Witcher: The Half Elf

By noon the following day, Queen Calanthe, despite her grim expression, hosted a formal and rather grand banquet in the resplendent hall of Cintra's palace to express her gratitude to the members of the Witcher Order.

The table was set with fine wines and an array of delectable dishes, reflecting the grandeur befitting a royal feast. However, the attendees were few and carefully chosen—only Queen Calanthe's most trusted advisors were present. Among them were King Eist, Archdruid Mousesack, the chief of the palace guard, and two high-ranking ministers of the royal court.

After the guests had eaten and drunk their fill, Queen Calanthe rose, presenting the promised reward: a hefty sum of eight thousand orens, nearly double what King Foltest had once offered for a similar mission.

Demonstrating her pragmatic generosity, the queen went further. With a keen political edge, she hinted that if Wayne were to pledge his loyalty to Sintra, she would grant him a baronial title along with a small town as his personal fiefdom. It was an offer designed to make him a minor noble within her realm, securing his allegiance.

Yet, Wayne, ever the pragmatist, politely declined the queen's offer. The gold, though appreciated, was hardly enticing enough, and the prospect of noble status within Sintra's volatile political landscape held little appeal.

Having brushed off the pleasantries, Wayne turned the conversation to more pressing matters. He surveyed the room, his sharp gaze lingering on each attendee before addressing the queen directly.

"Your Majesty," he began, his tone measured yet firm, "forgive my boldness, but I must remind you of an unresolved threat."

"Wilgefortz, the sorcerer responsible for Princess Pavetta's kidnapping, though gravely injured by my hand, managed to escape the Kingdom of Verden. This man is no ordinary foe. Among the northern sorcerers, his power is formidable, his cunning unmatched."

Wayne's blunt words cut through the regal atmosphere, casting a pall over the hall. He continued, undeterred by the darkening expressions of his audience.

"Rest assured, he will not abandon his pursuit of the power Princess Pavetta possesses. The safety of the Cintran royal family remains at risk. I urge you to take decisive action to neutralize him."

Pausing, Wayne allowed his words to settle before offering his suggestions.

"Perhaps you could declare him an outlaw across the northern kingdoms, place a bounty high enough to attract the deadliest of assassins, or pressure the Brotherhood of Sorcerers to turn him over. But I must be frank: none of these are likely to yield immediate results. Men like Wilgefortz are not easily hunted down by conventional means."

The hall was silent, save for the faint clinking of goblets as Wayne delivered his final, unvarnished recommendation.

"Until there is certainty of Wilgefortz's demise, I implore you, Your Majesty, to hide Princess Pavetta in the safest possible place. If she remains exposed, next time, we may not be fortunate enough to bring her back alive."

Wayne's words, devoid of the elaborate courtesies of courtly speech, struck a nerve. Queen Calanthe's sharp features twisted in visible irritation, her pride wounded by what she perceived as an underestimation of her power and the strength of her realm.

For a moment, anger flared in her eyes, and it seemed she might lash out in fury. Yet Calanthe was nothing if not a master of her emotions. She recognized the truth behind Wayne's bluntness and the value of his counsel. Suppressing her ire, she exhaled slowly, fixing Wayne with a withering glare.

Then, glancing at Geralt, whose stoic demeanor had irked her since he had declared her granddaughter Ciri as the prophesied Child of Destiny, Queen Calanthe finally spoke, her voice echoing through the hall with regal authority:

"Thank you, Witcher, for your advice, but this matter is of great importance. Please grant us a few more days to deliberate carefully," Queen Calanthe finally replied, her voice tempered with a mix of gratitude and tension.

Wayne merely shrugged, his expression indifferent. He had no real expectations that Cintra could effectively deal with Vilgefortz. As he had stated earlier, a source mage of Vilgefortz's caliber, immune to the effects of dimeritium, was a nightmare to confront.

