I can hear the clicking of the horses of the horses hoofs on the stone that lines the path that we go down. Other than that nobody's talking, it's as if i'm alive. Except that there's two people here who want to hunt and kill me down. Other than that it's completely peaceful out here, the sun is bright with few clouds in the sky and there's the smell of roses and grapes in the air. I look back and see that i cannot see my home town where I grew up. I look down at my horse and see its thick brown mane over the black fur that covers my , that's his name. I named him just a year and a half ago when i got him as a youngling from his mother. I always trained him, i just kept him gaining new skills and worked on his speed. He's the fastest horse i've ever rode and seen at least in toissaint. I haven't lost a race yet he was bred for speed.
"You're awfully quiet over there." i hear ciri say over to me. I look over and see her riding next to me, i look around and see geralt behind us.
"Sorry about that, most of the time i'm riding alone." i tell her looking over and give her a smile but she keeps a blank face.
"Hm what's its name?" she asks me looking down at my horse.
"His name is shadow,what's yours?" i ask her looking down at the white horse.
"She's swallow." she says patting its neck softly as it neighs quietly.
"Like the bird? Very quick im guessing by its build." i say looking around it. "What about yours Geralt?"
"Roach." i hear him say from behind us. "How far is this place now?"
"Well actually we're about here, just a couple more minutes and we will be there." i say looking down at the house in the distance, it's got size but not enough to look like it's over the top. Just simple with the rooms i need. Outside is a stable for shadow and a mare i got recently, a three year old chestnut. Iplan for them to breed so i could have three maybe start a farm of my own. The old vines that are about with nothing growing across them, i took all the dead vines down i just need to plant new ones. Everything's coming together except that i'm going to need farm hands to take care of those. I have a basement in the house. I've been telling myself i should turn in there instead of the cave but if i got out i could destroy my house. I'm glad i haven't gotten myself to do that now. No evidence at the house. "What are you all hunting for any way?"
"Well we got word that 7 months ago 2 people got attacked by a animal. 1 died and disappeared, and another survived,so our first step is we need to find them, and then we figure out what attacked them." Ciri told me as she continued to hold her reins in her hands down near the saddle in a relaxed fashion.
"Any idea what it is?" i ask knowing that they do but trying to seem clueless.
"Well we were given a contract over a werewolf." she says as geralt rides up beside her.
"Is there anyone in the village that has white hair?" he asks me staring me down.
"No, not that i know of, why?"
"We were told that the wolf we are looking for is completely white, that means that they have white hair." he says looking at ciri.
"I've only seen to people with white hair and that's you two, sorry i can't be more help." i tell them looking back to the house. "Here we go, we're here." i tell them as we go up the path to my house.
"Is there a place we can rest our horses?" i hear Geralt call out.
"Yea, i got a stable. It has a couple stables open, there already hayed and ready." i pull into the stable and point to the two open stables. I went and stopped my horse and got off. I unstrapped the saddle and sat it on the side of the stable. I went and grabbed a couple carrots from the bucket and fed him while petting his neck. I walked out and shut the door and seen Geralt walk outside. I followed and looked at there horses and seen that the saddles were still on them.
"Are you all ready to see your rooms?" i asked them, "i'll have dinner cooked in 30 minutes."
"Yes, that sounds great, thank you." Ciri tells me looking at Geralt.
"Yea, thanks." He says with a blank face. I start walking towards the house with wood surrounding the house. I go up to the door and pull out my key and slide it in, turning pushing the door open. I've finished the inside, there's rugs and a dining table made out of some old wood. But at the end is my original armor from the war with my sword held towards the ground with its pure silver. Then next to it is my trophy, the full black iron with its huge sword put towards the ground as well.
"Here you go, kitchen is to the left and my room is to our right…" i hear a growling from the stairs and see a dog there. I hear a sword starting to be unsheathed and look back and see Geralt pulling it out. "Woah woah woah, thats my dog. His name is porthos, it's okay." i say reaching my arms out. He sheathes it back and i look at my dog. "Porthos, outside." i tell him as he runs past them.
"Most dogs i see are trying to rip my throat out." i hear Geralt say as he stares at my dog.
