Eithné still didn't understand what was wrong. For centuries, no race other than the Dryads had proven immune to Brokilon's water.
Could it be that this is really the guidance of fate? Brokilon, tell your daughter, what do you want to convey?
"Eithné..." Braenn was stunned by the situation. She seemed to want to say something, but Eithné stopped her.
"As you wish, child of the Elder Blood." Eithné's tone was cold and stiff. "You can go home."
Braenn sighed heavily.
"Let me be calm for a moment." Eithné turned around and turned her back to the others. "All of you, stand down."
Braenn tried to reach Lann, but he avoided her hand. If Ciri's transformation fails, Brokilon will no longer have interest in them. However, Lann wants to get many things from Brokilon.
And if you want to get what you want, you still need to take advantage of this situation.
Lann put an arm around Ciri and sincerely thanked the Dryad Queen: "Thank you, Eithné."
First, the witcher expressed his gratitude to the Dryad Queen, and then the young earl expressed his gratitude again. This seemed to turn on some switch, causing Eithné to slowly turn around.
"Why are you thanking me? Gwynbleidd, Lann of Cintra, what are you thanking me for? What are you thinking?"
The words of the Dryad Queen were no longer plain, but full of resentment.
The witcher took a step forward. He had been exhausted in the past two days. At this moment, his face no longer had his usual indifference, but a different look.
"For the destiny." Geralt teased. "For your decision. This isn't the Water of Brokilon, is it? Destiny wants Ciri to return home, and you are the one who represents it. Eithné, you know the situation of the dryads, you are not as hostile towards humans as you appear. I know, I understand you."
"The dryads need the possibility to survive, and you control the fate of the dryads, Eithné. Whether you like it or not, humans' control of the world is a fact. Only by integrating with them can your race continue, otherwise it will only die. After all, you are quite similar, and even humans can have offspring with you."
"What benefits can you gain from the war? Someone who could have been the father of your children died one after another under your arrows. How many abducted girls can receive education?"
The witcher spoke sincerely, his connection and affection towards the dryads was deep and sincere, which was why he had accepted the offer of other kingdoms to come negotiate peace with the dryads. As a witch of the School of the Wolf, he is strictly prohibited from participating in politics, but he was still willing to break the rules for them.
"I know the tricks of the human king." Eithné said. "You are not the first person sent by King Venzlav to negotiate peace, Gwynbleidd. Humans want to cut down the forest trees for their use, in addition to the gold, copper and iron mines underground. In exchange, they will give us an enclave, a small portion of virgin forest."
"Do you really think I would agree? After my daughter was killed while defending Brokilon's borders? Have you already forgotten Morénn?"
After hearing this, the witcher finally backed away, with an expression of extreme sadness on his face and stopped talking. For him, Morénn seemed to be a very important name, and it was because of this name that he formed a relationship with the dryads.
Lann remained silent at the side just to let the witcher argue with the Dryad Queen first. This is so important to what he is going to say next.
The witcher, with his deep ties and emotions towards the dryad race, had exposed what Eithné truly thought in her heart, as well as her limits with humans and her most vulnerable point.
With an almost brutal approach, he had torn apart the diplomatic cloak that Eithné used to deal with humans.
This step is very important. When many diplomatic groups debate, they initially test each other in order to discover the opponent's final outcome. All important issues are left for the end of the negotiations.
How to achieve this in this situation? It's simple, Geralt set an example, he broke Eithné's defenses, left her speechless and in the end, weakened her.
These actions are something that Lann, as an outsider, cannot easily achieve through simple negotiations. If he ever negotiated with the queen, he would only receive a cold rejection or at worst, an arrow. If he cannot cause any emotional fluctuations, then he can use his meta-knowledge to provoke this situation.
Lann stood up and said: "Eithné, I am here for this purpose, for the future of the dryads and our future. Destiny is my guide."
Eithné seemed quite affected by Geralt's words and was still breathing heavily. Hearing Lann's words, she said mockingly: "Is destiny your guide? Cintra is not much better than the other kingdoms, and you are just as cunning as those Kings, Lannister. Does fate tell you to leave my sister hostage outside the forest?"
Lann shook his head and said: "You have a misunderstanding about Cintra. But in fact, I am not here today in the name of Cintra, but I am here to see you as the lord of Brokilon town, so I do not come out of greed or any ulterior motive. I treat my subjects as you treat your daughters, Brokilon is very big, and we all need to plan for their future."
"You speak grandly! If you do not represent Cintra, who gives you the right to speak so boldly in front of me? I have changed my mind, that the descendant of the Elder Blood be taken back to Cintra by the witcher."
"And you, Lannister, shall remain in Duén Canell forever. You can understand that this is for the future of your people, this is your destiny! "
Queen Eithné's words were cold, and she had already been filled with anger, which was now poured into Lann. The faces of the witcher and Ciri changed greatly after hearing this. They didn't know how things had developed to this point.
"Eithné, you serve destiny. But now you want to play the role of destiny yourself?"
Eithné looked sarcastic: "Are you afraid, Lannister? You seem to be just like the humans outside, putting on an honorable appearance but being hypocritical in reality."
"I've been saying that fate brought me here, Eithné. No one can decide destiny, not you or me. It seems that fate has divided us into two different paths. My destiny guides me on my own path, and you have your own interpretation of destiny."
Lann pointed to the silver goblet, which still contained three-quarters of Brokilon's water, and said something that puzzled Ciri, made Eithné scoff, and changed Geralt's expression.
"Then let me drink the water of Brokilon and let fate make the choice!"
"As you wish, Lannister." Eithné took another wooden cup and poured some of the contents of the silver goblet. "You are not qualified to use Craag An's chalice."
"The sword of destiny has two edges, Eithné, and I am one of them."
Lann took the cup and drank it in one gulp.
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