For the average mortal or even most noble houses, combating such a foe was nearly impossible. Declaring Vilgefortz a wanted criminal across the Northern Kingdoms might hinder his ability to act openly among common folk, but it would scarcely inconvenience someone of his magical prowess.

The true key, Wayne mused, lay with the attitude of the Brotherhood of Sorcerers. If Cintra could adopt a firm and unwavering stance, pressuring the Brotherhood to sever all ties with Vilgefortz, or even better, actively oppose him, it would leave the renegade mage isolated. Without the cooperation of other sorcerers, Vilgefortz would find himself increasingly vulnerable, unable to operate freely.

The banquet concluded in an atmosphere heavy with unspoken concerns. Upon returning to the luxurious hotel he had purchased, Wayne immediately sought out Syanna, his capable and astute manager. Without hesitation, he issued a bold order.

"Syanna, I want to place a bounty on Vilgefortz's head—one million gold crowns."

The declaration left Syanna momentarily stunned. As the manager of the Wayne Trading Company, she was no stranger to extravagant spending or leveraging financial resources to crush competitors and curry favor with local nobility. However, such a staggering sum for a single bounty was unprecedented.

"A million gold crowns?" Syanna echoed, her voice betraying a rare note of incredulity. "Isn't this... excessive? That amount could fund an army of ten thousand men for years or even wage a large-scale war. Announcing such a reward might not only attract mercenaries but also draw the attention—and greed—of every king in the North."

Her beautiful eyes studied Wayne cautiously, her tone measured yet earnest. "Even if the bounty is credible, won't such ostentation make our trading company a target for their avarice?"

Wayne smiled faintly, pleased by Syanna's willingness to speak her mind rather than becoming a mere sycophant. Her frankness and keen insight were part of why he valued her so highly.

"I've already considered that, Syanna," Wayne replied, his tone calm but resolute. "This bounty isn't about subtlety—it's about creating a spectacle."

He leaned forward slightly, locking eyes with her. "If Queen Calanthe and King Eist learn that someone is willing to offer such a colossal sum for Vilgefortz's capture or death, they'll undoubtedly lend their support. Their credibility, along with that of the kingdoms of Cintra and Skellige, will ensure the legitimacy of the bounty."

Wayne's voice grew firmer, underscoring his confidence. "With the backing of two monarchs, no one will question the reward's authenticity. Instead, every mercenary, bounty hunter, and assassin across the Continent will set their sights on Vilgefortz. Even the mere rumor of such a reward will leave him with nowhere to hide."

"And I've heard that the Skellige people are renowned for their bravery, viewing the defeat of powerful enemies as their greatest honor," Wayne said, his tone measured yet confident.

"If their former king were to endorse such a substantial bounty on the life of a known villain, it would undoubtedly draw legions of warriors eager to take up the challenge."

Wayne paused, a glint of calculation in his eyes. "Once word of this spreads across the Northern Kingdoms, and enough people get involved, the matter will escalate beyond anyone's control. The resulting uproar will coerce even the Brotherhood into action, whether they like it or not. They'll no longer be able to handle this quietly or dismiss it outright."

"This bounty represents unimaginable wealth for the common folk—enough to tempt anyone to betrayal. Vilgefortz will find no refuge in the North. Even if he flees to the southern kingdoms, he'll have to watch his back constantly, wary of those around him turning on him for a chance at that fortune."

Wayne's expression turned steely, his voice colder. "This is a conspiracy born of coin. The sheer power of money will ensure that everyone scrambles to claim the prize. But for me, as long as it achieves my goal, this expenditure is insignificant—a trivial price to pay for eliminating such a dangerous enemy."

Syanna listened intently, her gaze fixed on her master. After a moment of thoughtful silence, she nodded, admiration gleaming in her eyes. "Indeed, Master, you're right," she said softly, her tone reverent. "Even someone like me, who has seen the golden reserves of Kaer Morhen, cannot help but marvel at the sheer magnitude of this reward. Few, if any, could resist the allure of such a fortune."