NOVEL NEXT Chapter 54: Milva
"Warriors like Levin Bloth who have fought alongside us." Eithné gave an example.
It would be much easier to understand with an example as a template. Lann thought about it and asked with concern: "Speaking of which, how is Levin's injury?"
"He'll be fine, but it'll be a while."
Lann nodded, feeling relieved. He plans to train Levin as the next mayor. He will be an important bridge between Brokilon Town and Brokilon Forest in the future.
In addition, there are other exchanges of forest resources and human creations, and both parties exchange what they have. Lann and Eithné basically determined their intentions in this regard, and planned to let Levin, a local, negotiate.
Ellie, who was listening on the sidelines, suddenly asked: "If... there is something we want but the other party is unwilling to give up, how should we get it?"
Lann asked curiously: "Can you tell me what it is?"
Ellie hesitated for a while, then shook her head: "No."
Lann thought for a moment and replied: "Then maybe... you can try adding more money."
The dryads really have a lot of stored currency, including copper coins, crowns, and even marks. When they usually shoot intruders, some dryads would take away the coins and collect them like souvenirs. This time, after knowing that they would be trading with humans, Eithné confiscated them.
After discussing these items, there were no other issues. Lann and Eithné each signed the revised agreement in duplicate, and each party kept one copy.
Lann solemnly shook hands with Eithné, and Eithné also had a rare smile like the breeze in the forest.
Lann suddenly suggested: "I think, at this time, should we share a glass of Brokilon water to celebrate?"
Ellie on the side raised her eyebrows, looked at Eithné, and said with a slight smile and nod: "We did bring some drinks for celebration..."
At this moment, Dunkar suddenly appeared from the forest. She ran to Eithné and reported to the queen softly, while glancing at Lann a few times.
Dunkar spoke in a very low voice, but Lann's hearing was already beyond that of ordinary people.
Vaguely, he heard a few words.
"Trap", "Capture", "Poacher"...
Eithné nodded, saw Lann's eyes deliberately turning away, and invited: "Dunkar discovered a human while patrolling. Do you and Gwynbleidd want to come over and take a look?"
Lann and Geralt looked at each other, and he saw a trace of solemnity on the other's face.
"I'm extremely happy."
The range of Dunkar's patrol was not very large, and he didn't even need to ride a horse on the way to the trap.
When everyone arrived, they saw a girl dressed as a hunter being hung from a tree and shaking slightly, as if she was trying to break free to the point of exhaustion.
But she had fallen into one of the improved traps that the inhabitants of Brokilon had perfected over hundreds of years to deal with invaders. Even though the girl was exhausted at this point, it was obvious that her efforts were in vain.
There was a homemade short bow and a few crudely made arrows under the tree where she was hung. It was obvious that she had no resistance at all when she was caught in the trap.
When she heard the footsteps, the huntress seemed to realize her destination. She didn't panic or scream, but Geralt could feel that the girl's aura and feeling had changed.
It seemed that what was in front of him was not a girl who had fallen into a trap, but a young female beast.
Seeing everyone approaching, Braenn emerged from a nearby bush. With his bow in position, he approached Eithné and said in a low voice: "Poacher."
Braenn's appearance made the girl scream in surprise. She hadn't realized that all this time there was a dryad crouching in the grass with a bow and arrow aimed at her heart at all times.
Lann used the moonlight to look at the girl hanging upside down in front of him. She was no more than fifteen or sixteen years old, with a slim and athletic build. Her clothing made of various types of cloth and animal skin was badly worn, and her exposed skin showed small, scattered scars, probably caused by stones, branches, and wild beasts.
"Another child." Lann heard the witcher sigh.
Dunkar stepped forward and said to Eithné: "According to tradition..."
Eithné glanced at Lann and said: "According to tradition, young girls who break into the forest will join us. But under the new agreement, they don't need to do that now."
The dryads, following Eithné's instructions, did nothing.
The Dryad Queen made an inviting gesture towards Lann in the direction of the girl.
Lann drew his sword and stepped forward. The huntress thought she was about to be executed. She opened her mouth like a female leopard and bit him. Lann ducked sideways and slapped her backhand, causing her to swing left and right like a pendulum, making her dizzy.
The sword flashed and the vines were cut off. Lann grabbed the prisoner's clothes to prevent her from hitting the ground and breaking her neck.
Lann asked in a deep voice: "Miss, what is your name and where are you from?"
The huntress was placed on the ground in a daze. She glanced around and realized that the person holding her was a human knight instead of a dryad.
Her eyes slid from the reflective armor upwards, a longsword, then a breastplate, and finally stopped on a face defined by the moonlight.
The huntress couldn't help but stare for a few more heartbeats before forcing her mind to look down and notice the ferocious lion etched on the breastplate.
A lion. In Brokilon Forest?
The huntress suddenly recalled some rumors she heard while poaching in the royal forest farms of Sodden and Cintra, and also recalled some rumors she occasionally heard in nearby towns in recent days.
"Lord, my Lord." The huntress stammered: "I am the hunter from Brokilon Town. I...my name is Maria Barring. Help, please help!"
Lann raised his eyebrows. He was surprised by the girl's answer. At the same time, he heard Geralt let out a long sigh of relief behind him.
After controlling his emotions, Lann turned to Eithné and said: "Ms. Eithné..."
Before he could continue, Eithné took the initiative and said: "Since she is the subject of the Earl, and this area is also the scope of activities we have designated for the subjects, then let the Earl take her away."
"That was an agreement sworn in the name of the oak tree, and it came into effect the moment I signed it. This is a decision made by destiny for this girl."
Lann could see in Queen Dryad's eyes that she already knew that the girl had lied, and she definitely knew that he knew it too.
And the favor made in this situation seems to be an expression of the goodwill of the dryads.
Lann felt relieved and thanked the Dryad Queen.
"So, take care of your subjects, Lannister. And then I have some personal matters to discuss with you."
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