Chapter 255: Falja's Echo
"Old Duke?" Ianna raised her eyebrows. "Did he tell me why he came to see me?"

"I don't know," Lysa shook her head.

But then she seemed to remember something and said:

“But when Priest Nenneke was receiving us, he seemed to have mentioned May Day. Is it related to this festival?”

"Ah!" Ianna suddenly realized and slapped her forehead, "No wonder! It's May Day..."

talking.

Ianna glanced at Aelin.

"Go and do whatever you need. I'll just read a book here..." Ailin also stood up, ready to see Ianna off.

Unexpectedly, after Ianna pondered for a few seconds, she patted Ailin on the shoulder and said:

"You should come along too. There aren't many opportunities to meet the Duke."

The witcher was stunned for a moment, but did not refuse and followed Ianna out of the icon room.

"Da da da~"

Walking on the corridor.

The footsteps collided back and forth between the pure white marble walls.

"By the way, have you dreamed of that voice again in the past few days?" Ianna asked.

"No," Ailin shook his head, "meditation goes well every night."

"That's fine." Ianna nodded.

The corridor was not long, and after a few words, we arrived at the entrance of the sanctuary.

After going down the holy white steps, a few steps away is a path paved with colorful gravel.

There is a clear dividing line between the stairs and the path.

Before, Ailin also had abnormalities here.

He had been staying in the sanctuary these days, and three meals a day were delivered by Lisa, so he was a little uneasy at the moment.

I subconsciously slowed down my pace.

"Good boy, it's okay." Ianna also stopped, "I have just checked, and the evil mark in your body has disappeared."

Ailin nodded and took a step forward.

"Tap~"

Two leather boots stepped on the gravel path.

Nothing happened.

Not only did nothing unusual happen, but even the feeling of spiritual heaviness that I had felt when I stepped in and out on the first day was gone.

There is no difference between one step before and one step after.

"Whoo~"

The demon hunter breathed a sigh of relief.

Ianna stared at Ailin's face carefully for a few seconds, and confirmed that there was nothing unusual.

She narrowed her eyes and patted Ailin's shoulder kindly:

"Just in case, after you come back, you still have to stay in the sanctuary for three more days, understand?"

Aelin nodded.

Even if Ianna wanted to drive him away, he would not leave.

It's not just the rituals that have yet to be learned.

The fragments of the Gate of Ade Ges are still being absorbed, and the Mirage Pearl is also in a dormant state.

Although the stagnation of the progress of the two may not be related to the attention of the evil god, it is always right to be cautious.

Passing through the garden in front of the sanctuary, the group continued walking towards the gate of the temple.

Ianna walked slowly, like a real old lady taking a walk, without any urgency as if a duke was waiting for her.

"The old duke is called Mason, the Duke of Elland and the Prince of Temeria. He is also a member of the Royal Council of King Cedric of Temeria..."

"By the way... do you know about the Falja Rebellion?"

Ianna tilted her head and looked at the witcher.

The witcher nodded.

Although I have not systematically studied the history of the demon hunter world.

However, he did spend quite a bit of time in the library while in Kaer Morhen.

He had not seen many legends like the hero Zatret that were thousands of years old, unpopular and of little use.

But it had been less than thirty years since the Farga Rebellion, and he had just carefully read a book called "The Life and Death of Bloody Farga" written by a scholar from Niubao.

Falgar was the daughter of King Fridank of Redania and his first wife, Beatrice, a half-elf girl from Kovir of the lower class.

King Fridank later fell in love with Sero, so Falgar and her mother returned to Kovir.

then.

What happened twenty years later was a typical drama of an abandoned eldest son rising up for revenge for the throne.

This cruel drama not only resulted in the death of the King, Queen and two princes of Redania, but also unexpectedly evolved into a large-scale and out-of-control peasant uprising.

The Kingdoms of Kovir and Povis, the Hunforth Alliance, Redania, Temeria, and Kaedwen...

Almost the entire northern continent was engulfed in war.

Temeria was the country that suffered the most damage in the Falgar Rebellion, except for its origin country, Redania.

"That's right, then there's no need to start over." Ianna nodded with satisfaction.

