Chapter 61: Tretogor's Gates
POV: Adam
Tretogor sprawled along the Redanian plain like ambition carved from stone and mortal desire, its palace complex dominating the skyline with architectural arrogance that spoke of power accumulated through centuries of careful political maneuvering. The city dwarfed Novigrad in both scale and sophistication, its towers reaching toward heaven while magical wards shimmered over important buildings like heat-haze marking territories where reality operated according to supernatural will rather than natural law.
Massive. This makes Novigrad look like a village.
Adam studied the approaching walls while processing visual information that spoke of civilization designed to intimidate through sheer magnificence, understanding that everything about Tretogor's construction served purposes beyond simple habitation—psychological warfare conducted through architecture.
Palace complex. The royal palace dominates everything else.
The structure that crowned the city's highest point commanded attention with deliberate authority, its spires casting shadows that fell across lesser buildings with symbolic weight that made political hierarchy visible through urban planning.
Magical wards. Those shimmers are protective enchantments.
The atmospheric distortions that marked certain structures revealed defensive preparations that transcended conventional security, magical barriers designed to repel threats that normal walls couldn't address.
Political landscape. Geralt explaining the true power structure.
"King Radovid rules in name," Geralt said, his voice pitched for private conversation while they approached the outer gates. "But sorceresses hold real authority through Lodge manipulation. Philippa Eilhart serves as royal advisor—most dangerous woman on the Continent."
Most dangerous woman. That's saying something given the competition.
The assessment carried weight that spoke of someone whose capabilities extended far beyond magical power into realms where knowledge and influence could reshape kingdoms according to personal preference.
Professional guards. These aren't religious fanatics.
The security personnel manning Tretogor's entrance operated with efficiency that suggested military training rather than ideological fervor, their examination of travelers focusing on threats to state security rather than religious compliance.
Looking for spies and threats. Political surveillance rather than heresy hunting.
The difference felt significant—guards whose attention focused on practical dangers rather than doctrinal purity, understanding that their evaluation would follow different criteria than Novigrad's witch hunters had employed.
Legitimate cover story required. Need believable explanation for presence.
The deception they presented required careful balance between truth and fabrication, story that explained their presence without revealing information that could prove dangerous if reported to wrong parties.
Witcher and apprentices. Seeking audience about monster contracts.
"Been getting reports of unusual creature activity near the capital," Geralt explained to the guard captain whose recognition of his reputation provided immediate credibility. "Strange manifestations that might require specialized attention."
Guard captain recognizes reputation. Witcher status provides entry.
The professional respect that Geralt's presence commanded translated into access that their individual capabilities couldn't have achieved, understanding that certain occupations carried authority that transcended normal bureaucratic procedures.
Entry papers provided. Official documentation for city access.
The documents they received represented first legitimate acknowledgment of their presence in populated area since entering this world, formal recognition that felt significant despite its temporary nature.
Directed to sorceress's tower. Appointment with Philippa arranged.
The directions provided guidance toward meeting that would determine whether they gained powerful instructor or dangerous enemy, understanding that sorceresses of Philippa's caliber didn't offer education without extracting payment that might prove more costly than anticipated.
Hair dyed darker. Ciri's temporary disguise.
The chemical alteration of Ciri's distinctive coloring provided essential concealment, ash-blonde transformed into mousy brown that wouldn't attract attention from people specifically searching for Cintran royal features.
False name "Fiona." Complete identity concealment.
The fabricated identity required consistent maintenance throughout their stay, understanding that any slip in performance could expose truths that multiple parties had invested significant resources in discovering.
Apprentice healer. Adam's cover story.
His designation as medical assistant to witcher operations provided explanation for unusual healing capabilities while avoiding questions about magical training that conventional education couldn't adequately explain.
First layer of deception. Must be maintained under scrutiny.
[Experience Gained: 100 XP]
[New Skill: Political Deception - maintaining false identity]
[Level Progress: 28 (75% toward 29)]
The city's interior revealed surveillance network that operated with subtlety surpassing Novigrad's crude methods, intelligence gathering conducted through systematic observation rather than overt intimidation.
Riddled with informants. Every conversation potentially monitored.
Adam's Blood Sensing detected watchers maintaining careful distance while their movements through commercial districts created trail that multiple parties could follow without revealing their own presence.
Philippa's intelligence network. Sorceress observes everything.
The realization that their activities were being catalogued by people whose capabilities exceeded conventional spying created atmospheric pressure that made casual conversation feel potentially dangerous.
Tower of Gulls operates here. Sorceress academy training young mages.
Geralt's warning about magical education facility added complexity to their environment, understanding that some observers might possess supernatural capabilities that normal counter-surveillance couldn't address.
Some trained as spies. Student mages serving intelligence functions.
The possibility that seemingly innocent civilians might possess magical abilities designed for information gathering made paranoia feel like rational response rather than psychological dysfunction.
Can't discuss real purposes. All communication must be coded.
The recognition that honest conversation had become impossible in public spaces transformed their interaction patterns, forcing development of communication methods that wouldn't reveal sensitive information to hostile listeners.
Upscale inn. Maintaining cover through appropriate accommodations.
The lodging they selected reflected understanding that their cover identities required lifestyle choices consistent with claimed social status, expense that served security purposes rather than simple comfort.
Speak only in code. Walls have ears and shadows have eyes.
[Relationship: Party Cohesion +3]
Evening brought room security procedures that revealed depth of surveillance threats they faced, Geralt's witcher signs detecting magical listening devices that conventional methods couldn't identify or disable.
Magical eavesdropping. Even private spaces aren't secure.
The discovery that their accommodation contained supernatural monitoring equipment confirmed suspicions about comprehensive intelligence network that operated through methods exceeding normal human capabilities.
Enforced silence. Three people sitting without speaking.
The atmosphere that settled over their group felt like weight of surveillance state where honest communication had become luxury they couldn't afford, understanding that even private thoughts might not remain private if spoken aloud.
Tomorrow's meeting critical. Will determine whether we gain ally or enemy.
Looking at Ciri's tense profile as candlelight painted her disguised features with shadows that made her appear older than her fourteen years, Adam understood that some meetings carried weight extending far beyond immediate consequences.
Powerful teacher or dangerous enemy. Two possibilities, no middle ground.
The recognition that Philippa Eilhart represented force whose assistance could transform their situation while her hostility could prove catastrophic created pressure that made relaxation impossible despite physical exhaustion.
Maintain deception. Success depends on perfect performance.
The stars wheeled overhead in patterns that might conceal magical surveillance while three fugitives processed intelligence that suggested tomorrow would reshape their circumstances in ways that couldn't be predicted through careful planning.
Everything depends on tomorrow. Our entire future hangs on single conversation.
Some meetings determined fate through forces beyond individual control.
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