.III. Blood, bones and drowners.


As he was left with no choice, than to follow once again the trail of Galodo.

Gerd, got on his horse, leaving Jakko, in the empty village of Jorg, as he set to track and kill the mercenary.

But as he was on Galodo's trail, witcher Gerd remembered about a contract that he had not long ago. This one happened last Yule, on the Arc Coast of Redania:


Memories:

Gerd was passing by a city, and thought that having more coin doesn't hurt. So, he took a contract, which was about three men that disappeared in the sewer. Gave by a concerned citizen, a cook, Marco. The witcher went inside the sewer to investigate, but when he got out, he was 'invited' by two guards to join the richest man in the city at his house for a supposed job proposal, he would have for him. Not something Gerd would refuse or could in the given situation, as the two guards didn't seem to take a no for an answer.

...

'Beautiful as far as beasts go, don't you think ?' said the noble. The other individual did not answer back, nor did show any intention to.

'Hmm. Anyway, come this way. I might have something that will sure catch your eye', said the gentleman, while the uninterested character nudged his head and joined him.

On the way to whatever the red-bearded noble, and his guest headed towards. 'I hear you have some business to take care of in the city, may I...propose a bit of advice ?', the guest seemed bored if not simply emotionless, as facial expressions go, just set his eyes on the gentleman for a second than went back. Without any word from the strange fellow, the noble-man resumed to his advice.

'This is a peaceful city. There is no need to carry swords inside, and I mean no offence. But, those swords of yours are scaring the populace within the city walls...If I may, could you leave them here ? Under the locked key. A key that I will give to you, and only to you...', the business-man paused a bit as he looked at his guest, who probably gave a literal shit about whatever he was babbling about, perhaps this certain individual was not even paying attention.

They now came out of a stair case, past the doorway and stopped on a balcony that had a view across the whole city. From there you could see the port, which had its always busy sight, so that you could hear the sailors and dock workers as they were loading an unloading the ships. You'd also see the tall buildings around the market that stretch all the way to the bay, and the famous city walls that go around, towards the port, where they would scale down in height until they are level with the sea. Creating an artificial bay, were merchant ships and not only, from across Redania, Kovir, Nilfgaard, Cintra and Skillige, were anchored in the famous Baltazar Bay of Eskvon, a city north of Blaviken, on the Arc Coast of Redania.

...

'I assure you no one will-'.

'I won't.', said the guest, and walked a couple of steps away from the host, going near the balcony balustrade, placing his left hand on it, looking towards the bay.

'But-', said the host before being interrupted by his impolite guest.

'I have a contract in the city, and I can't apply my trade without my swords. Therefore, I won't leave them here.', said the guest while applying a sober tone to his already thick voice.

'Inside the city ? what kind of business could you have, there can't be any-', the host was interrupted again by his witcher guest.

'Drowners in the sewer.'.

'In the sewer...But...How did they get into the sewers ? There are steel grates at the exits.'.

'Perhaps few bars were rusty, drowners chew them off...'.

'Those foul beasts, always on the prowl...Have there been any victims ?'.

'Two men. One around thirty years old and the other, late forties. But, three had been said to be missing. So, the third one, is still in the sewers.', said the guest.

'But what in the name of...' paused the noble, while placing his hand above his mouth. 'What were they doing there ?'.

'Couldn't ask them, but there may be others. Those three had been reported missing by a cook that prepares meals for the homeless. But, for the reason they were in the sewers, they probably sleep there...'.

'Sleep ? In the sewers ? How could someone sleep there ?', asked the noble waving his hands around, giving Gerd the impression that he was overreacting.

'Well, it is better then the streets, at least they have a 'roof' over their head.', answered the witcher. Giving a serious stare to the noble. 'Surprising, how a man such as yourself doesn't know that.', continued Gerd while turning his head away from the noble, looking again towards the bay.

'I don't take interest in vermin, witcher...', answered the noble slightly annoyed by the witcher's previous sentence.

'Anyway, you shan't continue your investigation, there's no need.', said the noble calmly, approaching Gerd. 'I, have solved our problem. You, can stay in the city as long as you want. And there will be no need for your weapons anymore.', continued the noble man, quite happy about his resolve.

'You'll let innocent people die ? Because of their social position ?!', responded Gerd with a slightly, far fetched angry tone.

'Huh.', giggled the noble. 'Don't fool yourself, witcher. They have no such thing as a social position. They are like rats, the more die, the better.', answered the noble, showing a slight smile on his face. 'They are far from innocent too. They, my dear witcher, are those who steal, murder and destroy the image of this beautiful city. I, won't mind, if-'

'What if their problem becomes yours ?', interrupted the witcher.

'How so ?'.

'You think the drowners will stay in the same place ? What if they get out, on the streets ?'.