"During the Falgar Rebellion, the old duke once commanded the most elite cavalry under the command of King Goidema of Temeria..."

"Because of his meritorious service in battle and his impartiality, he was called the 'iron-blooded knight' and was a typical military noble."

"so……"

Ianna turned her head to look at Ailin:
"You don't have to worry about the conflict of interest between the old duke and Ben Ade just because he is a great noble and has his own sorcerer advisor..."

"On the contrary..."

"There are many rumors about Falja, saying that the bloodthirsty devil became ambitious because of the wizard's instigation..."

"He killed his father, mother and brother for the right of succession, and also imprisoned the old duke's brother and sister-in-law, driving them mad..."

"So the old duke is quite disgusted with wizards."

"He is also the first person in the Northern Continent to employ a sorceress from Aretuza as a sorcerer consultant..."

Aelin understood.

The old Duke of Elland is a force that the Wolf School can win over.

In other words, most of the nobles in Temeria who experienced the Falgar Rebellion should belong to the faction that can be won over.

"Wow~"

Cross the exquisite stone bridge built over the waterfall and let the noisy sound of water fade away behind you.

Ianna glanced at Ailin's thoughtful face, and after he had thought it through, she continued:
"Don't you think the Wild Hunt are a threat and want to deal with them?"

"The old duke may be able to give you some help..."

"Of course, after this commission is completed..."

task?

Ailin caught the key words.

"What mission?" he asked.

Ianna said: "May Day is a celebration of the ancient cycle of natural rebirth. It is also a sacrifice to the tree gods and grain gods."

"There is a grand parade that needs to go around several grain-growing villages around Elland and pass through the outskirts of the Wild Forest..."

"So we need to arrange some rituals to drive away monsters and beasts along the way..."

The demon hunter was stunned.

In this world where monsters are rampant, thousands or even tens of thousands of people are parading and partying in the wild?
We even have to pass through the deepest and densest jungles where monsters hide...

What kind of food delivery behavior is this?
Even if there is a ritual to expel monsters and beasts, it is not safe, right?

Ianna saw what Ailin was thinking and shook her head.
"It is necessary, and..."

“This is also a ceremony…”

Ailin was stunned when he heard this, and was about to ask in detail, but was interrupted by Ianna raising her hand.

"The one in front is the old duke..." Lisa reminded in a low voice.

It turned out that while the demon hunter was thinking, the three of them had almost reached the door of the temple without realizing it. There were people coming and going to pray, heal the sick, and deliver babies.

An old man with gray hair but a straight body, leaning on a cane with both hands, which looks like a sharp sword.

He was standing outside the temple with his back to them.

Not moving.

"Priest Nenneke, I have been inviting him to come into the church and wait for you, but he has refused."

Lisa seemed to be worried that Ianna would have some bad comments about the priest who was responsible for welcoming the old duke, so she quickly explained.

"It's okay," Ianna waved her hand, "That old-fashioned person always narrowly believes that Lady Meliteli is a goddess for women, not men..."

"He wouldn't come into a place where only women would come..."

Ok?
A place where only women come?

Then I go?
Ailin felt slightly uncomfortable.

His and Vesemir's judgment when they first arrived was correct. There really was some kind of unspoken rule in Elland.

"This is a place only for women. This old-fashioned person said so himself." Noticing the problem in her words, Ianna glanced at Aylin and added, "The lady is not just the god of women, but the mother of all life."

Ailin laughed dryly and did not answer.

After walking a few more steps, the witcher saw Nenneke.

"Duke Mason, you are already so old, go in and sit down and wait..."

The old duke neither moved nor uttered a word.

Like a statue guarding a temple.

This was the first time that Aelin saw Nenneke look so helpless in all these days.

After a few more words of persuasion, Nenneke looked up helplessly, and when she suddenly saw Ianna, Arryn seemed to see her eyes sparkling with excitement.

"High Priest!" she shouted.

At this time, the statue with a cane at the entrance of the temple also moved.

It was an old face, with many wrinkles and ravines on it.

Even his hair was silver and half bald.

However, his angular features and straight nose showed that the old duke must have looked good when he was young.

