne knew the chiming of the bell was a ruse orchestrated by Queen Calanthe, a desperate attempt to force Urcheon to reveal his hedgehog form before midnight. He glanced at Geralt, who was tense and ready to intervene. Geralt met his gaze and nodded subtly.

Wayne's master-level quest was to help Geralt ensure the banquet proceeded according to his wishes. He didn't hesitate. After all, once the banquet concluded, he could approach Pavetta or Calanthe and expose Duny's deception. By then, Geralt and Ciri's destinies would be intertwined, and it would be up to the queen and princess to decide Duny's fate.

The tension in the hall was palpable. Yet, Urcheon slowly removed his helmet, revealing his hedgehog-like visage. The sight elicited ridicule from the guests, and a triumphant smirk spread across Calanthe's face.

Urcheon remained unfazed. "When King Roegner told you of his promise," he addressed the queen, "he surely described my appearance. It seems you've gone to great lengths to deal with me. Inciting the knights against me, hiring a witcher, and even resorting to childish tricks to humiliate me. But know this, you only humiliate yourself."

Queen Calanthe, enraged by his words, shouted, "Enough! This ends now!"

Queen Calanthe declared, her voice echoing through the hall. She turned to her daughter, her voice rising. "Pavetta, now you see the true nature of the monster who seeks your hand! By the ancient tradition of the Law of Surprise, the choice is yours. Say yes, and you become his prize. Say no, and you never have to see this hideous creature again."

All eyes turned to Pavetta, whose face paled as her emotions surged. While the others might not have felt it, Wayne, Geralt, and Mousesack sensed the thickening magic in the air. It pressed down upon them like an invisible weight, making it difficult to breathe.

Wayne sighed inwardly. If Pavetta had been coerced, it might have been manageable, but she was clearly devoted to the hedgehog knight and carried his child. Anyone who dared harm him would face the wrath of a source sorceress unleashed.

The archdruid's voice whispered in Wayne and Geralt's ears, "Prevent the queen from breaking the Law of Surprise. For her sake and Pavetta's."

Wayne looked at Geralt, who nodded grimly despite the pressure of the magic. They were in agreement with Mousesack's approach.

Suddenly, Pavetta raised her head, her gaze fixed on Urcheon with unwavering love. "I do," she declared, her voice clear and resolute.

The hall fell silent once more. An immense magical power coalesced around the princess, the pressure on the witchers and the druid lifting as they watched Pavetta with a mixture of surprise and apprehension.

Wayne was momentarily stunned by this display of raw magical power. It was the first time he had witnessed the true potential of a source sorceress. Pavetta, an untrained girl, was able to summon such immense energy purely through instinct, proving herself a worthy heir to Elder Blood.

Calanthe, upon hearing her daughter's answer, collapsed onto her throne, her face drained of color.

Emboldened by Pavetta's declaration, Urcheon mocked the assembled nobles. "You all heard her. My claim is legitimate. What can you do to stop me now? Hidden blades? More witchers? I intend to take Pavetta with me now. And I wouldn't mind a bit of entertainment. Perhaps the noble Queen Calanthe would like to personally escort her daughter to me and place her hand in mine?"

Urcheon's words ignited a firestorm of outrage. Crach an Craite, the Boar of the Sea, roared, "What kind of mockery is this?" He grabbed a meat cleaver from the table, ready to attack Urcheon. A knight named Rainfarn also drew his weapon and charged towards the armored figure.

Queen Calanthe could no longer contain her fury. "Guards!" she shrieked, and chaos erupted in the banquet hall.

Wayne, sensing the situation escalating beyond control, decided to act. With lightning speed, he intercepted Urcheon before Crach or Rainfarn could reach him. His fist connected with the hedgehog man's face, cutting off his arrogant speech and sending him staggering back.

King Eist, also aware of the Law of Surprise's importance, swiftly dealt with his nephew. A powerful blow sent Crach sprawling across a banquet table, where the unfortunate piper received an accidental whack from the prince's flailing arm, shattering his instrument.

Rainfarn, the knight who had charged Urcheon, was met with Wayne's Aard sign. The telekinetic blast slammed into his chest plate, sending him tumbling across the floor like a ragdoll.

Just then, a squad of guards burst into the hall in response to Calanthe's command. The queen, her composure shattered, pointed at Urcheon and screamed, "Guards! Kill that monster!"

Upon receiving the queen's command, the guards surged towards Urcheon, who was still reeling from Wayne's blow, like a swarm of angry hornets.