Ruby grumbled to herself as her horse galloped down the road at a steady pace. She had expected the trip to the kingdom of Vale to be a rather pleasant one.
It was the height of summer and while rather warm, not the same scorching heat it had been the year before.
So it wasn't unreasonable to expect a pleasant trip.
However apparently Vale was experiencing an ungodly amount of off season storms.
She glanced up at the dark grey sky pouring rain down on her head, soaking her clothes and filling her boots.
She was, not for the first time since she'd set out for Vale, wishing she had stayed in Skellige. The Jarls had plenty of work for her and were more than hospitable in her room and board, but she couldn't ignore her sister's letter asking her to go to Vale for a job that specifically needed a Witcher.
She grumbled to herself as Zwei galloped through a large puddle, more like a small pond, splashing her up to the waist and covering her soggy boots with mud. Not that it made much difference, she'd been riding through the great storm for a day already.
There was no point in stopping now, even chilled to the bone as she was in the unusually cold rain. Vale's castle was no more than an hour's ride away, she would stop then, and only then.
The rain drops stung at her face and hands like tiny needles, making her squint. The thoroughly soaked blood red hood that covered her head and shoulders offered no protection and simply weighed down on her tired body like lead, threatening to suffocate her.
Her legs and behind were sore and stiff after so long in the saddle, no matter how comfortable it was made to be.
"Soon," She mumbled wearily to herself, cold and numb fingers rearranged their grip on the reins, trying to work some blood back into the stiff digits as she spurred on the gray and white gelding.
The storm didn't strengthen, nor did it weaken in the remaining time it took to reach Vale's royal residence. The downpour was steady and constant.
The pair of armored sentry's saw her coming and halted her just beyond the castles dry walls, halberds pointed at the ready. She sighed as a river of rain water dribbled from the end of her nose.
"Identify yourself." One demanded, holding a lantern up to shine across her face. He jerked as he caught sight of her cat like silver eyes and the pair of curved swords on her back.
"Ruby Rose of Patch, I'm a Witcher." She announced.
"It's the Witcher the sorceress sent for." The other guard mumbled to his comrade who nodded and hollered at the guards standing in the ramparts to lower the bridge.
"They're awaiting your arrival inside, Mistress Witcher." The guard with the lantern said. Ruby nodded, giving Zwei a nudge. He gave a snort and started forward, the wood planks creaked and groaned under his hooves as he trotted across the bridge into the courtyard.
With stiff legs she hauled herself out of the saddle and swung herself to the ground, boots squelching in the thick mud.
"I'll take your horse to the stables, Miss." another guard offered.
"Thanks, but I'd rather do it myself." She insisted, holding tight to Zwei's reigns as he pointed her in the direction of the stables.
Once under the cover of the stables she set about removing the sodden saddle and her gear. Zwei shook and stamped his hooves approvingly.
"I know, I'm just as soaked as you." She spoke aloud to him while rubbing his snout. He snorted loudly.
Once he was set up in the stables she ventured back out into the rain, stepping quickly. Wanting nothing more than to get dry and have a hot meal. An older, portly servant with a thick white mustache was waiting for her just inside.
"This way please, Miss." His robust voice made Ruby wince as it bounced off the high stone walls.
She followed him down a long stone corridor, passing several other bustling servants carrying laundry or trays.
Her eyes strayed up to the flickering candles that lit the hall and illuminated the many grandiose paintings and heraldry banners that dangled from the rafters, a crossed pair of axes in a laurel ring on a field of hunter green; the crest of Vale.
The servant stopped abruptly, she nearly tripped on her own feet in her hurry to stop before running into him.
"This will be your room for the duration of your stay, Miss. His Majesty wishes for you to join him for dinner, everything you need has already been delivered, if you need anything don't hesitate to call." He informed.
"Thank you." She nodded and he bowed briefly before turning and disappearing around the corner.
She slipped inside and immediately noticed the claw footed tub full of still steaming water and couldn't undo the straps holding her swords and gear fast enough.
Ruby hummed to herself as she inspected her reflection in the mirror. Being a monster hunter by trade she was not used to wearing dresses and fidgeted constantly with the bodice. It really wasn't her color either. The ankle length material in the black and green colors of the kingdom.
She'd have to deal. It was always much easier to do what those of royalty wanted her to do in these situations.
She brushed a hand through her shoulder length hair, not much she could do with it. It was brushed and that would have to do. It was just nice to be warm and dry again for the first time in nearly two days. Hopefully the job would be worth it.
There was a sharp rapping on her door.
"Come in."
The same servant from before stepped in.
"I've come to escort you to the dining hall, Miss."
"Lead the way." she waved, following him out the door.
The walk to the dining room was quick and quiet. The mustached servant disappearing again once she was seated. A slew of servants were setting the last platters on the table and moving out of the way.
The table was laden with more food than Ruby had seen in a long while. Roasted meats and glazed fruits and dishes she didn't even recognize but made her mouth water all the same.
She sat admiring all the food for a few minutes before the loud clicking of heels made her look up.
Two women had walked into the room.
Both were adorned in long elegant dresses and ethereally beautiful.
King Ozpin's sorceress advisors.
One was tall and buxom with blonde hair pulled up into a neat bun. Her long flowing white and violet gown ended in ruffles at her feet and fit snugly around her waist. A row of shiny black buttons that held the sleeves closed from shoulder to wrist stood out in stark contrast against the white bodice. Sharp acid green eyes observed the room from behind a tiny pair of spectacles.
