epilogue
"I hear some survivors claim they were not our own men" said Movran Voorhis over steeped fingers. The commander of the Alba Division, the most powerful regiment of the Nilfgaardian army, left no doubt as to what he thought of these spurrilous reports.
"Defections are at an all-time high" retorted Vattier de Rideaux, and the emperor's intelligence chief didn't know if he said it because he believed it to be valid, or because it contradicted Voorhis.
They were just two of the six advisors sitting in the Emperor's council chamber discussing the latest developments in their new territories. Only six Vattier mused as he still didn't consider the Emperor's daughter, Ciri, and her "advisor" Yennefer of Vengerburg, to be official in any capacity.
"What you call defections I call prisoners of war still being held by the Redanians and all the other two bit factions that still call themselves and independent nation" Voorhis retorted to de Rideaux's backhanded insinuation.
"You are kidding yourself Movran if you think the northerners still have the capability or infrastructure to hold even half the number of our men that are not returning to your capable leadership".
Now Movran moved to stand. "Enough!" the emperor bellowed, slapping a hand to the Mettarin Oak table for emphasis. "These meetings will not be a forum for airing personal animosities".
Movran made a slight bow and retook his seat while Vattier held up a hand of apology.
"Good. Now continue with the report please" Emhyr motioned to de Carthia van Canten, who looked back down at the document in front of her. "To the commander's point only about a third of the attackers were using our weaponry. Most were using blades from Redania and even Skellige".
"Something no self-respecting man of Nilfgaard would ever allow himself to do" Voorhis added with a look to Vattier that said he did not mean to restart their debate.
"Obviously these are not self-respecting men of Nilfgaard if they are attacking our convoys, yes?" the Emperor added, exasperated.
"Quite true your Grace" breathed Count a'Arvy, the Imperial Treasurer.
"One man, a captain named Renauld de Wyngalt, claims the leader was carrying a blade he recognized to be the work of a…master Hattori, a master armorer in Novigrad".
For the first time the two "non-advisors" shared the briefest of looks.
"Do we have this…"
-Master Hattori your Grace, and yes we do" Carthia finished.
"And?"
"He claims the design specified is a fairly common design he began making in the first year of the war and estimates he has made another hundred since" the Intelligence Bureau's 2nd in command finished, carefully reading the exact words on the paper.
"Would this smithy have any reason to lie? Maybe he knows exactly who is carrying that blade but si-"
"What does it matter?"
The room stopped to turn towards the new speaker. Ciri got over her momentary anxiety and continued. "What does it matter if they are truly Nilfgaardian deserters or northerners in disguise?"
"Because my dear, if they are northerners then they must be rooted out and those that shelter them must be punished" Voorhis replied with no small amount of condescension.
"Elaborate Ciri" her biological father commanded.
"If they were northerners masquerading as Nilfgaardians then it will simply be one of numerous attacks. These are hard people, the hardest people you've conquered, and there's a reason it took three invasions and a less than honorable assassination plot to get there". Eyes rolled or cast down but Ciri continued. "The more you punish them the more frequent, and the more brutal the attacks will get. This is not Nazir or Cintra. You cannot beat these people into submission."
It was Ciri's turn to cast her eyes down for a moment to cover a wry smile. "We will end up investing more lives and treasure in the North than we get in return".
The room was silent for a moment. "And if they are our own people?" Emhyr voiced into the silence.
"Then we will see more defections. The Redanian Free Company, or the Aedernian Knights of Demawend, or the Kaedweni Dun Banner will continue to harangue and harass our forces until more northerners are killed or jailed than work the lands. They will not meet us in open battle again with a ten to one deficit as Cintra attempted. They will ambush and assassinate their way to a renegotiated peace deal".
"Such high esteem you hold our enemies in" Voorhis said with thick sarcasm. "Oh I continue to forget you are one".
"Are one what Commander Voorhis" the Emperor bit out each word through a tightened jaw.
Movran quickly wilted under Emhyr's withering gaze. "I meant a northerner of course Your Grace. Not an enemy surely".
"You're right commander. I have an attachment to the north that will never be extinguished. I have an even greater attachment to some people in the North. So I hope you appreciate the sacrifices I made to be here."
"Sacrifices that would be tempered by a peace your former comrades would benefit from"
"You speak to the next Empress!" the Chamberlain Mererid snapped from behind Ciri. She held up a hand accompanied by a look of gratitude for one of the few friends she had made since arriving in the Golden Towers.
"I would think peace benefits us all Commander". She flashed a predatory smile at the rival across the round table.
"Too right my dear. So what do you suggest?" an increasingly curious Emperor asked.
"I suggest father extending the Temerian accords to all four major kingdoms of the north. They get to keep their royal houses, banners, and a reduced military. We get the taxes from thriving economies instead of oppressed ones, we get a pledge of allegiance from any king to take their thrones, we get an assurance of non-human rights and the banishment of all religious military orders, and maybe most importantly; we get a capable and motivated auxillary military force for when the Ofieri cross the sea again".
Ciri sat back and watched the faces of those around her grasp the political talents of the white-haired newcomer in their midst.