Sebastian's yellow eyes were fixed on the gates, waiting for the captain to return.
The minutes stretched into an eternity then he dismounted from his mare and the moment he did that the guards reacted with the swift, instinctive tension of men who had been trained to see threats in every move.
They surged forward, their weapons raised, a witcher approaching the Royal Palace was one thing, unusual, certainly, but not unheard of, witchers were hired from time to time to deal with monsters by royals and nobles. But a witcher dismounting and walking toward the gate when he was told not to was different. One of the guards grabbed his sword, and two more moved to intercept Sebastian, their halberds angled toward his chest, their voices sharp with command.
"Stay where you are!" one of them barked, "Do not approach the gates! Do so and be prepared to face the consequences!"
Suddenly Triss's voice cut through the chaos that was about to build up, sharp and commanding. "Lower your weapons, you fools!"
The guards froze. Their eyes flickered from Sebastian to Triss who showed up behind them, their expressions shifting from aggression to confusion to embarrassment. They lowered their halberds, their faces flushing.
"Lady Merigold..." the guard began, but Triss was already moving past him, her robes swishing against the stone, her attention entirely focused on the witcher before her.
She approached Sebastian with a warm smile, her eyes bright with genuine pleasure. It had been years since she had last seen him at Kaer Morhen, a boy barely grown, still learning the ways of the Path, still testing his newfound powers. Now he stood before her, a full-grown Witcher, his yellow eyes calm and his shoulders squared, that carried himself with confidence.
"Seb!" Triss said, "What a wonderful surprise!"
She embraced him, Sebastian returned it, his arms wrapping around her with gentleness.
"It's been years since the last time I saw you in Kaer Morhen," Triss continued, pulling back to look at him, her eyes tracing the lines of his face. "You and Ciri. Look at you now.. you have grown quite handsome.. The Path has been good to you, I see."
Sebastian smiled. "It's good to see you too, Triss. You seem in good health. The court life suits you."
Triss laughed, "Grown quite respectful as well. What happened to the boy who used to argue with Yennefer about everything? The one who refused to admit that she was right, even when she was clearly correct?"
Sebastian's smile widened. "What do you mean? I was always respectful. I simply chose to express my respect through vigorous debate."
Triss's eyes sparkled with amusement. "If you say so, Sebastian. If you say so."
Behind them, the guards exchanged bewildered glances. They had seen Lady Merigold greet many visitors, ambassadors, nobles, foreign dignitaries, even the occasional mages, but never with such warmth, such familiarity, such obvious affection. They whispered among themselves, their voices low and speculative.
"Is that... is she... with him?" one of them murmured.
"They seem close," another replied. "Very close."
"I heard she spent time at Kaer Morhen years ago.. Perhaps they were... more than friends."
The captain who returned with her shot them a glare that silenced their whispers, but his own expression carried a hint of curiosity.
Triss's attention shifted to the mare, where the leshen's head dangled from the saddle. Her eyebrows rose.
"A leshen," Triss said, her voice carrying a tone of genuine admiration. "That's not a small feat. They are powerful creatures, deeply connected to the forests they inhabit. Killing one is no simple matter. You've been busy, I take it."
Sebastian shrugged, his expression casual. "It was on the way. The village of Benek had a problem, and I solved it, part of it I think. The leshen was the source of a curse that had plagued them for years."
Triss shook her head, a smile playing at her lips. "Only you, Sebastian. Only you would treat killing a leshen as a minor detour, you aaand someone else from your school as well."
She moved past him, her gaze finally falling on the two figures who had been waiting on horseback.
"Dandelion!" Triss exclaimed, her voice bright with surprise. "Zoltan! You two are here as well? You met Sebastian on the way?" She paused, her smile widening. "I'm so glad you accompanied him. This city can be... overwhelming for those who are not accustomed to it."
