Kyana Of Cintra

38

Calanthe did not look impressed by Geralt's reasoning.

"I love Duny, Mother. I will marry him. I will finally be free." Pavetta's voice, filled with certainty, cried in desperation to her mother. Calanthe looked back and forth, seeing every single man, and woman, in Kyana's case, agreeing with Duny. Reluctantly, she handed the hilt of her sword to Eist, who took it gently from her grip. A tear slid down Calanthe's face, her sadness at the defeat finally emerging past her broken, forced smile. She offered a hand to Duny, who took it with great care between his own. Calanthe raised her mouth to Duny's ear, whispering to him softly.

"Here is your destiny." Calanthe pulled back, thrusting a dagger from under her arm towards his throat. Pavetta screamed, her face molding into pain and sorrow. With some considerable force, a great power thrust every single person in the room backwards, including Calanthe. Windows smashed, lights flickered away. 

Kyana was thrown into the wall at least twenty feet from the ground, hitting her head badly against the stone. Her ears rang from the impact and her eyes blurred, but she could still make out Geralt against a pillar, calling to her in concern. Jaskier was already by a wall and wasn't much effected by the sudden storm in the middle of the ballroom. His eyes went wide at the sight of Kyana practically on the ceiling. 

A storm of what looked like mist flowed at a brilliant speed around Pavetta and Duny, keeping them safe from harm. Their feet lifted from the air, her chanting helping them to see each other through the wind's sharp whip. Everyone watched them as they soared, up and up, together. Kyana watched limply, her eyes watering from the wind. Geralt struggled forward, one foot placed in front of the other, holding his free arm up to stop jugs and food from hitting him. Geralt tried using his magic, only to be whipped away and smacked against the pillar again.

Kyana caught onto what he had attempted and used all of her strength to move her hand forward. Kyana's hand pointed towards Pavetta, she took a deep breath when the wind crushed at her chest like a ten ton weight, letting magic flow through her. Violet shot out of Kyana's hand, into the whirlwind of mist. Pavetta looked down, seeing Kyana, her eyes widening. Kyana, without hesitance, struck Pavetta lightly with the magic, knocking her out of her spell and into reality.

The winds stopped, leaving a mass of mess around where it had been. Darkness encased the room, illuminating the young couple in the middle of the circle, who were on the floor, but alive. Kyana flew down to the ground, landing harshly in a heap. She felt her right leg break as the shock of the landing flew through her like a flood, resulting in a painful groan. Kyana felt Geralt's hands pull her arm upwards to rest over his shoulder, grasping her waist to take the weight from her leg. She hissed in pain, but let him take the weight. 

They stepped, and limped, into the light in order to assess the damage that had been caused. The Witchers looked around, watching others stand while others lay still. Calanthe stumbled to her feet, having been thrown into a table. She used the wood as a cane to lift herself upwards, shaking on her own two feet. While the Lioness had been struck down, she noticed her daughter and Duny still very much standing. Warily, Pavetta allowed Calanthe to approach them.

She gripped onto Pavetta, taking her into her arms and crying softly. "I thought your grandmother's gift had skipped you as it did me. It seems I was wrong. About so many things." Calanthe addressed the crowd.  "Destiny has spoken! And I have listened. The Law of Surprise will be honored. Pavetta will marry Lord Urcheon." Murmurs of disapproval surrounded them, although Eist came behind Calanthe, silently reassuring her.

"React poorly, and you won't just face the Lioness, you will be facing the sea hounds of Skellige. Because Queen Calanthe has agreed to my proposal of marriage." Eist announced. Kyana found it rather bad that he had been flirting with her when he was engaged, but at the same time, she didn't really care.