The private chambers of Triss Merigold were nothing short of grand in Vizima's royal palace. Tapestries of deep crimson and gold adorned the walls, bookshelves lined the room, filled with tomes of magic and history and the collected wisdom of ages. A fire crackled in the hearth, while Triss herself stood before her megascope, her hands resting on its cool surface, her brow furrowed with concentration. The device hummed softly, its crystals glowing with a pale blue light. She reached out with her magic searching for the familiar presence of the woman she needed to reach.
The connection formed slowly, the crystals flickering, then the image sharpened, and the face of Yennefer of Vengerberg appeared before her.
Yennefer was sitting in a room that was clearly not her own, sparse, functional, the walls bare stone. She wore simple traveling clothes, her hair pulled back in a practical knot, she smiled when she saw Triss.
"Triss," Yennefer said, her voice filled of warmth that she reserved for few people. "It has been too long. I was beginning to think you had forgotten about me."
Triss smiled, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly. "Never, Yen. You know better than that. I've just been... busy. Vizima keeps me occupied, and there's always something demanding my attention here."
Yennefer's smile widened, "Yes, I imagine playing advisor to a king is quite the full-time occupation. Much more demanding than my current work, skulking through the shadows of Nilfgaard, pretending to be someone I'm not." She paused, "I have to say, the Empire is not as glamorous as the stories would have you believe. The wine is passable, but the company is insufferable.."
Triss laughed, "I can only imagine. How are you, Yen? Truly?"
Yennefer's expression softened. "I am well enough. This is not my preferred way of spending my time, but it is necessary. The Emperor's court is a nest of vipers, and I am learning much about their plans without being part of them.. It helps that they underestimate me. They see a sorceress from the North and assume I am nothing more than a source of information and power." Her eyes glittered with cold satisfaction. "They will learn their mistake."
Triss nodded, her expression becoming more serious."Speaking of the North... I met with Geralt recently. Here in Vizima."
Yennefer's eyes flickered with interest. "Ah, Geralt.. How was he?"
Triss laughed again, but it was softer this time. "He is... well, he is Geralt.. stubborn as always. But he asked me for help.. He needed information about anyone strange who had passed through Vizima looking for Ciri."
Yennefer's expression sharpened. "And Ciri? How is she? They are supposed to be traveling together afterall."
Triss's face remained composed, but there was guilt, perhaps, or sorrow, passed through her eyes. "She is fine, Yen. She left with Geralt some time ago, and they have been traveling together. I don't know where they are now, they didn't share the details with me.. but they seemed to be managing."
Yennefer studied her, her eyes searching Triss's face through the megascope connection with intensity, she had learned to read people through a lifetime of navigating treacherous waters. But Triss's mask held, and after a moment, Yennefer nodded.
"Good," Yennefer said. "That is good. I worry about her, you know. More than I let on." She paused, her voice dropping. "The Emperor is looking for her. That much I can confirm, his hunters are everywhere, trackers, assassins, mages. They are spreading across the North like a net, searching for any trace of her, he hired some dangerous fellows... I hear that even Vilgefortz is looking for her at his command, but that scheming bastard is only doing this for himself.."
Triss nodded slowly, her expression grave. "I had heard similar rumors... That is why I reached out to you. I need to know more, there have been attempts on the Northern kings' heads, assassination attempts, like the one on Foltest. I have also heard rumors of similar plots against the other kings, though I cannot confirm them. I was hoping you might have heard something in Nilfgaard."
Yennefer's expression grew thoughtful. She leaned back in her chair, her fingers steepled before her. "I have heard whispers, yes. But nothing concrete. Emhyr is a master of misdirection. He could be behind the attempts, or he could be using them as cover for something else entirely."
Triss shook her head slowly. "I suspected as much. But if you can find anything out, Yen, I would be grateful. Even the smallest detail could help us understand what we are facing, this is important for the North as a whole."
Yennefer's eyes narrowed, studying Triss. "Why do you care so much about this, Triss? The political struggles of the North, they are not your concern. You are a mage, not a soldier."
Triss's expression did not waver. "I am Foltest's advisor, Yen. His safety is my responsibility. If the Emperor is trying to destabilize the North, I need to know what he is planning, not just for Foltest's sake, but for the sake of everyone who calls this land home."
Yennefer was silent for a moment, her eyes boring into Triss's. Then she nodded slowly.
"Very well.. I will see what I can uncover. But I make no promises. The Emperor is as paranoid as he is cunning, and his inner circle is guarded by layers of deception and misdirection. If there is anything to be found, it will not be easy."
She paused, her voice dropping. "Be careful, Triss. The hatred for mages is growing in the North. You have seen it yourself, I am sure. The whispers, the accusations, the bonfires that burn in the night. It will not be long before they come for everyone, and for all of us. What your sisters are doing... it only makes things worse."
Triss's voice dropped to a whisper. "You mean the Lodge?"
Yennefer's expression was unreadable. "Yes. Them. Are you certain they are not involved in all of this? Philippa Eilhart has always been ambitious.. She would not hesitate to sacrifice a kingdom, or a king, if it served her purposes."
Triss shook her head firmly. "No, Yen. We had nothing to do with this. I cannot speak for the other members, but I am certain Philippa did not orchestrate these attempts.. This has the Emperor's fingerprints all over it."
She paused, her voice softening. "Though I cannot disagree with what you said about Philippa... She is ambitious, and she leaves us in the dark about many things. It is... frustrating. And dangerous."
Yennefer laughed. "That is why I never agreed to join her little circle of sorceresses. No offense, Triss. I still enjoy you. But I have never trusted her, and I doubt I ever will."
Triss smiled, the tension in her shoulders easing. "None taken. I understand."
Yennefer's expression grew serious again. "I will see what I can find out about these assassination attempts. But no promises. The safety of my daughter is still my priority. If I uncover anything useful, I will let you know."
Triss nodded, her voice soft. "Thank you, Yen. Be safe."
Yennefer's image flickered, and the connection faded, leaving Triss alone in the quiet of her chambers.
She stood motionless for a moment, her eyes fixed on the now-dark megascope.
Then, in a voice so quiet that it was barely a whisper, she said, "Sorry, Yen. For lying." And Triss turned away, her heart heavy with the weight of secret she could not share.
/-\
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