Dandelion stepped forward, he said with theatrical humility that was entirely insincere. "Hi, Triss. I mean, you can continue your chat with Seb. Pretend we're not here. We're just humble travelers, passing through, enjoying the sights of the Royal Palace of Vizima, the exterior sight of course."
Zoltan laughed deeply, "Oh, attention grubber. Ye can't stand not being the center of attention for more than a moment, can ye?"
Dandelion's face flushed, but he did not deny it.
Triss smiled, her gaze soft. She turned to the captain, "These are my guests, Captain. Please, let them pass. They are under my protection."
The captain hesitated, his eyes darting between Triss and the witcher. Then he nodded slowly. "As you wish, Lady Merigold. But do understand that whatever happens is your responsibility now. I will not be held accountable for any... incidents that may occur."
Triss inclined her head, her expression serene. "Of course. I am well aware of the risks."
Dandelion and Zoltan dismounted, their boots hitting the ground with soft thuds, and fell into step behind Sebastian and Triss as they walked through the gates.
.
.
.
.
The courtyard of the Royal Palace was a vast expanse of paved stone and manicured gardens, its center dominated by a fountain that sparkled in the afternoon light, its waters cascading over marble figures of ancient times. The palace itself was a masterpiece of architecture, its walls adorned with intricate carvings.
Sebastian looked around, his yellow eyes taking in the details, the guards at their posts, the servants hurrying through the corridors, the distant sound of music drifting from an open window. It was a world unto itself.
Triss watched him, her expression one of amusement. She had seen many travelers pass through these gates, but few had the same intensity of focus that Sebastian displayed.
"So, Seb," Triss said, her tone was gentle teasing. "Just wanted to visit me, or... did you have something more specific in mind?"
Sebastian turned to look at her, his expression shifting from curiosity to seriousness. "Oh, yeah. I know you saw right through me. I clearly came here because I wanted something. But we need to be in a very secret room, yours, if it's private enough. It's something important, after all."
Triss's expression grew thoughtful, her eyes narrowing with concern. She glanced around the courtyard, her gaze sweeping the windows, the doors, the shadows where unseen eyes might be watching.
"Well, in that case," Triss said, her voice dropping to a whisper, "we shouldn't be here."
Sebastian's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
Triss leaned closer, her voice barely a whisper, her breath warm against his ear. "The walls in the castle have ears, if you know what I mean. Nothing spoken here stays secret for long. The palace is a web of spies and informants, all of them eager to curry favor with the king or his enemies.."
Sebastian's expression was confident. "I can tell if someone is behind those walls. My senses are more than capable of detecting hidden observers."
Triss shook her head, "Oh, dear. Your witcher senses will not pick up anything if it is against a capable mage. There have been recent incidents here... troubling ones. I suspect there are forces at work that even the king does not fully understand."
Sebastian's eyes narrowed. "You mean the attempts on Foltest's head?"
Triss blinked, her surprise evident. "You already know?"
Sebastian nodded. "I heard it from a random soldier at the Pontar. The news has spread throughout the land. It seems to be common knowledge now."
Triss sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly. "I suppose you can't really keep something like that a secret for long. The whispers spread like wildfire, and before you know it, everyone knows everything."
"So do you want us to leave and find a more private place? Somewhere we can speak without fear of being overheard?" Sebastian said.
Triss's expression brightened. "Quite the opposite. We should go to a tavern. With so many people there talking, drinking, laughing, doing whatever, our chat will be more private than ever. No one pays attention to a conversation in a crowded room. They are too focused on their own affairs."
Sebastian considered this, then nodded slowly. "Fair enough. That sounds like a plan."
Triss smiled. "But first, I want you to meet the king himself."
Sebastian's eyebrows rose. "Meet what now?"
/-\
If you Like this story! Check out my other stories! Shadow Monarch: In One Piece / Shadow Monarch in DC
&
If you wish to read more or simply support me than check out my pat-reon / FrenzyAren"
You can Get Access to More Chapters Ahead of Release on All of My Stories!