Chapter 236: I Once Crossed Mountains and Seas
"Witcher Lynn?"
"You know me?"
Lynn, of course, knew who the bard before him was.
It was the famed Dandelion.
And one of Geralt of Rivia's closest friends.
Geralt's renown as the most famous Witcher of his era, and even in later generations, was largely thanks to this man.
However, by all accounts, this was his first meeting with Dandelion.
The bard shouldn't have recognized him.
Unless Dandelion had also transmigrated.
"Of course I know you! You probably don't realize it, but you're quite famous at our academy—Oxenfurt Academy, that is."
"My junior, Mariliel, painted your portrait and sold quite a few copies."
"Oh, really?"
This was certainly not what he'd expected.
"I thought he saw you as a goal to surpass, and was working hard towards that."
"Well," Dandelion scratched his head, "a person's destiny involves both their own efforts and the course of history, doesn't it?"
"Honestly, my junior isn't very good at poetry; lyrics are one thing, but listening to him sing is pure torture, even a deaf person couldn't stand it. However, his talent for painting is another matter entirely. You can see for yourself."
Dandelion pulled out a folded piece of parchment from his pocket and unfurled it.
Lynn took a look, commenting, "Hmm, it's really well-drawn."
"See? I told you so."
Dandelion refolded the parchment and put it away.
He then looked at the three individuals standing behind the Witcher.
"Are these your companions?"
Lynn stepped aside. "Allow me to introduce you. This is Sir Borch of Three Jackdaws, and these two are his bodyguards, Thea and Vea."
"I am Dandelion, the most celebrated bard for a thousand miles around. And this gentleman here is also my friend," Dandelion said, pointing to the captain drawing in the sand with his halberd tip. "As you can see, he's quite the artist."
"Enough flattery," the "artist" captain finished his last few strokes and stretched with a bored yawn. "No one gets through without a pass."
"If that's the case, it seems we'll have to take the long way around," Lynn said to Borch. "We can turn back and cross the river at Hengfors."
Dandelion anxiously interjected, "That would be too late! King Niedamir of Kaedwen's dragon-hunting party already crossed the river earlier. If you turn back to Hengfors and then come around, taking all those detours, the day will be long gone."
Lynn feigned ignorance. "Dragon-hunting party? What's that?"
"You don't know?" The bard's eyes widened, scanning each of the four. "You're not here to hunt the dragon?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, but I'm guessing you're about to explain it to us, am I right?"
"Hold on a moment, Lord Lynn," Three Jackdaws suddenly cut in. "It's almost noon, and I'm terribly thirsty. I can't possibly converse with a parched throat."
"And I'm sure both Captain and Bard are hungry too. So... Thea, Vea, quickly return to the small town we passed just fifteen minutes ago and buy two barrels of wine, and plenty of meat."
The two Zerrikanian maidens deftly swung onto their horses and galloped away.
Perhaps because he'd never been complimented by someone dressed like Borch, the captain's face flushed crimson.
"I'm no 'Lord.' Only officers are addressed as 'Lord.' I'm just a mere captain, and even if you..."
He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Even if you flatter me, it's useless. No one gets through without a pass."
Borch laughed heartily. "Don't misunderstand, Captain. My companions and I deeply admire your diligent professionalism. Such an excellent individual as yourself, I'm sure it won't be long before you become an officer."
"Furthermore, we have no intention of bribing you. I merely believe that, as a gentleman, one should not let others go hungry when one has plenty to eat and drink."
The captain's expression softened considerably. "It's best that you understand, and I appreciate your kind intentions."
Though Dandelion was still quite young at this time, he had already begun to master the art of dealing with nobles.
He bowed to Three Jackdaws. "Lord Borch, I simply must compose a song to praise your generosity."
Borch nodded in return. "I am honored."
Lynn, from the other side, asked, "If you don't mind, Dandelion, before the ladies return with the food and drink, I'd like to hear about this dragon hunt you mentioned?"
Having secured another free meal, Dandelion's mood brightened considerably.
His earlier melancholy vanished.
"No problem. What version would you like? Rhyming verse or prose?"
"Just the ordinary version will do."
"As you wish." Dandelion cradled his precious lute and began to strum and sing. "Noble lords, pray listen well, for a week ago, not far from the free city of Holopole, a matter occurred. Oh, yes, it was a morning, the dawn painting the gossamer mists on the grass red..."
"I said—the ordinary version!" the Witcher emphasized.
"Isn't this ordinary enough? Fine, fine, I understand. Short, no metaphors or figures of speech. A dragon landed near the city of Holopole."
"Really? True dragons are even rarer than Witchers these days. It's been years since anyone saw a dragon."
Lynn frowned. "You didn't mistake a wyvern for a dragon, did you? Some wyverns are quite large..."
Dandelion leaped up as if his tail had been stepped on.
"Don't insult me, Witcher! I know what a dragon looks like. I saw it! I was on my way to the Holopole market and witnessed the dragon with my own eyes. I even composed a ballad, but you don't want to hear it..."
Lynn knew Dandelion had many virtues.
For instance, loyalty.
You'd be hard-pressed to find a friend who values friendship more than Dandelion.
In the Witcher 3 DLC: Blood and Wine, if your Geralt made the "wrong" choice and was thrown into prison by the furious Duchess Anna Henrietta, Dandelion would brave immense risks (he was already on Toussaint's blacklist, barred from entry) to cross mountains and seas, traversing crowds of people, to rescue you in Beauclair.
However, everything has two sides.
People are no exception.
And Dandelion's flaws were that, to those who didn't know him well, he might seem a bit of a chatterbox, and more or less prone to getting into trouble.
In the original novels, he certainly caused the White Wolf a fair share of problems.
But he also helped the White Wolf immensely.
If not for him, Geralt would never have become the most famous Witcher in the North.
Even centuries later, his adventurous tales and his love story with Yennefer are still spoken of with great relish.
....
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