The road stretched before them, winding through the rolling hills of Temeria before plunging into the dense, ancient woods of no man's land, Vellen. The sun had begun its slow descent toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of amber and crimson, but the trees grew thick and close here, their branches intertwining overhead.
They had been riding for hours, their horses' hooves beating a steady rhythm against the packed earth. The initial shock of the news about Foltest had faded. Sebastian's mind calculated the possibilities, assassins, conspiracies, the delicate balance of power that was about to shatter. Dandelion had been uncharacteristically quiet, his usual chatter replaced by a contemplative silence that was almost unsettling. Even Zoltan seemed subdued, his thick fingers stroking his beard as he stared at the road ahead.
Dandelion shifted in his saddle for what felt like the hundredth time, his face barely contained discomfort. He let out a long, theatrical sigh.
"Seb, my dear friend, my esteemed companion, my..."
"Get to the point Dandelion," Sebastian said.
Dandelion's shoulders slumped in exaggerated defeat. "Can we please rest for a bit? My backside has gone numb, my legs are cramping, and I'm fairly certain my horse is giving me a look that suggests it's considering eating me. I've seen that look before, it's the same look Geralt's Roach gives him when he's been riding too long without a break."
Zoltan snorted from his horse, "No, you halfwit. Vizima is still far, and you've heard that this kingdom is on alert. The boy needs to get to Triss. We don't have time for your delicate sensibilities."
Sebastian reined in his mare, his yellow eyes scanning the woods around them. The trees were old here, their trunks thick and gnarled, the undergrowth was dense, a tangle of ferns and brambles that seemed to press in from all sides.
"It's okay, Zoltan," Sebastian said, his voice calm and measured. "He's right. If not for us, then for the horses. We've been riding for hours, and they need rest as much as we do. We should stop and make camp."
Zoltan's expression was skeptical, his bushy eyebrows drawn together in a frown. But he nodded slowly. "If you say so, lad. But I'm telling you, every moment we spend in these woods is another moment we're exposed."
Dandelion let out a long, relieved breath that seemed to deflate his entire body. "Thank you. Thank you, Seb. I knew you were the reasonable one, you have a wisdom beyond your years, a kindness that.."
"Just help us find a spot to make camp," Sebastian said with a smile.
They found a small clearing not far from the road, a pocket of open space where the trees drew back and the sky was visible through the canopy. The ground was soft with moss and fallen leaves, and a small stream gurgled nearby, its waters clear and cold. It was not the ideal campsite, too exposed, too close to the road but it would have to do.
"We could have picked a better spot," Dandelion muttered, "Somewhere with fewer trees. And less woods. And maybe a nice inn with warm beds and hot food and a lovely barmaid who..."
Zoltan glared at him, his eyes sharp. "Stop your whining, you great lummox. The woods stretch wide now, from here to Vizima. Either we stop and make camp, or we ride until we're out of them, and you wished to stop. So stop complaining and make yourself useful."
Dandelion dismounted with a grunt, his legs wobbling beneath him. "You're right. You're right... It's just that I don't particularly enjoy the woods of Velen." He shuddered, wrapping his arms around himself. "There are things in these woods. Old things. Things that don't like travelers."
Sebastian looked up from where he was arranging kindling, his yellow eyes catching the fading light. "Well, we have to make do with them." He paused, his eyes scanning the treeline with an intensity that made Dandelion's skin crawl. "But I agree. This is my first time here in Temeria in general, but the moment we entered these woods, all I could sense around me was evil."
Dandelion's face went pale. He looked at Zoltan, his eyes wide.
"See?" Dandelion said, his voice rising in pitch. "See?! The Witcher senses it! I told you! I told you these woods were.."
Zoltan laughed, a deep, rumbling sound that echoed through the clearing. "He's just trying to scare you, you fool. There's nothing in these woods that can't be handled by a witcher and a dwarf with a sharp axe."
