Eskel gripped his sword as he and Lambert stepped out into the cold. He inhaled deeply, letting the frigid air fill his lungs. It felt good. Down near the stable they took up their positions, holding blades at the ready. They swung and blocked easily at first, testing out Eskel's strength. When Eskel parried a fast swing, Lambert ceased giving him the easy road. They worked one another hard for almost an hour, until their fingers were numb with cold.
"Thanks for finding Scorpion and my swords," Eskel said, hefting the fine steel blade.
"Hey, what's a Witcher without his swords? Besides, he found you first. When we got there, he was milling around the bodies…" Lambert stopped and heaved a sigh. "They threw you off a cliff. Not a very tall one but still. You were saved by his other victims that had piled up. Sorceresses." Lambert shook his head then slammed his sword into its scabbard. "That bastard wants to put Keira at the bottom of that cliff!"
"Lambert, she is safe here."
"No! She's not! Don't you get it? She is still a target and Yen knows about her. How long before Emhyr figures out we're here and how long before they come here, huh? What then? She doesn't have a king at her back. Just me." Eskel opened his mouth to protest but Lambert continued. "There is nothing you can say or do, Eskel. Geralt thought he could fix everything and now he's dead. Stop trying to take his place!" Lambert whirled around and stormed off in the direction the small house he occupied with Keira at the edge of the vineyard.
That night as he lay in the arms of his lover, Eskel recounted the exchange with Lambert. Triss seemed unsurprised.
"It is no secret that he has always resented being a witcher. Don't take his words to heart. You and Geralt are similar, but growing up together, why wouldn't you be? But you're different, too. You are far more cautious than he ever was. You have always been calmer and more settled than any of the witchers I've ever known."
"I don't have a history to plague me." He said, his breath tickling her neck.
"That makes sense. No 'what ifs' to question your lot in life."
"The only thing to truly plague me was you."
"Me?" Triss asked, shocked. Eskel pushed up to look down at her.
"What if I never went to Kovir? You wouldn't be here right now, warm and soft…" he leaned in and inhaled deeply, "…and smelling so good." He kissed her neck, just below her ear.
"Well, allow me to show my appreciation that you did."
The robed wizard stood erect and motionless as Emhyr strode across the cold stone floor. Plaman was master, skilled and knowledgeable, if not overly powerful. He would not allow himself to cower before the Emperor. Afterall, it was his knowledge that led to the Emperor's renewed strength.
"What is the meaning of this?" Emhyr bellowed, flinging the letter at him. Plaman caught it and let his eyes scan its contents, then looked up at Emhyr pacing like a caged beast. He never paced. He never yelled. The Emperor of Nilfgaard didn't need to.
"This is actually very good news…" he began.
"Good news?! It is good news that the witcher is still alive? That, once again, I have to fight a mere witcher for what is rightfully mine?" Plaman remained calm despite the fact that this very angry man could have him executed with a nod.
"I have done further research about the origins of the spell, Your Eminence. The version we used was extrapolated from an old necromancy spell. The original requires the source's blood to complete the transformation. Specifically, blood collected as the source dies."
"And how long have you known this?"
"Not long. I have suspected the spell to be incomplete, but only recently found its origins."
"And what will happen without his blood?" Emhyr was calm again but rage burned in his eyes. Plaman swallowed hard before continuing.
"The ageing process will begin anew, your…illness…will no longer be held at bay. You will die." Plaman held still while he watched the Emperor process. Then he smiled. A small deadly smile.
"It seems that I will have need of my new little find after all." He turned on his heel and left.
"Yes, Your Eminence."
Winter began to fade in Toussaint long before the north and Triss began preparing an early return her monarch's side. She also convinced Eskel to go as well, via portal. After the previous summer he was disinclined to argue. There were also the disturbing rumors of a Nilfgaard army marching north even through the bitterness of winter. The Embassy in Beauclair had been nearly emptied over the summer as Emhyr gathered his forces home.
Triss and Kari and the twins left early in the morning, then Triss returned for Eskel after a rest. With Keira's help, she was able to stabilize the portal for longer, but the energy cost was great.
While he waited, Eskel prepared extra potions and oils, packed his bags and loaded them on Scorpion. As he tied on the last bag behind the saddle, someone cleared his throat behind him.
