The sun's rays entered the windows of Geralt's room and landed on the witcher's face, disturbing him from his sleep. He arose from the bed, and proceeded to wash his face. Geralt looked into the mirror: Damn…What happened to me? I look so… tired, so fed up! His thoughts were interrupted however by a knock at the door.
"Who is it?"
"Pardon me, master witcher, but I must inform you that Governor Vernon Roche expects you in his office."
"Fine, I will come at once!"
The Temerian guard thanked the witcher and left. Geralt dressed with his old travelling clothes and proceeded to talk to Roche.
Vernon Roche's office was pretty big, decorated of course with Temerian lilies. Almost all of Vizima could be seen through the windows.
"Geralt of Rivia! Safe and sound!" The witcher hated when Roche addresses him like that. It sounds like the former leader of the Blue Stripes regrets that Geralt's still alive.
"Vernon Roche… Nice office. Much better than that cave I found you in."
"Fuck your ironies! From that cave, we fought for a better Temeria, a better North."
"Yes, I'm sure the peasants are ecstatic now, living their lives in your "better Temeria". Just a few days ago, I was at an inn in Velen. You are quite famous now, Roche. Now every person from that swamp wants to do something to you. Let me give you a hint: it starts with P, and ends with H and it's not punch. But I bet you could easily find some of them willing to punch you!" Vernon Roche looked unimpressed.
"It is your little speech done? I admit. Things are not going very well for the folks in the country, but we just started to rebuild. The war with the Black Ones almost destroyed us. We must recreate our old infrastructure, our old laws, and our old country. It's impossible to do that without a few sacrifices." Roche's got a point, more than Geralt could possibly admit.
"Definitely, but people are not patient."
"Then ploughing make them patient, Geralt, if you really want to help!" Thaler entered the room, with a lot of scrolls in his hands.
"I should have known you will eavesdrop on us. But enough with the banter. Tell me why am I here!"
"About a month ago, we received information that a high-ranking Temerian officer was sighted in Novigrad. Apparently, this individual is a rabble rouser, trying to recruit men for something, not sure what it is. He meets with people in secretive places, but we know that he sought help from a medic there, one Benoff Vorvitz."
"I know of him. Vorvitz helped me once, gave me information about the whereabouts of a very elusive higher vampire."
"That's good! The whoreson will help you!" Thaler then added: "If you accept to find this Temerian officer, of course."
Geralt looked with suspicion at the two. "Vorvitz is not just a medic, but a specialist in healing spells. He is a mage and he left with Triss and the others in Kovir. If he returned to Novigrad, even after Radovid's death… There is something you hide from me, Roche." The former leader of the Blue Stripes sighed:
"It seems is futile to try to withhold information from you, Geralt. Very well. We suspect this officer is John Natalis."
"Why wouldn't John Natalis return after the war ended?"
"Ploughing pride, maybe? I mean, he would probably find this cocksucking treaty we have with the Black Ones quite unpalatable. Maybe the man sees us as traitors, accuses us of being Nilfgaard's whores!" Thaler had a valid point.
"Yes and maybe he tries to do something about it, to start a new war with the Nilfgaardians. Geralt, we don't know who this man is. Maybe the officer is just a deserter who ran away from the war. Please, investigate this. You are the best tracker I know and you have allies in Novigrad. It's important that we should try to find out the truth before the Black Ones!"
"Yes, Geralt. If the Black Ones find out about this man, and if he is John fucking Natalis trying to play hero against them, then Nilfgaard will plough us so hard that a thousand healing spells won't be enough to repair our penetrated asses."
Geralt closed his eyes, thinking about his next step: Shit… Politics, again!
"Fine, I'll do it." Vernon Roche smiled:
"Then it's settled. Ride for Novigrad as soon as possible. And Geralt… take Melanie Henry with you. She is a sorceress and she is quite skilled. She will be our representative in the free city, taking care of politics while you do your witcher thing."
"Roche, even with Radovid dead, Novigrad is not a good place for a sorceress."
"She will do fine. We have allies there too. Please, Geralt!" After a few moments of thinking, Geralt nodded:
"Fine!"
"Please, Geralt. Try not to fuck this one too. You have a thing for sorceresses!" Thaler annoyed Geralt, and didn't back off until the witcher threatened him with his steel sword.
"I'll leave you boys here. Tell the sorceress to be ready. We will ride tomorrow at dawn."