Sebastian extended his hand. Flames danced across his palm, growing and swelling until it was a ball of orange and gold that cast dancing shadows across the clearing. He touched it to the kindling, and the fire caught, spreading quickly, its warmth pushing back the gathering chill of the evening.
"No," Sebastian said, his voice carrying no trace of humor. "I'm being serious."
Zoltan's laughter faded. His bushy eyebrows rose, and his eyes fixed on Sebastian's face, searching for any hint of jest. Finding none, he was silent.
Sebastian continued, "But no worries. I'll make a line of flames around the camp, a proper boundary, not just a fire. No one will approach us. Even if it's a Leshen."
Dandelion swallowed hard. His face had gone from pale to ashen, and his hands were trembling slightly. "Oh, I don't like those... They can control the animals, you know. The birds, the wolves, even the trees themselves. They can make the forest turn against us..."
Sebastian nodded, "Yes and these are the kind of places they love. Deep woods, ancient trees, places where the spirits of the forest are strongest. I would be surprised if we don't encounter one."
Then he smiled, almost playful expression that seemed out of place given the circumstances. "Alright," Sebastian said. "Enough scaring you. Get some sleep."
Dandelion's jaw dropped. His eyes widened, and he stared at Sebastian with a mixture of disbelief and horror. "After hearing all of that, I don't think I can. I'm going to be lying awake all night, listening for every rustle and creak, convinced that a leshen is about to.."
Zoltan laughed again, "You'll be fine, you big baby. Seb knows what he's doing. Now lie down and shut up before I knock you out myself."
Dandelion opened his mouth to protest, then closed it again. He muttered something under his breath, too quiet to hear, and settled onto his bedroll.
Sebastian sat back on his heels, his eyes fixed on the flames.
"I wonder who really tried to kill Foltest," Sebastian said slowly.
Zoltan's expression was thoughtful, his thick fingers stroking his beard. "Emhyr, I'd wager. The Emperor's been waiting for an opportunity to destabilize the North. What better way than to remove one of its most powerful kings?"
Sebastian nodded slowly, his yellow eyes reflecting the firelight. "Oh, it's them alright. I'm more surprised that it was an attempt and not a success. Emhyr's agents are usually more thorough." He paused, his brow furrowing. "And surprised that they're suspecting everyone around them, meaning they never actually found the one who did it. They're on alert, paranoid about everyone around them, that's not good for anyone."
Zoltan shook his head, his expression grim. "I don't like politics, never have. Give me a straightforward enemy, a good axe, and a clear battle. All this scheming and backstabbing.. it makes my head hurt." He paused, his eyes meeting Sebastian's. "And I feel that our arrival to Vizima will not be exactly a warm welcome now."
Dandelion, who had been lying on his bedroll with his eyes closed, muttered: "Exactly."
Sebastian nodded slowly. "Yeah, I know. A party of a witcher, an armed dwarf, and a bard is very suspicious after a regicide attempt. We're going to be questioned the moment we reach the city gates."
Zoltan's voice was grim. "They'll interrogate us on arrival to the capital. But Triss will speak for us. She knows you, and she knows Geralt. She'll vouch for us.. Right?"
Sebastian's expression was unreadable. "She will."
Zoltan was quiet for a moment, "Look, I really need to ask you this, Seb. Do you really need this mask.... enough to walk into a kingdom on the verge of war? Enough to risk alot? I know they can't harm you, but..."
Sebastian looked down at the mask, which he had placed beside his bedroll.
"I feel like it's important," Sebastian said, "And I really have nothing else to do.. This came into my possession for a reason, and it's linked to Ciri's power." He paused, his yellow eyes meeting Zoltan's. "I can only call this destiny."
"He sounds like a hermit. All that talk of destiny and purpose. Next thing you'll be telling me you've seen visions in your fire."
Dandelion, already half-asleep, muttered, "Fuck destiny. I just want to leave these woods."
/-\
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