The Witcher: Lord of the Empire

Two dryads came in, they were Braenn and Dunkar.

Seeing the two dryads coming in, Freixenet turned pale: "No, don't! Don't try to stuff things down my throat again, there's no way! Geralt, tell her..."

Even though he was seriously injured and unable to move, Freixenet still tried his best to squirm away from the two dryads. Apparently, what they did left an indelible psychological shadow on the poor baron.

"Calm down." Geralt said: "It's because of that thing that you can survive such a serious injury. That's the unique healing ability of the dryads."

Ciri suddenly remembered something when she saw the dryad coming in, and the excitement she felt at seeing Lann suddenly disappeared.

She asked in a low voice with deep concern: "Lann, when you came in, did they blindfold you?"

"Yes, they bandaged them for me."

"I didn't." Ciri said. "They seem to want to keep me here. Can we still go home, Lann?"

"Of course, I promise." Lann lowered his head and said: "No matter what they ask you to do, you can do it for a while. Their magic will not work on you. We can leave after everything is over. Trust me."

Ciri looked up at Lann, her green eyes reflecting Lann's confident expression. She suddenly seemed to take a reassurance. Ciri didn't understand the principles of magic, and she didn't know why it didn't work on her, but she believed what Lann said.

Freixenet was still making a fuss over there, but the two dryads only glanced at him and ignored him.

They walked straight towards Ciri, who was curled up next to Lann.

"Come on, Ciri."

The princess had a sullen face. Although Lann's words made her no longer afraid, she was still a little nervous when facing these dryads, which made her shrink back behind Lann.

Ciri asked dully: "Where are we going?"

Before Braenn could answer, a voice came from outside the house. This voice is full, deep, firm and decisive; this voice requires everyone to listen and cannot tolerate any rebuttal.

"We are going towards the path that destiny guides. No one can escape destiny."

Everyone turned their heads together and looked in the direction where the voice came from. Then Braenn bowed, Geralt knelt down, and Lann thought for a while and performed a court salute to show respect.

They all shouted one name: "Muiré Eithné."

Eithné, Queen of the Dryads, supreme ruler of Brokilon. She was wearing a thin and light green dress. Like most dryads, she was petite and slender, but she held her head high proudly. She has a serious expression and pursed lips, giving people a majestic and powerful impression. Her hair and eyes were like molten silver.

They did not call her 'Your Majesty', that was typical of human culture, and the dryad civilization was different from most human civilizations and even other races. The dryads called her 'Muiré', just as a title of respect, which seemed a bit contradictory.

They considered her the ruler of Brokilon, their spiritual leader, and even a mother, but they only referred to her as 'Muiré', not 'Your Majesty'.

Eithné walked into the hut, with two younger dryads accompanying her on both sides, holding bows. With a gesture passed, Braenn lowered his head, walked over and took Ciri's hand.

Ciri shrank back reflexively, and Lann hugged her gently.

"It's okay, trust me. Think of it like visiting another place and experiencing its local customs." Lann nodded towards Ciri.

"Go." Eithné also said. "Go, my child. Don't be afraid of anything, because nothing can change your fate. You are now in Brokilon."

Ciri hesitated for a moment and took Braenn's hand. The dryad who had escorted Ciri all the way seemed particularly gentle at this time, and the two of them slowly disappeared from everyone's eyes.

Eithné turned to the witcher. He was still kneeling on the ground, his head bowed respectfully.

"Rise up, Gwynbleidd, welcome."

Gwynbleidd means 'White Wolf' in Elder Speech.

"Greetings, Eithné, Supreme Ruler of Brokilon."

"Welcome to my forest again. But you came without my consent or even informed me. It is dangerous to enter Brokilon like this, White Wolf, even for you."

Faced with the accusation from the Dryad Queen, Geralt explained: "I have a mission."

"Oh!" The dryad smiled. "This can explain your recklessness. Geralt, not killing envoys is just your human rule, and I don't accept it. I don't recognize any human rules, because this is Brokilon."

Hearing these almost threatening words, Geralt's expression did not change, and he showed no intention of being frightened by the other party's malicious intent. He seemed to be sure that the other party would not hurt him.

Sure enough, the Dryad Queen also changed her tone and continued: "However, I have ordered you to be let go, and you can leave Brokilon alive. It is not because of your status as an envoy, but for another reason."

Geralt did not ask about that 'other reason' and continued asking:

"So, don't you want to know whose envoy I am?"

"Seriously, I'm not interested. I'm in Brokilon, and you come from outside Brokilon, I'm not interested in that world. Why should I waste my time listening to a messenger? Someone with completely different ideas and feelings than mine. Why should I listen to their proposals or ultimatums? Maybe King Venzlav of Brugge has a lot of ideas, but what does that have to do with me?"

Geralt raised his head in surprise.

"How do you know it was Venzlav who sent me?"

"It's so obvious." The dryad replied with a smile. "Tarrand is too stupid. The Verden people hate me so much that they are willing to pay a bounty for the scalp of the dryad. That's all in the surrounding kingdoms."

"As for Cintra..." Eithné glanced in Lann's direction.

Geralt gave timely praise to the Dryad Queen: "You know a lot about things outside of Brokilon, Eithné."

"I know many things, White Wolf. This is the advantage that long years have given me. Now, if you are willing, I want to solve one thing."

The Dryad Queen turned towards Lann, her silver eyes sizing up the knight in front of her.

"Lann Lannister. The birds and trees told me about you. You are very smart and cunning. My sister has certain illusions about humans, and you used them to let her out of the forest in exchange for your safety. So you can also rest assured, you can leave Brokilon alive with Geralt."

"Ellie is a perceptive lady. My reason for keeping her is not just as simple as being a hostage." Lann explained. "If you know my situation, then you surely understand that my decision has deeper reasons."

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