"You old fashioned old man, I've said several times that Lady Meliteli is the mother of all things, not just a goddess of women..."

Ianna sounded like she was complaining.

The old duke snorted.

But it was only after the high priest had finished complaining that a voice came out of his nose: "Let's go!"

He didn't even look at Arlin and Lysa who were beside the high priest.

But Ianna would naturally not ignore Ailin.

She patted the witcher's right arm gently and looked at the old duke: "This is Master Ailin of the Wolf School. He will come with us too."

The old duke then looked at the witcher without moving his head, then seemed to think for a moment and asked:

"You are the Blue Death who brought glory to the school in Ban Ade."

This is an affirmative sentence rather than a question.

Aelin did not reply.

And although he heard it clearly, the old prince did not leave him any time to respond.

After nodding to himself, the old duke said, "Okay!"

He turned around and got into a black carriage. Even the horse pulling the carriage was shiny and pure black.

Arryn and Lysa were left staring at each other.

"That's just how he is. Don't worry about him. Let's go."

Ianna smiled and took the lead into the carriage.

Arlin said goodbye to Lysa and followed.

……

Although he looks very simple on the outside, the Duke is still the Duke after all. As soon as he enters the carriage, he can feel the taste of wealth and power.

Not only are the carriage seats spacious, but the cushions are also made of soft black velvet.

There is also a small freezer next to it.

When Ailin walked into the carriage, he saw the old duke scoop a piece of ice from the small ice box with a silver spoon and put it into a glass of red wine.

Then there was silence.

Silence all the way.

Even Ianna didn't say anything, as if she was used to it.

Until the carriage went down the mountain and arrived at the city gate of Elland.

"Dong dong~"

There was a gentle knock on the carriage door.

"Duke Mason, the demon hunting army is ready."

An officer in black iron armor opened the door and reported to Mason with his head down.

Through the half-open door, Ailin squinted his eyes and saw an army of about fifty people wearing the same black iron armor not far away.

Everyone held a strange long weapon in their hands that looked like an axe from ancient times in their previous lives.

Moreover, the sharp edge of this strange weapon was flashing with a cold silver light.

I think it should be silver-plated.

Moreover, many soldiers seemed to have something like a fishing net hanging around their waists.

"Is this the nobles' weapon against monsters?"

Ailin thought.

At this moment, Ailin suddenly felt a gaze sweeping over him.

Following my feeling, I looked over and discovered that the owner of the sight was the old duke.

"No need!" He glanced at Ianna again.

"Okay, I'll order them to follow... hm?"

The officer wearing the black iron helmet paused and looked tentatively at the expressionless old duke.

"I said no need, you guys can pack up, I'm here..." He glanced at the stunned witcher, then glanced at the smiling high priest, "The witcher master of the Wolf School is here, he will solve my safety problem..."

"Right, Blue Death?"

Who came up with this nickname that is so awkward that it makes one think of an ancient sea fortress?

wrong! ! !

Why could a duke so casually entrust his life safety to him?
Ailin's cat-blue eyes widened.

"Of course no problem..." The one who spoke was the smiling Ianna, "Our safety is in your hands, Master Ailin."

"This won't work, Your Excellency... Your Excellency the Duke... This... This is too dangerous!" The officer was so anxious that he began to stutter when he saw the surprisingly young face where the old duke and the high priest met their eyes.

But the old duke didn't notice that he pursed his thin lips and looked the witcher in the eyes expressionlessly.

Ailin was about to say no, but his words were blocked in his mouth.

He stared at the Grand Duke for a few seconds, then glanced at the smiling High Priest. His body immediately relaxed and he nodded slightly.
"Of course no problem, I will protect your safety."

A gleam of appreciation flashed across the old duke's solemn black pupils.

"No...no...do you know what you are saying?" The officer glared at the young witcher.

It seemed as if he was about to draw the long sword at his waist and chop this daring witcher to death.

But next second.

The old duke glanced at the officer indifferently, and the officer lowered his head and dared not speak again.

"Let's go!" the old duke whispered.

"Wheel~Wheel~"

The carriage moved forward slowly.

He indifferently left the sudden commotion behind the car into the dust.

(End of this chapter)