The faces of Tissaia and Gerhart were solemn, which was not surprising, given that standing before them was a woman wearing red clothes, with red hair and red eyes, wearing red jewelry. Her lips were stained with red paint.
Tissaia and Gerhart, who were Grandmasters in Water and Wind Magic, respectively, were grim, for they were before the famous Red Witch of Asshai, a true apostle over four hundred years old.
They did not expect that following Yennefer's trail would place them before such a magical and fanatical aberration.
Tissaia was an extremely beautiful woman, with black hair styled in an elegant bun. She wore a magnificent and noble blue dress. A wave of watery magic shimmered around her, ready for any attack.
Gerhart was the complete opposite of Tissaia; he looked like an old man with an arrogant expression. He wore complicated and dense clothes, a hat over his already almost gray hair, with only a few black strands. Waves of wind magic moved exquisitely around his fingers.
"No need to worry; I don't devour people." Melisandre, noticing the caution and even a bit of fear in the eyes of the powerful mage and witch, spoke in a gentle and elegant tone.
'You don't devour people, but you do something much worse. You burn them alive and then use them as a sacrifice to the red god. Not to mention the evil blood potions you prepare using human blood,' Tissaia thought with a touch of sarcasm.
Of course, Tissaia did not dare speak this aloud; she still wanted to leave this place with all her limbs intact. She truly regretted following Yennefer; otherwise, she wouldn't have encountered this fanatical aberration.
"Since you've arrived, you might as well work for me. I need some helpers to deal with the two lovely witches on the other side." Melisandre spoke with a smile, causing Gerhart and Tissaia to drastically change their expressions.
"I apologize, but I refuse, Lady Melisandre." Tissaia refused without a second thought. Work for Melisandre? She would rather work for dogs than for Melisandre. The woman was too crazy even to be considered an ally or even a cooperation.
This was not her prejudice about Melisandre, but what history had taught her. Melisandre was not kind, let alone loyal. Her loyalty was to her god and no one else. She could betray her allies for a mere vision in the flames.
Who in their right mind would ally with someone who could stab you in the back at any moment?
"I also refuse, Lady Melisandre." Gerhart also refused without any hesitation. Like Tissaia, he also knew of the glorious deeds of the Red Witch before him.
Melisandre couldn't help but be dissatisfied with the fear of the Grandmasters before her. Although she had indeed killed some allies because of a vision in the flames, they deserved to die for hindering the plans of the Red God. So, in her eyes, there was nothing wrong with getting rid of the stones in R'hllor's sacred path.
"You seem to fear that I will kill you, but I will not." Melisandre spoke in a gentle tone, persuading these two powerful grandmasters. Even being powerful, she herself would have great difficulty killing Tissaia and Gerhart, let alone capturing them alive.
Killing and capturing were two completely different things; she herself had no confidence in performing such a feat, especially with the apostle-level mage not far away in the enemy camp. Who knows if Cadmus would appear at some important moment of the fight and try to kill her?
Because of this, Melisandre was being especially kind at this moment; she didn't want to scare away this mage and witch. The end of the world was coming, and any powerful person was very welcome, especially with Death coming from the North along with winter.
"I'm not asking you to do anything that goes against your morals or ethics, but the world needs powerful mages and witches to fight on the front lines when the Long Night arrives." Melisandre spoke in a solemn tone, losing all her elegant smile.
Tissaia and Gerhart frowned; both naturally knew about the Long Night. They were not ignorant of the term and what it truly meant, but something that happened five thousand years ago and of which only remnants of ancient scrolls remained speaking about the Long Night was, naturally, very suspicious.
Many mages and witches debate whether such a thing actually existed or was just a legend that the Red Faith used to further exalt the image of R'hllor. In the end, no one really managed to reach a consensus.
However, hearing this from an apostle-level witch was a completely different thing.
"The Long Night is coming; the saint of the Blue God is trapped behind the Walls at the extreme north of Westeros and prepares to march with the army of revived undead. Not mere undead, but abominations that are practically immortal with few weaknesses." Melisandre spoke without hiding anything.
Gerhart's face became grim; if before he was skeptical, now he was almost certain that Melisandre's words were true. There was no reason to lie to them, as it was something that could be easily discovered if it were a lie.
He only needed to go to the Far North, beyond the Wall, to see if it was real or a lie.
Tissaia was not naturally stupid and reached the same conclusion as Gerhart; this made the beautiful woman's expression become complex.
"I know you are worried, but at this moment, there are two apostles on this continent, one being King Rhaegar I's Court Mage, Cadmus Peverell, and the High Priestess of the Great Red Temple of Volantis, Kinvara." Melisandre looked at them with a calm gaze and continued speaking.
"For the future war, Lord Peverell and Lady Kinvara chose House Targaryen to stand against the Blue God. I, however, support another chosen one, in case the Targaryen princess doesn't handle the job and fails to kill the Avatar of the Blue God."
Gerhart and Tissaia were shocked to learn of the existence of two more apostles on this continent. This only reinforced that the Long Night really was coming. This left both Grandmasters apprehensive.
Gerhart's face became grim upon hearing Cadmus's name. The spy who escaped brought much information, including the capture of Grandmaster Stregobor and the murder of thirty mages! Honestly, losing a grandmaster and thirty mages was the hardest blow Ban Ard had in the last five hundred years.
Now, knowing that the enemy was an apostle made Gerhart want to curse Stregobor's stupidity. You dare try to kill the wife of a damn apostle? What was in Stregobor's mind when his stupid mind made such a choice?
However, he could not stop now and had to confront Cadmus. Otherwise, he would be known as the worst and most cowardly rector in the thousand-year history of Ban Ard. As a proud man like him, how could he accept such a thing?
However, looking at Melisandre, Gerhart's eyes showed a thoughtful look. Since the other side was an apostle, if he could get Melisandre's help, he could try to recover his reputation. Of course, he wasn't stupid like Stregobor.
Instead of trying to kill Cadmus, he just wanted a fight and would retreat, showing that he fought bravely against the murderer of the mages of Ban Ard. Even if he lost, no one would blame him for losing to an apostle.
"I agree; I will help, Lady Melisandre. I will bring the students and teachers of Ban Ard." Gerhart spoke in a calm and deep tone. He placed his hand over his chest and bowed elegantly.
Tissaia looked at Gerhart and could imagine the thoughts of the Rector of Ban Ard, but she showed no contempt or anything else. If she also had an apostle-level enemy, she would be even more determined than Gerhart, even considering using her body as a way to appease the enemy.
"I will fight by your side, Lady Melisandre. I will bring my students and the teachers of Aretuza to fight by your side in this Long Night." Tissaia said in a calm and graceful tone.
Melisandre couldn't help but be satisfied with the acceptance of the Grandmasters' mages; in her eyes, it was R'hllor blessing her at this end of the world. Along with the Grandmasters, the magical schools of Aretuza and Ban Ard would also get involved.
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Read my other books:
House of The Dragon: The Pale Prince
Game Of Thrones: The God-Emperor of Planetos
Percy Jackson: Godwyn the Golden.
Game Of Thrones: The King's Court Wizard