Chapter 626: Meeting on Thanedd Island

Chapter 626: Meeting on Thanedd Island

The conference on the island was bigger than Roy had anticipated. And a lot more etiquette rules involved too. On the day after they passed through the bridge leading from Gors Velen to Thanedd, they made their preparations and spent the rest of the day in Loxia, the building set in the bottommost southeast section of the island.RêAd lateSt chapters at novelhall.com Only

Representatives of the North were gathered here, and not just sorcerers too. Some were the aristocrats and royalty. Temeria's nobility, Redania's ministers, and followers of the sorcerers. Roy saw a few familiar faces. Linus Pitt from Oxenfurt and the knights of the Order of the White Rose. However, before he could say hello, he, Geralt, and Coen were dragged away by the sorceresses to pick their clothes, clean themselves up, and get to know the banquet's etiquette.

Even though they knew this conference would end with a big showdown, the ladies refused to allow the witchers to embarrass them at any moment. They demanded the witchers show enough pizzazz before the conference. It was something ingrained in their souls throughout their lives.

The witchers were tormented for nearly a whole day. It wasn't until dusk was setting in did they manage to escape Loxia. They went up a flight of stairs with a group of beautifully-dressed guests to Aretuza. The palace's central hall was structured like an open fan, easily housing more than three hundred guests. And it was a remarkably elegant place. The gigantic candelabra, decked out with illuminating spells, shone on every corner of the hall.

The lights even made the women shine. Literally. Their faces, earrings, jewelry, and even their skin were shining like stars. It was as if they were holding a beauty pageant instead of a banquet. Roy took a look and noticed a few unfamiliar ladies wearing well, barely anything. It was as if covering their bodies with fabric was an insult to their beauty.

Most men would start to feel hot and heavy once they had a look of this, but Roy was not like most men. He stayed calm and held Coral's hand as they went around the outer ring of the hall.

They stopped beside a table, and Roy kept Observing the people around him, but to his disappointment, not even one out of a hundred sorcerers in the hall had power that rivaled Vilgefortz. The witcher tried to lay low, but his well-defined body, crisp haircut, outstanding looks, and the air of mystery, experience, and youth swirling around him made him stand out like a beacon among the gentlemen.

One portly guest, feeling jealous, was talking bad about him. Many sorceresses looked at him, though most looked away after a glance. Some of the bolder ones would get flushed and give him seductive looks. Some would try to read his heart. If Lytta weren't a fiery woman, they'd have asked Roy to spend the night with them.

Roy admired the view.

Jealous, Coral said, "Someone's having the time of their lives. Gorgeous, aren't they?" She gazed at Roy and dug her nails into his arm.

"So what if they're gorgeous? It's none of my business." Calmly, Roy pulled the collar around him. It almost suffocated him. This shirt was the latest fashion item, and Roy thought the shirt would crush his bones. He stared at Coral, gazing at her soft, luscious lips. "The most beautiful and elegant woman is right by my side. I would look at no one but you."

He learned how to cheer the ladies up from Dandelion. Roy then gently touched Coral's fiery hair. The sorceress' mood turned around. She then scooped up a spoonful of caviar bathed in lemon juice and fed it to him.

Through Yennefer, she knew that Geralt was an unromantic person, and he would overthink a lot of things. Compared to him, Roy was young, strong, and eager to learn. And he was a caring man too. He's perfect.

"Oysters, crabs, lobsters The orphanage has better food than this. And there's not even a chair for us to sit on." Roy felt the taste of salt spreading through his mouth. He looked at the tall, slender stained glass window around them. There were depictions of many characters, and the windows stretched up to the elliptical dome overhead.

The windows were open, allowing the chilly night breeze to gallop across the halls. The tapestry, garlands, and flags hanging on the wall swayed with the winds. "The winds are blowing everywhere. Won't they feel chilly wearing almost nothing?"

"The point of this banquet is to socialize. They don't have chairs because they want you to go around and talk to people. You walk, and you won't feel the chill. We're already here anyway, my love. Relax and come with me. We'll have some fun. Francesca is now with the sorcerer brotherhood's top dogs. We won't see her for now."

***

Roy and Coral walked around the outer ring of the hall, chatting as they tried to meet up with familiar friends. Triss was nearby, holding hands with Sheala and Margarita. The ladies were engaged in a quiet conversation. To everyone's surprise, Yennefer dragged Geralt to the center of the hall. She puffed her chest out and looked around her confidently.

Linus glared at the despicable women, but when he looked down and saw Coral wearing heels made of horned dragon hide, he shivered, unable to talk.

The sorceresses noticed what was going on here, and they whispered among themselves.

"Look, that hag's talking smack about us again." Sabrina licked her lips. "And right in front of her lover too. He's so young, handsome, and healthy. Much more charming than Geralt, and he's dating Lytta. Marti, I've never felt my heart flutter this much before."

"That hag has no shame. He's so much younger than she is," the red-haired sorceress said. "She must've put him under a spell to make him fall for her. Look at how submissive he is to her."

"Witchers do not fall for magic like that." Sabrina shook her head.

"Perhaps he has a thing for sorceresses?" Marti puffed her voluptuous chest out. She whispered, "Do you think we have a chance?"

"Oh, someone's bold. You're trying to steal Lytta's lover? She'll turn you into a block of ice."

"What if he comes to us instead?" Marti gave Roy a seductive look furtively.

"I'd say yes right away." Sabrina's eyes twinkled. She was like a starving lioness hungry for something. "I'd do it even if it were in the woods."

Marti had passion in her eyes. Longingly, she said, "If it were me, I'd do it in a burning pyre if that's what it takes."

***

Are all the sorceresses in the brotherhood this open? Roy wiped the sweat off his forehead and turned his attention back to Linus. By force. "As you can see, Linus, the ladies are not interested in animal protection. You and Dorregaray will fail."

"You never know if you don't try." Linus was undaunted.

"Very well." Roy held Linus' arm and whispered cryptically, "Don't run around, Linus. Be careful." This conference would end up being a dangerous event. Roy didn't want a good guy like Linus to run into any danger.

***

On the other side of the venue, an elegant, white-haired woman saw someone she knew. Her eyes lit up, and she quickly came closer.

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