"What is it Lambert?" Eskel asked without turning.
"Sounds like war is brewing. Do you…do you want me to go with you?" Lambert asked haltingly. Eskel turned with a smile.
"Lambert, I do believe you are worried about me."
"Yeah, well," he said gruffly. "I don't want to be known as the last Witcher."
"No fame?"
"Not anymore. Fame leads to trouble. You and Geralt have proven that."
"Guess we have." Eskel chuckled. "But, no. Stay here. Someone needs to be here in case Emhyr turns his sights this way. And what about Keira? Does she want to leave? You were right when you said she was still a target."
"I suggested she leave but she's happy here. She can do her research in peace and doesn't want to get mixed up in any more fighting."
"No one does." Eskel led Scorpion out of the stable to where Keira and Triss were making their preparations.
"Look, I'm…sorry…about before. It's hard knowing that Yen…" Lambert trailed off.
"She's not a bad person, Lambert. A jerk, sure. She's just troubled. Something the two of you have in common."
"And you're not?"
"No. I don't know where I came from."
"That doesn't trouble you?"
"No, it doesn't."
"That explains a hell of a lot." Lambert mused as Triss approached.
"Are you ready?" she asked.
"Yes." Eskel gave Lambert a quick pat on the back and walked towards the waiting portal.
Once back in Kovir, Triss worked nonstop as the rumors of an army marching their way north became reality. It had been confirmed that the Nilfgaardians were making their way north led by none other than the Emperor himself. Weeks were spent gathering and preparing until the King decided it was time to meet the power grabbing Emperor. He would not allow Nilfgaard to step foot in his lands.
The spring rain was frigid as it ran down his neck, soaking his shirt, but Eskel seemed not to notice. He walked through the rows of soldiers, mercenaries, to the head of the column. The men looked haphazard, with their different armor and weapons but anyone who knew Kovir's history knew otherwise. These men made up the mercenary army that made Kovir a powerful force and now were being called upon to defend against Nilfgaard.
Being fully back to his old self, Eskel refused to be left behind. While riding to war at the side of a king was not ideal, he knew why this war had been started, and it was not at a king's whim. Eskel settled into his saddle and looked around. Patches of snow covered the still frozen ground, the puddles of rainwater freezing to an ice crust. It was going to be slow going but King Tancred was determined to meet the Emperor at the border.
He rode beside Triss, who, as chief advisor, rode beside the king who was also flanked by his royal guard. They pushed hard through the remaining frost and reached the border far faster than Eskel had expected. A small tent city was erected on the border with open rocky plains slanting down to the right and to the left a cliff hidden by forest. The landscape created a bottleneck that would be to Kovir's advantage. That night, Eskel sat perched on a boulder and watched the torches at the bottom of the incline as the enemy camp was erected.
"We should tell the King," said the young soldier beside him as he looked through his spyglass.
"Stay," Eskel replied. "I'll tell him." Eskel rose and walked back to the camp. It was bright in the darkness. Tancred was making a statement. Letting Emhyr know he was lord here. Eskel opened the flap into the Kings audience tent to find him leaning over a map table with Triss and several other advisors.
"Nilfgaard is here." He said. The King looked up and gave a curt nod.
"So it begins." He said darkly then turn back to his map. Eskel felt a gentle touch at his shoulder and was surprised to find that Magnus had made the journey as well.
"Come," the old man said softly then turned to go out of the tent. Eskel followed him into the cold night. Magnus continued walking to the edge of the forest where a single fire had been laid. He shooed the two men who had circled around before turning back to Eskel.
"I know who you are, Eskel and where you come from." He stated, his voice sounding far harder than normal.
"Magnus?"
"Not tonight I'm afraid. There are things in this world you have no comprehension of. Even you, a master of all that is unnatural. I am not of this world."
"Who are you?"
"I have gone by many names. I am a being beyond time, but I found you humans so…. interesting. In this plane I have no body of my own but allow others to absorb my essence, giving them my knowledge and a limited amount of my understanding. Tonight, I wish to share some of that with you. I have taken special, direct interest in a few humans over the years and do not want to see them come to harm.
