Chapter 207: Palace in the Lake
“What about that alchemist’s request?”
“I completed it for you. You owe him nothing now.” Roy smiled. “Berengar, it’s an interesting request. Why’d you refuse?”
“You think it’s interesting?” Berengar looked up at him weirdly. He had a blank look in his eyes, as if he remembered something horrifying. “You got guts, kid. If I were you, I would never let any sorcerer turn me into a furry creature. It’s disgusting. But I owe you one for handling this for me, so…” Berengar slicked his greasy hair back. “I’ll finish this job for half the price.”
“That request is a different thing. You’ve worked really hard, and you deserve this. Besides, we agreed on the price, and Letho won’t let you cut the price.” Roy handed the note to him, pretending to be generous. However, when he turned around, he winced, as if refusing the offer had hurt him. “We’ll be counting on you then. Two pairs left.”
“Well, thanks for the crowns then. I can drink all I want now.” Berengar tucked the note away and yawned. “Now that my debt is cleared, I don’t have to be on the run anymore. Time to get some sleep. I’ll continue tomorrow.”
Berengar flicked water off his hand and stood up. He was hunched over from all the exhaustion, and he went past the witchers, trudging into the night outside.
“Remember what I said!” Roy shouted after him. “You have enough money to go back!”
Berengar paused for a moment, and his face fell. “Don’t say a word about Kaer Morhen.” He went away even faster after that.
Letho held the swords tightly, staring at Berengar. “Why’d you want him to go back, kid?”
Roy stretched his arms. “There’s only four witchers left in the Wolf School. I thought it’d be great if we can convince one of their members to return.”
“Forget it. We haven’t received any news from Geralt yet. You don’t even know if we can go to Kaer Morhen.” Letho shook his head. “And Berengar has left his school for many years. He’s used to working alone. It won’t be easy convincing him.”
“He’s considering it. I can feel it, but it’ll take more than that for him to return.” Roy remembered the conspiracy against Vivienne, and he changed the topic. “But first, I’m going to see the Lady of the Lake. Are you coming?”
***
Ripples spread out from underneath their feet as they walked. Eventually, they came to an area where the lake’s surface was so calm it resembled a mirror. The moon was reflected perfectly, and when the witchers went past that area, it felt like they were walking on the moon itself. It was a magical experience for Roy.
Eventually, Roy saw a dreamy blue light appearing not far ahead of him. It was not the lights in Vizima, nor was it the moonlight either. The blue light came from a palace in the heart of the lake.
Calling it a palace was an understatement, though. It was not gigantic or resplendent. Eight multicolored pillars surrounded the palace, and seaweed and shellfish hung from them. Water kept dripping from them, as if they just surfaced from under the river.
The witchers stopped in awe before the palace. It was not here the last time they were in Vizima, and they did not see it during the day.
Kiko explained the palace’s appearance to them. He said it used to be a sunken palace hidden in the depths of the lake and surrounded by Dagon’s evil waters. After Dagon was vanquished, Vivienne took back control of the palace and would summon it to the surface every night. There was actually an ancient empire sleeping under the lake. It was home to the vodyanoi since ages ago, and Vivienne stayed there most of the time.
“An underwater ruin?” Roy stepped onto the stone stairs, curious to know more about the ruin. The stairs were already chipped away severely, and it led down to the bottom of the lake.
Kiko stopped in front of the final flight of stairs that would lead them to the palace. He raised his head and stood aside solemnly, as if he were a servant to nobility. He beckoned the witchers to enter, and they did. What they saw was a throne made out of colorful corals, and a big pearl hovered over it, radiating a dreamy blue light that illuminated that palace.
A lady was lying on the throne languidly. She held the throne’s armrest, her gigantic fish tail swaying around, its scales glimmering under the pearl. Her upper body was leaning on the other side of the throne, and she held her chin with one hand. Her green, luscious hair covered half her face and all of her beautiful body, revealing nothing but her childlike face and rosy lips.
She blinked at Roy. “Roy, the knight of Vizima. Finally here to see me, are you?” The lady’s voice filled the throne room. Contrary to her figure, she had the voice of a child, though there was also a kind of alluring charm to it.
Roy held his pendant down. It was vibrating like crazy. He managed to quash all the horny thoughts thanks to his extraordinary will, and he gave Letho a look that told him to keep his eyes down.
Vivienne had changed a lot compared to the last time Roy saw her. She was even more alluring now, and she had also gained a lot of power. Mana swirled around her, and it was almost palpable.
***
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