"Hm, well i promise he won't, now the stairs are over there, choose whatever door you like and there's a key on the table. I only have one so i can't give you both one." i tell them as they nod and start walking up the stairs. I walk to the kitchen and shut the door behind me and lean on the table.
"Shit, shit, shit." i say letting out a breath. I go over to the stove and put in some wood and light the fire. I make some stew, something easy and quick and leave it in there as the wood smolders down. I walk out of the kitchen and open the door and prop it open, i walk over to the stairs and call out that dinner is finished, then i walk outside. And go behind the house and close my eyes.
"There's something magic around here." i hear Geralt say, still upstairs.
"It's probably nothing, just some item around the house. Let's not pester him with questions he seems like a nice person."
"I've had nicer people turn out to be who i'm hunting. And stop saying details about what we're hunting he doesn't need to know everything."
"Father, he's letting us stay here, practically for free, let's just respect his privacy and be grateful, now let's just eat." i hear ciri say then footsteps. I look over and see if i see anyone then i jump up and stand on the wooden beams that surround my house. I walk around and find some plaster that i had covered. I dip my hand in it then push it into the cracks of the house and work my way around leaving myself to my thoughts. I need to ask more questions to figure out who set up the contract. At least to know who is behind this. And how they knew i was new, was white, and was even hear. I've been quiet, haven't had anyone see me or even gave anyone a reason to guess that i was one. I just have to keep reminding myself that they don't know who, and they won't find out unless Hedwig tells them. He wouldn't do that though, me and his bond is a strong one. It's like he's a grandfather, no a father. Hes taught me so much and has told me a lot of history about us. Im i just wish it didn't hurt so damn much. Every time i turn my bones break over and over to shape me the way it wants to be. And the day after, forget about it. That's the worst. You throw up repeatedly and for me it's even worst because i don't eat while i'm turned, not even animals. Hedwig says i should it could lead to my turns getting worst and hurting more, but i don't want to get out and hurt somebody so i refuse. Then there's the ache you have the whole day, makes you stumble and weak. Most of the time i spend my whole day passed out in my room. I look out at the sun that is starting to set and stare. I have a week and a half left till i turn and i can already feel myself getting...wolfy, a weird term i know but it's the only one i can think of. I can smell everything, hear everything, and i get more aggressive and...well i like the company of women more. I look down and hop off and land on my feet. I wipe of my hands and walk inside, i see Geralt and ciri looking at my trophy.
"Its pretty huh?" i say startling ciri but i know geralt already knows i'm there.
"Reminds us of some armor of some people we know." Ciri says looking at it closely. "But this sword is magnificent, it's a little long for my taste but beautiful." she says.
"It's too big for me as well, i never used it." i say walking and leaning on the table. Ciri turns to me with a quizzical look.
"Then why have it on display? If it means anything to you."
"You were in the military, weren't you." i hear Geralt say more as a statement than a question.
"Yea, me and my brother both. We fought side by side, we defended fort Highrock and me and my brother were put into a duel, we win. We get to go home on a ship and Toissaint gets paid as well as keeping Fort Highrock, we lose and they have to walk home with nothing. So me and my brother go into a duel with the man that was wearing that armour and his brother, apparently they were there best soldiers in the northern armies. We won both came home. Ragnar with a couple wounds on his legs. Me with a severe headache and here we are." i tell them.
"So you're pretty good with a sword i guess." he says back.
"Me and brother used to beat each other with fence posts since we could walk." i look at him then at ciri as she sits on a bench crossing her legs.
"So what else can you all tell me about this werewolf?" i ask them. Looking from one to another. Geralt leans forward and puts his hands on the table.
"Not much, but someone wants this wolf. Do you know anything about the attack or if the boy survived?" he asks me.
"There's no way David survived." i let slip out.
"You knew them?" Ciri asks quickly. I look around the room and back.
"I only knew david i don't know who the other one was." i tell them.
"Well how did you know he didn't survive then, he could have ran off and made it." Geralt says to me.
"I seen where they were attacked, trust me he's dead." i tell them getting up. "Well i'm tired i shall be going to bed. If you all need anything knock on the door and i'll be out in a minute." i walk into my room and shut the door. shit.