You may have limits on the power inside you, but I can help you to understand it better thus allowing greater control over what you do have. You are not a source yet have a natural inclination toward magic. The witchers both strengthened it and limited it. A mage would have strengthened it alone. Limits are good. Especially with mankind and there is a man who needs to know that his power has limits." Magnus gestured to the fire. Eskel knelt facing the flames.
"Close your eyes. There is a speck of light in the dark. Focus on it but do not try to reach it. Focus on it, and nothing else." Eskel found the tiny speck in the darkness of his mind and looked at it. Looked and nothing more. The dark seemed to grow closer around him, but he ignored it, watching the light before him as it grew larger. He felt he could reach out and touch it but did not, merely let it surround him until it was too bright to look at…
He opened his eyes to the early dawn of wispy clouds and pink sky. The fire before him had died out over the night and he was alone. Sounds of soldiers tramping around drew his attention and he headed to the mess tent at the back of camp. Between bites of breakfast, the men tightened their armor and sharpened their weapons. Eskel found Magnus sitting alone, looking tired and worn, his white hair looking greyer. Eskel sat across from him. Magnus sighed.
"Now you know my secret. It is not I that tests the magical aptitude of would be mages but him. I was but a small village mage, a healer. While I could wield magic, I preferred to study magic and it's affects and use natural remedies to help the village folk. Then one day it all changed. He said someone needed what he knew, and I was the perfect one to deliver his message. That has been…decades ago."
"Who or what is it?" Eskel asked. Magnus shrugged.
"I don't know. His intent is not evil, that I know. I am privy to his thoughts and knowledge and he gives me a magical boost, but outside of that, he takes no action and does not force me to do anything. Last night was the rare exception."
"He said he knew where I came from."
"Yes. And if you really wanted to know, you would have asked. Eskel, you are content as so few are. They always want more yet you remain steady."
"That's not quite true. I have wanted more." Eskel replied recalling Rina.
"Yes, but you have not become bitter or jaded. You never sacrificed your path in life to try and obtain the unobtainable." Eskel silently acknowledged the truth in this. He gave Rina up to live her life, focused on his direction. Only now did he find he had what he wanted in Triss, Rayden and Isabella.
"Just remember your lesson," Magnus interrupted his private thoughts as the men around them began to gather up and move to their commander's call.
"Why now?"
"Can't say. He has his reasons, I'm sure. Now go. I will return to Pont Vanis before the fighting starts. Neither of us have a heart for war." Magnus pushed up and shuffled off behind the tent and Eskel went in search of Triss. She and another mage were preparing for battle from afar. He knew she had been given orders to refrain from magic unless the Nilfgaardians struck first. He had no desire to rain fire down on men following the orders of a madman.
King Tancred stood with his guard as the Nilfgaardians began their ascent up the slope. With a nod, he turned over control of the army to the generals and watched as the mass went to meet their foe. Nilfgaard attempted to strike the first blow with a barrage of fire arrows arching up and set to come down on the mercenary forces but were blown off course and the fire extinguished as the other mage, a middle-aged man, cast a wind spell.
The battle was on. The Koviri forces were enraged and charged the Black Ones, ducking under pikes and dodging swords. Kovir's forces were nimble against the heavily armored Nilfgaardians but were not invincible. Cries of agony rose from both sides as swords and axes found their mark and blood began to run down the rocky slope.
Eskel knelt an closed his eyes in meditation. The clash of swords beginning to fade from his mind leaving him in solitude in the middle of a crowd. He felt he would need as much practice as possible but for what he had no idea. A storm began to move over the mountains, heavy clouds blocking the sun and kicking up a cold wind. Before long rain began to pelt down on the battle. The downpour obscuring the ugliness.
For two days, the battle raged. Medics worked tirelessly to heal and repair or to simply comfort until death took its prey. Triss remained on watch with the King and Eskel remained in silent meditation.
On the third day as the sun marked its zenith, a messenger was sent across the corpse strewn field bearing a white flag and a message. The boy was hauled before His Majesty, King Tancred.
