The Witcher: Lord of the Empire

Three Crows Tavern.

 

Citizens who have finished their work, soldiers who are idle, wandering travelers, and businessmen who are taking a rest. Different people hold their own glasses and drink happily at their respective positions.

 

The wandering bard sat on the high platform in the center of the tavern, playing his beloved lute. His fingers slide, the notes flow between them.

 

“In the dark Brokilon Forest,

The abode that devours hope and light.

 

They curse the home of men, they devour the return of the princess.

 

I hear the dryads shouting 'Go away!'

At dawn, the lion advances.

 

To the north, under the golden dawn,

The long sword cuts through the dawn, and the blond hair flutters like the wind.

 

When everything begins, prayers ring low in the secluded forest.

 

Destiny intertwines, defying the stars.

 

I hear the dryads shouting 'Go away!'

At dawn, the lion advances.

 

He pursues the princess's footprints, entering alone into the unknown.

 

The sword pierces the silver eyes, his golden hair blowing like the wind.

 

When it all begins, the lingering whispers in the forest,

Destiny intertwines, challenging the stars..."

 

The bard sings his melodic song, perfect for a night in the tavern, not yet plunged into darkness.

 

While listening to this song, several soldiers wearing city guard armor sat at the front, seeming to regard it as an appetizer, drinking one glass after another.

 

Wait until the bard finishes singing and bow. One soldier shouted: “Give our bard a glass of stout, in honor of our Lord Lannister!”

 

The city guards raised their wine glass, and the people in the tavern responded: “To Lord Lannister!”

 

"For the brave lion!"

 

"For the pride of Cintra!"

 

Different wine glasses clashed, various liquors were swayed, and the tavern owner beamed with joy.

 

After having a hearty drink, a series of voices of discussion also sounded in the bar.

 

"Thanks to Lord Lannister, little princess Cirilla has returned safely."

 

“Unfortunately, the alliance with Verden was destroyed. Nilfgaard is getting closer and now we have lost its support…”

 

A soldier, visibly upset, throws his glass on the table.

 

"Who is talking nonsense! Her Majesty the Queen has issued an announcement, and Verden has harbored evil intentions for a long time! Besides, Nilfgaard is nothing! Cintra's soldiers can handle ten of them!"

 

The soldiers continued their discussion, while some passing travelers negotiated with each other.

 

“Nilfgaard already annexed Ebbing, Metinna, Nazair and even Maecht was conquered. Will Cintra be next?”

 

"How could it be? Although Cintra is not a big country, it is far more powerful than ordinary small countries. There is also the Amell Mountains in the middle. What is the purpose of Nilfgaard's invasion?"

 

"Look, with the strong northern powers like Temeria, Redania, Kaedwen, and Aedirn around, Nilfgaard doesn't dare to really invade the northern kingdom."

 

"Even if Cintra is gone, there are still so many countries in the north. Without Cintra, maybe we can make more money..."

 

The businessman was showing off his knowledge when a wine glass was thrown at him, knocking the talkative businessman dizzy. By the time the businessman calmed down and was about to curse, several soldiers had already surrounded him.

 

"What do you mean?" The soldier grabbed the merchant's collar and put his fist against his nose fiercely. "You mean that we in Cintra are not as good as Temeria, Redania, and Kaedwen and Aedirn? These so-called great kingdoms are fools!"

 

The soldier punched the businessman in the face, then turned his head and spat with a red face. "We in Cintra have Her Majesty the 'Lioness' Queen, His Majesty the King of the Skellige Isles, the invincible Marshal Vissegerd, and a new lion - Earl Lannister, who can Defeat us? Who can!"

 

The door of the tavern suddenly opened, and a knight with a lion emblem entered. Behind him was a silver-haired witcher carrying two swords, and then three attendants.

 

People's eyes lit up and they saw the living Earl Lannister.

 

Because of Lann’s previous task of clearing maps, his reputation among the people has always been good. At this moment, all kinds of drinking friends stood up and cheered, toasting to celebrate their recent victory in a battle worthy of being sung in poetry.

 

Only the soldiers who had supported Cintra the most just now had stern expressions on their faces. The man in charge let go of the bruised businessman, and he and several companions quietly tried to block the businessman's figure.

 

Lann casually took the wine glass handed over by a drinker, clinked glasses with all the hands reaching out to toast and drank all the way. When he reached the bar, the wine in his glass was gone.

 

His hand pointed far away at the table of citizens who handed him the wine glass and said to the tavern owner: "Give everyone on that table a glass of Viziman Champion."

 

The owner nodded and prepared to fulfill the request.

 

Lann then turned to the city guards who looked unnatural.

 

“My lord Earl.” The soldiers greeted Lann one after another.

 

Lann asked: "What's going on?"

 

Several city guards tightened their arms and finally the leader said, "They... They said we can't defeat Nilfgaard... And they also said they can make more money if Cintra is destroyed."

 

The merchant remained silent and trembling.

 

Lann narrowed his eyes and said to the bar owner: "Give him a drink as an apology."

 

Within a couple of breaths, a large glass of stout was placed in front of the merchant by the tavern owner.

 

The merchant nodded and raised his glass, avoiding Lann's gaze. Slowly, he brought his mouth to the edge of the cup, wanting to drink but not daring to do so.

 

Lann stretched out his hand, held the bottom of the cup, raised it, and said: "Drink."

 

The merchant took a small sip.

 

Lann’s hand was still holding the wine glass.

 

Lann kept his hand holding the cup high. As he lifted her higher, the merchant drank faster. Soon, he began to choke, coughing as he drank hastily, causing the aromatic liquor to come out of his nose, completely wetting his clothes.

 

Lann grabbed the bottom of the cup with one hand and tipped the lip of the cup downward.

 

"You finished?"

 

The merchant nodded.

 

Lann also nodded his head, and then, he turned around with the empty cup in hand.

 

"Some of my soldiers got into a fight with a foreign friend. It was wrong, so they apologized to him. But I would like to know what this friend said. Could someone tell me?"

 

The expressions of everyone in the bar were amused.

 

The blacksmith shop owner who was drinking first shouted: "He said Cintra couldn't beat the Nilfgaardians, bullshit! The soldier got one step ahead of me, otherwise I would have kicked my new greaves into his ass!”

 

Then, a citizen who was resting commented: "My lord count, I heard you say that if Cintra is destroyed, you can earn more money from other northern countries!"

 

The bard in the center of the tavern played his lute and said: "The master of the chariot, fearful of the army of the sun, showed his disrespect in the tavern. With the jewel of the north in his mouth, but without an iota of respect, a soldier's fist was raised in the name of justice."

 

“Very good.” Lann nodded. “Then the situation is clear.”

 

Lann turned around and smashed the wooden wine glass on the businessman's head.

 

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