'Then, you will take care of them.', quickly answered the noble, pointing at Gerd. 'However, until then...The beasts would've taken care of those worthless inhabitants in the sewers. And, when they come here you will end your contract and I will pay you good coin. All entrances to the sewer around the city, will be blocked. So that no men nor drowner can get out. Problem solved.', continued the noble, while pouring himself a glass of wine. 'Wine, witcher ?'

'No thanks.', answered Gerd.

'Don't be irritated, my friend. I shan't let you leave the city without a good pouch of gold. For, what you just brought to my attention, is good information that has to be rewarded. Won't you agree ?', the noble drank from his gold dressed cup of aged wine. 'Of course you do. Easy coin, isn't it ?', said the noble while taking another sip from his wine.

The witcher still, unimpressed by the host, kept looking towards the bay.

'Come on, witcher. I just saved you from a whole day in the sewer. You, should be grateful, not judgmental towards me. I am your friend here.', while the noble took a look at his guest, the witcher.

'I will even pay you. How does eight-hundred and fifty crowns sound ? I tell you how they sound...Far better then what you would get from that contract of yours. What do you say to that deal ?', said the noble gentleman, placing his elbows on the balcony's balustrade.

'Huh.', murmured the witcher. 'You nobles, have a grim sense of humor.'.

'Well, I am flattered that you noticed, but what-do-you-say ?' asked the noble once again, looking at Gerd.

'Deal...'

'Hah !', shouted the noble. 'I knew you'd see the potential !'. he continued with joy, patting Gerd on the back and handing him a cup of wine as well , a Toussaint favorite, Erveluce.


Two peasants, gossiping while working the land near a village, south of Blaviken:

'Did you hear ?', asked a peasant another peasant.

'What is there to hear ?', answered the other peasant.

'A witcher's in town...A famous one at that.'.

'And who is that ?', asked the other, straightening up and placing his hands on the hips, stretching his back.

'Vesemir of Kaer Morhen.'

'Hmm...Doesn't ring a bell.', responded the other scratching the temple of his head and grabbing his spud.

'You know...The one that came around here a few years ago, when we had that water hag at the river.'

'Nah...Don't remember.', responded the other.

'Whatever...'


It was probably the darkest night yet, this spring, one in which almost no stars could be seen on the dark, clouded sky as the moon was barely poking out on the edge of one black cloud. Slowly consuming the image of the moon on the night sky. Great flashes of light could be seen coming from the west. A storm was coming. Heading inland, with fury. As the flashes of lighting were slashing the sky, and thunders shook the ground...


A flash cut through the thick darkness.

Then, a thunder shivered the plains, woods, hills and mountains.

It was once again, the season of storms.


Suddenly, the witcher Gerd opened his eyes, looking like he just woke up from a bad dream. As he drew his hand over his face, he saw, the giant flash of light tearing through the night sky, then heard the loud thunder. It was so loud that it spook his mare, whom he calmed with the sign of Axii.

He then took his swords and jumped on his horse, heading towards Novigrad. Where he planned to find and take a ship, to the Skellige Isles.


'Down !', shouted one sailor. 'Get down !' he shouted once again. While all those around him, were holding tooth and nail to whatever they could, as the big waves were balancing the boat, with all the cargo set tumbling and stumbling across the lower deck of the ship. As did the men, as waves took them, from one side to another, from port to starboard, up and down, overboard, and so on. The thunderstorm was fierce, lighting was traveling the sky tireless, the thunders were so loud that even the seas trembled and shook. Heavens were lighting up all over. As fierce waves were hitting the bow of the ship and the sides, setting barrels and crates rolling and sliding on the upper-deck, some falling overboard. Then, there were the sails, which barely withstood the strong winds, that moved them in all the possible directions, shattering a few of them, as the captain of the ship was holding onto the wheel, soaked. Moved left and right around it, by the violent waves. Quickly blinking his eyes as he was constantly hit by the waves that smashed and broke on the sides of the ship, as he was steering it through the rising seas.


It was simply put, as one hell of a storm. Sailors were lost to the rabid sea. Some died drowned. Others squashed by the barrels and crates that broke free of their chains and ropes during that chaos and only a lucky handful of them managed to not get thrown overboard.

But one ship, of merchants and tailors from Cidaris got wrecked near the coast of Redania, a few miles from Oxenfurt, on the southern shore of the Pontar.

While the mourning sun was rising once more upon the lands of Redania, Gerd was traveling at full gallop, towards the city of Novigrad...


As the witcher had followed Galodo's tracks for some time now, he noticed a second set of horse shoe tracks. Indicating that someone awaited him. The place where he noticed the tracks was ahead of a portion of road that was made of stone, so he couldn't find any foot prints, due to the rocky ground.

Both were heading southeast, only a couple of hours ahead of him...