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suspicious concentration.
'Aha,' said Calanthe quietly, clearly pleased. 'And what do you say, Geralt? The girl has taken
after her mother. It's even a shame to waste her on that red-haired lout, Crach. The only hope
is that the pup might grow into someone with Eist Tuirseach's class. It's the same blood, after
all. Are you listening, Geralt? Cintra has to form an alliance with Skellige because the interest
of the state demands it. My daughter has to marry the right person. Those are the results you
must ensure me.'
'I have to ensure that? Isn't your will alone sufficient for it to happen?'
'Events might take such a turn that it won't be sufficient.'
'What can be stronger than your will?'
'Destiny.'
'Aha. So I, a poor witcher, am to face down a destiny which is stronger than the royal will. A
witcher fighting destiny! What irony!'
'Yes, Geralt? What irony?'
'Never mind. Your Majesty, it seems the service you demand borders on the impossible.'
'If it bordered on the possible,' Calanthe drawled, 'I would manage it myself. I wouldn't need
the famous Geralt of Rivia. Stop being so clever. Everything can be dealt with - it's only a
question of price. Bloody hell, there must be a figure on your witchers' pricelist for work that
borders on the impossible. I can guess one, and it isn't low. You ensure me my outcome and I
will give you what you ask.'
'What did you say?'
'I'll give you whatever you ask for. And I don't like being told to repeat myself. I wonder,
witcher, do you always try to dissuade your employers as strongly as you are me? Time is
slipping away. Answer, yes or no?'
'Yes.'
'That's better. That's better, Geralt. Your answers are much closer to the ideal. They're
becoming more like those I expect when I ask a question. So. Discreetly stretch your left hand
out and feel behind my throne.'
Geralt slipped his hand under the yellow-blue drapery. Almost immediately he felt a sword
secured to the leather-upholstered backrest. A sword well-known to him.
Your Majesty,' he said quietly, 'not to repeat what I said earlier about killing people, you do
realise that a sword alone will not defeat destiny?'
'I do,' Calanthe turned her head away. 'A witcher is also necessary. As you see, I took care of
that.'
'Your Maje '
'Not another word, Geralt. We've been conspiring for too long. They're looking at us, and Eist
is getting angry. Talk to the castellan. Have something to eat. Drink, but not too much. I want
you to have a steady hand.'
He obeyed. The queen joined a conversation between Eist, Vissegerd and Mousesack, with
Pavetta's silent and dreamy participation. Drogodar had put away his lute and was making up
for his lost eating time. Haxo wasn't talkative. The voivode with the hard-to-remember name,
who must have heard something about the affairs and problems of Fourhorn, politely asked
whether the mares were foaling well. Geralt answered yes, much better than the stallions. He
wasn't sure if the joke had been well taken, but the voivode didn't ask any more questions.
Mousesack's eyes constantly sought the witcher's, but the crumbs on the table didn't move
again.
Crach an Craite was becoming more and more friendly with the two brothers from Strept. The
third, the youngest brother, was paralytic, having tried to match the drinking speed imposed
by Draig Bon-Dhu. The skald had emerged from it unscathed.
The younger and less important lords gathered at. the end of the table, tipsy, started singing a
well-known song out of time
about a little goat with horns and a vengeful old woman with no sense of humour.
A curly-haired servant and a captain of the guards wearing the gold and blue of Cintra ran up
to Vissegerd. The marshal, frowning, listened to their report, rose, and leaned down from
behind the throne to murmur something to the queen. Calanthe glanced at Geralt and
answered with a single word. Vissegerd leant over even further and whispered something
more; the queen looked at him sharply and, without a word, slapped her armrest with an open
palm. The marshal bowed and passed the command to the captain of the guards. Geralt didn't
hear it but he did notice that Mousesack wriggled uneasily and glanced at Pavetta - the
princess was sitting motionless, her head lowered.
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