Although it was nearly impossible to guess at the age of sorceress's the second woman just seemed younger than the blonde. She was small and delicate looking but her features were sharp and angular. Her sky blues eyes were only a scant few shades lighter than the sapphire dress that hugged every curve from her shoulder to her calves, not to mention the high off-center ponytail of long white hair that swung lazily with each step.
Her previously salivating mouth was now bone dry as those blue eyes were trained on her.
"Ruby Rose of Patch, I presume?" The blondes heels clicked pointedly as she walked up to the table. The other woman followed without a word,
Ruby quickly rose from the table and gave a haphazard bow.
"I am, lady…" Ruby paused and the seemingly elder of the two filled the empty space.
"Glynda Goodwitch." She supplied and Ruby snorted internally at the appropriate name for a sorceress.
Quickly getting over her mirth, slitted silver eyes turned to the rooms yet unnamed occupant.
The other woman made a sound that Ruby thought perhaps was a sigh as she gave a perfect and polite curtsey.
"Weiss Schnee," was all she offered. Glynda took up the conversation again.
"We are King Ozpin's advisors in all things arcane and magical." She said simply.
"Sorceress's" Ruby said. Glynda gave a nod while Weiss's face screwed up briefly as if she wished to comment but didn't.
The two women came forward and sat at the two empty place settings and once they had settled Ruby ungracefully plopped back down onto her own cushioned chair. If Glynda noticed she made no indication but Weiss's cold stare from across the table was almost palpable and Ruby straightened up, slightly.
"Thank you for coming without delay, Miss. Rose. You came highly recommended by a colleague of ours." Glynda told her, as she placed an emerald green napkin carefully in her lap. "Miss Yang Xiao Long."
"My sister." Ruby nodded, her attention divided between the two sorceresses sitting in front of her and the steaming hot food on the table. "She wrote me and told me that you were in need of a witcher."
"We believe so." Glynda started. Ruby cocked a brow in silent question at the answer.
"Normally, his majesty spends the summer months in the northeast corner of the kingdom, in Beacon castle, however in the late spring some unsettling things began to happen in Beacon. Servants began to disappear without a trace." She explained, looking at Ruby who nodded for her to go on.
"The last month, we found them, or the remains at least in the lower levels of the castle, piles of bones and half decayed corpses, some that looked as though they had been ripped apart by fang or claw." She paused, straightening her glasses before going on. "For some time servants had been whispering of ghastly noises coming from the castle's lower regions but it's ancient and thus to be expected. I wish it had been looked into much sooner." Glynda's mouth twisted.
"So you think a monster had moved into the bowels of Beacon castle." Ruby surmised.
"What else could it be?" Weiss finally spoke heatedly. Glynda shot her a look and she pursed her lips but quieted.
"How many people have been killed?" Ruby asked, seemingly offhand as she filled her plate with food from the table. She was hungry and had had talks more gruesome than this one over meals, not that that ever made it any easier.
"Since the end of spring… thirty." Glynda finally answered. Ruby's head whipped up at that.
"That many and you've just now contacted a witcher?" Ruby blinked in shock. It usually only took two or three people disappearing before she was contacted for jobs.
"Until we found the remains there was no proof that a monster was the cause. There was never any signs of a struggle or blood. Simply empty chambers in the morning." Weiss spoke up.
Ruby pursed her lips in thought and the sorceress's could see it in her slitted silver eyes.
"Monsters don't sneak into bedrooms at night and take their prey somewhere else to kill and eat." Ruby stated flatly.
Glynda pushed her spectacles up her nose, glancing sideways at Weiss before emerald eyes were focussed back on her.
"We agree, which is why if you accept the job for the monster of Beacon, Weiss shall accompany you, so we may get to the… root of the problem." her poison green eyes flashed in what Ruby could only describe as barely restrained fury.
She glanced at the other sorceress. They were handy to have around for sure, but Weiss didn't seem to be the friendliest sorceress she'd ever met.(That would be her sister for certain.)
"Alright… before I agree to anything let's talk about my pay." She said before stabbing a piece of juicy roast on her plate and shoving it in her mouth. It took all she had not to moan in delight.
"Of course, we can not expect you to risk your life for nothing." Glynda nodded. "The king has assured me that if you slay the beast and or beasts that plague Beacon you will be rewarded, however he wishes me to let you know that if you are able to help Weiss apprehend the true threat you will be rewarded with a sum that only a king could afford." She said easily as she served herself from a plate laden with summer vegetables.
Ruby chewed thoughtfully as she went over the proposal in her head. The monsters might not have been the main problem here but there were monsters nonetheless and thus it was Witcher's work, regardless of the human element at work.
She swallowed her current mouthful and nodded.
"I'll take the job." She agreed before shoving another bite into her mouth.
"Excellent," A small, pleased smile formed on Glynda's lips. "It is imperative you get to Beacon as quick as you can."
"I'll leave at dawn." Ruby nodded, glancing over another forkful and her future companion.
Weiss's frown remained firmly in place as she speared morsels on her fork and Ruby sighed internally, usually she was ecstatic for company on the road but this didn't seem like it would be at all like the times she traveled with Yang.
She happened to catch the other woman's gaze and pale brows furrowed between her eyes. Not so much a glare per say but an… unfriendly assessing?
She looked away from the enchantress's cold stare to look at the hot food piled up on her plate and sighed under her breath.
'Great,' she thought.
This probably won't be very long. 3,4 chapters? Dunno yet. Just something I wanted to do after I finished reading all the witcher books. I've taken a few liberties with the witcher world, so I don't wanna hear stuff like 'all witchers have gold/yellow eyes', I know. ~ Malthazar LOS
(I'll try to make it go on as long as possible :D)