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TWL Chapter 324: The Lion and the Mountain
🕑 Added 2025-03-19 11:39:12 +0000 UTCThe Elder in Chief who had ruled Mahakam for centuries looked fragile, his body resembling the gnarled bark of an ancient tree. Yet beneath that wrinkled exterior, his strength surpassed even the oldest oaks of the deep forest.
It was said that during this year's great cleaning, the elder had personally led a squad, wielding his battle axe with a presence that outshone the entire unit.
The people of Cintra soon felt the weight of that presence.
His gaze was piercing–sharper than any axe’s edge
The atmosphere in the room turned tense in an instant. No one else knew exactly what had caused the sudden tension, but a sense of danger pressed in on them like an unseen force.
Despite being deep in dwarven territory, Cintra's guards reacted instinctively, their hands reaching for their sword hilts.
They knew well that their Duke likely did not need their protection, but in a diplomatic setting, their role was more than just defense. They were there to make a statement—to ensure that the pride of the Lion of Cintra remained unchallenged. And if proving that resolve required them to lay down their lives, so be it.
Yet, before anyone could draw their weapons, their movements were halted by a simple gesture from Lann.
A brilliant emerald light flared from his body, illuminating the room as if a miniature sun had been ignited indoors. His eyes blazed, emitting a glow as sharp as a sword. His skin took on an ethereal glow, giving him an almost unreal appearance.
The Cintrans recognized this state immediately. It was the telltale sign of their Duke preparing to teleport.
However, the light faded just as swiftly as it had appeared. Lann had not moved an inch. No one had been harmed.
It was as if he had merely struck a match to break the tension in the room.
...
The dwarven guards were slower to react than the Cintrans, but they, too, raised their weapons, their eyes flickering with uncertainty. They stared at Lann, watching his light flare and fade, awaiting only a command from the elder to strike down these humans.
However, instead of an order to attack, they heard thunderous laughter.
The shift in the elder’s demeanor was astonishing. The dangerous glint in his eyes vanished as if it had never been there, replaced by a broad, hearty grin.
With admiration, he said, "I had heard from Gabor that during your fight against the Shaelmaars you displayed a surprising ability, similar to that of sorcerers, something similar to a teleportation portal but without the need for spells. Is this true?"
Lann smiled and nodded. "That's right. After all, you know that the royal family of Cintra is descended from Lara Dorren."
“The White Frost… and the End of Ages… The Elder Blood.”
The elder murmured these words under his breath, shaking his head as if pushing aside an old thought.
He kept his gaze on Lann for a few seconds, then looked down at the crafting diagrams resting on the table. The negotiations had reached a point where words were no longer necessary.
They observed each other for a moment longer, making sure they understood each other's positions.
Then, the Elder in Chief placed a hand on the crafting diagrams and, with a sudden change of expression, said seriously: “I believe I have made myself clear. Mahakam is a fully neutral land, and dwarves are a people bound by tradition. We will not abandon our way of life simply because of a few words from a young man.”
Lann’s expression also turned serious. “Yes. You’ve made yourself quite clear.”
“Even if I wanted to send troops to aid you, I could not, Lannister.” The elder shook his head. “Mahakam may seem unified, but I am no king—I am merely the elder. I must heed the counsel of the clans. They often challenge my decisions–especially of late.” The so-called Great Cleaning was not as thorough as expected, and it has been a great source of frustration. I am already expending considerable effort just to keep them pacified.”
“Oh? I wouldn’t have expected someone who’s ruled a faction for centuries to have such troubles.” Lann tilted his head, as if listening intently. “May I ask which clans are involved?”
The elder let out a heavy sigh, shaking his head. “As many as the rocks on the mountains”. He rubbed his temple before listing them. “The major ones are Ferenc, Fuchs, Chivay.. and even the Zigrin clan.”
Nearby, Gabor Zigrin stiffened, his eyes widening in surprise. He hadn’t expected the elder to name his own clan. His mouth opened as if to protest, but then he hesitated—his expression shifting as realization dawned.
“These clans are all restless, every last one of them.” The elder’s voice carried both exasperation and reluctant respect. “They were born warriors, always peering beyond our borders, eager to test themselves against the world. Their hearts constantly drift toward the human kingdoms.”
Lann gave a small nod, his tone filled with genuine sympathy. “That must be quite the headache for Mahakam, a land that values tradition so deeply. I imagine they’ve given you no end of trouble.”
A brief silence followed as Lann pondered something. Then, he made a suggestion.
“How about I visit them?” He spoke casually, but there was a calculated weight behind his words. “I can clear out whatever monsters have been troubling them while also bringing gifts. I imagine they’d appreciate some armor diagrams, wouldn’t they?”
Reaching into his inventory, Lann pulled out several diagrams. He had plenty—originally meant as bargaining chips for these very negotiations. Besides, he had already made copies, so parting with them was no real loss.
For a witcher, enchantments on gear mattered far more than diagrams. Compared to the Griffin armor Jerome had gifted him, or even the Viper set worn by Kolgrim, these diagrams held little personal value.
The elder let out a deep chuckle, his gruff voice tinged with amusement. "We dwarves are fascinated by steel. No dwarf would turn down a good crafting diagram."
The next moment, he took the diagrams from the table and stuffed them into his chest with a swift, fluid gesture.
Then, his expression shifted. His tone turned serious.
"But we only accept dwarf designs." His eyes locked onto Lann’s. “These blueprints hold more than just designs—they carry the wisdom of our ancestors, our history, our legacy. Every hammer strike within those pages echoes the skill of those who came before us.”
He placed a hand on the diagrams on his chest and held them tightly. “As for the diagrams of other races—no matter how rare—they are of no interest to us.”
Lann paused for a moment, his tone unconsciously slowing. “I understand. That is truly admirable, Elder in Chief.”
The elder gave a slight nod, then turned and leapt down from the table. Without breaking stride, he called out over his shoulder, “I’ve had enough of talking to you, Lannister. You’re just like Vizimir and Foltest—always speaking in riddles and half-truths.”
He waved a hand dismissively. "I'll keep these diagrams. Since Cintra doesn't want gold coins, we can provide them with minerals and equipment. Others will discuss the details with you." He didn’t even glance back as he added, “In the meantime, let Gabor show you around. Experience Mahakam’s customs and traditions. Here, you may ask for anything you need—except military aid, Lannister!”
…
Lann watched as the elder strode away, flanked by his heavily armored guards. Tilting his head slightly, he called for his attendant. “House.”
“My lord.” The attendant stepped forward and bowed.
“You’ll handle the negotiations with Mahakam’s merchants. You know what we need.”
House nodded. Before inheriting Swade’s Sword, he had been trained as a royal steward in Cintra’s court. Even now, during their time in Brokilon, he often assisted the aging steward Enns. He understood logistics well and knew exactly what Cintra required.
As the elder disappeared from view and the last of the dwarves exited the chamber, Geralt stepped forward, hesitation flickering in his expression.
“So… what’s next? It seemed like you and Brouver Hoog were speaking in veiled terms.”
Lann gave a small nod. “I originally planned to appeal to reason and emotion, but in the end, I had to apply a bit of pressure… Still, we got what we came for.”
Kolgrim folded his arms and raised a brow. “We did? When? I must have missed that part—I’m not sure I understand what just happened.”
