((Re-reading the Witcher books and replaying The Witcher 3 has caused this. Is causing. Well. You get my drift.

I'm not sure how fast I can update because I have a job, too, but I do fully intend to finish this. (((I did finish Tug-o-War, too, after all, even if it took 5 ½ years))) and I'm actually rather proud of the result. This one isn't going to be quite so monstrous, though. (((Not that I expected the other one to go anywhere beyond 20.000 words.)))

Also I hope I won't forget the frame story when I get back to that point in time. I don't normally use those, but this scene was the first I had in my head, and you may know how I like my weird, brief, cryptic openers.))


Prologue: Helpless

The Unknown Warrior watched the other man pace, hands balled into fists, his normally gentle face turned into a mask of anger that barely hid a much more primal emotion. Fear? The Unknown rose and stepped into his way, placing two large hands on his shoulders. A snarl that sounded almost inhuman escaped thin lips. He ignored it. 'Listen … We are not assassins. If that is what you want …'

'I want answers, not bloodshed!'

'You don't look like it.'

A quiver ran through the slender figure. 'I don't have many friends, Unknown, and fewer that I can count on for longer than the blink of an eye. I'm not going to leave a trail and death and destruction, nor would I ever ask anyone to do that for me. That isn't me. I'm frightened of losing someone very dear to me. And if that happens I want to know why, at least.'

'And do you know …'

'No! I know nothing, and it's killing me.' Every word was softer than the last, until he ended in little more than a choked whisper. 'If he dies …'

'Make sure he doesn't.'

'I asked him to come here. Had I not …'

The Unknown ignored the interruption. 'We can try and find out who attacked your friend, and if we do we'll hand them over. But as I told Thaler long before you, we are not hitmen. I heard you when you said that's not what you want, but I still want to make it very clear.' The only answer the Unknown got was a nod. 'Good. Now, do you wish to hire us?'

'Yes.'

'Then we'll meet in the evening and you tell me everything you know. Who this person is, when you last saw him safe, what happened in between, and what he might have told you about his enemies. Can you do that?'

'Yes. We'll do that.'

'You going to bring your external composure, too? Good idea. See you later. Now go home. Check on your friend. He's still alive, so don't bury him just yet, even in that head of yours. Should we come to your place so you have him within your extraordinary earshot if something happens?'

'Please.'

'Will do.'

'I'll pay you.'

'We'd do it for free for you, but I know you wouldn't let us.'

The ghost of a smile touched the other man's face. 'True. Thanks, Unknown.'