Chapter Text
Tomas finds Bruno in the courtyard and guides him to the back of the stables, where they'll have some privacy. "Was talking to Kasia," Tomas tells him. "Seems Lady Marika is leaving Roggeven, and right soon. Her sister's found her a husband."
"Hmm." Bruno finds a seat on a bale of hay. "Didn't think Marta had any connections anymore."
Tomas shakes his head. "Nah, 's Lady Milena she asked."
"Lady Marika marrying a Witcher?" Bruno's eyebrows shoot up. "Can't see that, somehow. Course, didn't think Lady Milena'd do it either, and not to a man titled Blade-Tongue, at that."
"Don't know the details," Tomas says with a shrug. "Kasia only said that Lady Marika's to leave for Kaer Morhen on the morrow, and she plans on never returning. And she's looking for two guards to protect her on the way. Kasia thought of me, and I figured you might be willing too."
Bruno hums in thought. "Risky. Lady Marika's a good sort, for certain, and I'd serve her willingly enough. But we don't know much about the husband. Don't think Witchers need human guards, after all. Or maybe Lady Milena's found a nobleman in the Kaedweni court, but he might not need more guards either, so what are our long term prospects?"
"What are our long term prospects here?" Tomas asks. "Marta's disgraced—"
"The bitch," Bruno interjects with a nod.
"—and she's in exile for the rest of her life unless the White Wolf decides he wants her head sooner. Lady Milena's not coming back and now Lady Marika leaving too. The Duke's what? Fifty-five, sixty?"
"There about," Bruno agrees and then curses quietly as the realization hits him. "Fuck. How long's he got?"
"And he's got no heir, and I've no idea who's inheriting after this."
Bruno sighs. "So we take a chance with Lady Marika now, and maybe lose our posts under her husband. Or we stay and hope that the Duke's successor, whoever that is, doesn't let us go in ten or twenty years. Might be better to find a new position young, an' I'm sure Lady Marika'd give us a reference."
Tomas pauses. They've been speaking ill of the duke already, but some words will only get you punished while other words will get you beheaded. But he trusts Bruno, which is why he brought him Kasia's offer first, and so, very quietly, Tomas says, "And that's assuming the Duke keeps the duchy 'til he dies."
Bruno glances around, clearly looking for listeners, and Tomas continues in the same low tone. "Marta's angered the Warlord, and the Duke's disowned Milena who Kasia says is close to the Warlord, and Griselda in the kitchen heard from her cousin that King Dawid ain't happy with the Duke neither, because he's angered the Warlord so much. How long's the Duke got?"
Slowly, Bruno begins to nod. "Aye. When you put it like that... suppose I'll be coming with you tomorrow, and hoping Lady Marika's husband'll have room for two more guardsmen." Rising, he claps a hand on Tomas's shoulder. "And thanks for passing on the offer."