The Witcher: Aethan of Cidaris

Chapter 16: Fury and Grief, Part 2

(Castle Cidaris, City of Cidaris, Duchy of Cidaris, Kingdom of Cidaris, Dragons Coast, The Northern Kingdoms, The North, The Continent, Witcher World, the Witcher-Verse)

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(King Aethan I Jaenerys of Cidaris POV)

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King Aethan sat around his Throne. The actual Throne of Cidaris was a deeply uncomfortable one, it wasn't Grandiose or extravagant. But it was expertly crafted. It was crafted from Sandstone, and aside from a cushion was as hard as it sounded. This Sandstone Chair had been the Throne of Cidaris for generations. There were inscriptions in Elder Speech on the arm rests which - when loosely translated - meant: Let they who sit here, be fearless, but let them be wise and worthy of their people. Surrounding the Throne at various points on the steps below him, were swords locked on place into the ground. The blades were rusted and had barnacles and the like on them.

This was a representation of Cidarian Culture. And it was the exemplar for the first lesson any heir to the Kingdom must know: Everything that the sea can provide, it can take away with interest. The Kingdom's wealth came primarily from the sea, but that wealth and bounty could be taken if one does not respect the delicate balance of nature. Each Sword could be dated back to a particular King who learned this example the hard way. When their arrogance cost them, they'd cast a valuable and richly ornamented sword into the sea. Assuming they were in a position to do so, these rulers would - before they transferred power - have their chosen heir recover the blade. The Blade would then be placed before the Throne and sealed into the stone of the steps.

Aethan looked at the sword at his grandfather. Mathem cast this into the sea before his death. As Aethan's father was there when his grandfather's folly occurred, it was the least damaged blade since it was retrieved shortly afterwards as Mathen died not long after.

He was thinking about an old lesson his father gave him.

One that he'd not thought of in a long time.

You can't save everybody.

That was something he'd understood well enough at the time. But that lesson was driven home just recently.

Adda would survive, but the future royal children were a serious concern. The blade hadn't gone deep enough to hurt the babies, but it wasn't the blade that was the issue.

It was what was on it.

A serious infection was involved now, and despite the serious nature of it, it was not the sort of thing you used a healing spell for. Normally in the case of a magical ingredient-based poison a healing spell would suffice, but the sad reality was that the poison in question would only worsen the wound if a healing spell was used.

It was practically a death sentence.

But the only way for Adda to have a chance of survival was for his wife to be provided daily non-magical potions. These potions would delay the worst of the poison's effects long enough for Adda's immune system to fight back as well as helping her body create enhanced antibodies to the effects of the poison. He wasn't sure it'd work, but he'd been assured that the non-magical potions had been used for centuries to deal with similar poisons.

This means that he had some time to clear his head. Or at least focus on something else for a time.

Aethan had some numbers to go over. He'd neglected other plans, for matters which at the time took precedence. First for his pilgrimage, then the incident with Adda. But he was of no use to anyone distracted. To that end he planned to do two things, firstly he would spar with his wards and his elite guards for several hours.