"The White Flame Dancing on the Barrow of His Enemies requests a parley with His Majesty, King of Kovir." The terrified boy pushed out his rehearsed speech, panting. Tancred sat back, amused at the words chosen. He knew Emhyr was trying to intimidate him with his long, elvish title. But he would not fall to such tactics.
"He does, does he? Return to your master and tell him I grant his request. Three hours." Then he waved the boy from his sight as he rose to prepare.
Tancred rode down the gentle slope a half hour late toward the group of waiting Imperials in the center of the battlefield. The King rode center, followed by his personal guard, Triss, and Eskel. The King's red charger came to a stomping snorting halt before the Emperor.
"What do you want, Emhyr?" Tancred bellowed gruffly. Emhyr narrowed his eyes at the familiar address and the tardiness but corrected quickly.
"To put an end to this."
"You are the one who started this."
"True but let us avoid any more loss of life." Emhyr moved his gaze from Tancred to Eskel. "I see you keep a witcher in your court."
"He is here of his own free will." Tancred corrected. "I command him to neither come nor go. What do you propose?"
"Just this: that we settle our differences with a battle of champions. If my man loses, I will leave. If he wins…"
"Then we will continue to fight." Tancred finished for him.
"Then we will continue to fight." Emhyr repeated.
"I will need time to find a suitable champion."
"The witcher will be your champion." Emhyr said smoothly. As he once again looked in Eskel's direction, Eskel felt a jolt and he sat up straighter.
"He is not mine to command."
"I'll do it," Eskel's deep voice broke in, his eyes locked with Emhyr.
"I would not ask it of you," The King said.
"I'll do it," he repeated. Emhyr smiled and motioned for someone at the back of his entourage to move forward. Eskel dismounted and the handed Scorpion's reins to Triss.
"Eskel," she began, gripping his hand.
"It's okay. There is something…I don't know." He shook his head. After days of deep meditation, the morning had dawned crisper, sharper somehow. He could feel more, sense more. He had retained his focus on the ride and had felt a hidden intent when the Emperor had looked at him. There was something else Emhyr wanted. The battle was immaterial to him.
"Just be careful. Please," she pleaded. He gave her a quick squeeze then released her hand and turned to face his opponent. Eskel hid his shock on seeing another witcher, his eyes cast downward. Emhyr leaned down and whispered something to him. A mask of determination snapped into place as the stranger lifted his gaze. Eskel was distracted by the King as he turned to leave the field.
"Try and come back alive, Witcher. My most esteemed advisor would be very put out if you did not."
"I'll do my best," Eskel chuckled softly at the jest.
"Be wary." He added seriously before riding off. Within moments, the pair were left alone on the blood-soaked ground. Eskel pulled his sword and took a deep breath, maintaining his inner focus.
Neither man said a word as they sized up one another, unconsciously circling as they submitted to their witcher training.
Without warning the stranger lifted his sword and swung hard at Eskel, but he was ready. A witcher was always ready. He returned with aard, causing his opponent to lose his weapon and was rewarded with a boot to the chest. When he regained his balance, the stranger had rearmed himself. Eskel took the initiative this time and began to drive the other man backward toward the trees and the cliff that lay beyond. The stranger could sense he was being herded like an animal and fought back fiercely but Eskel was stronger and the darkness of the forest drew nearer.
Their swords clashed and the two witchers held their ground, pushing back against one another. Eskel grimaced as he saw the cat amulet around his opponent's neck. Another Cat had sold his soul to the highest bidder.
"Live by the sword, die by the sword," he said and saw a flash of doubt in the stranger's eyes.
"I'd rather not do either." Eskel shoved him back, spun and kicked him square in the chest. As the Cat flew back, Eskel hit him with the full force of his aard, sending him flying into the trees. Eskel stalked back into cover of the forest and found his foe laying on the ground gasping. He knelt beside him.
"What did you mean?" Eskel asked evenly as he reached for the cat amulet.
"I know well what my brothers are," he replied tersely, his voice softening to continue "but I have lived apart from them for some time. I have no desire to fight you. I only fight for the lives of those that are closest to me."
"What is your name?"
"Benedict."
"Eskel." There was a rustle in the bushes and a rabbit hopped out. "We shouldn't tarry long." Eskel grabbed the rabbit and ran his sword over its throat, the hot blood running down the long blade. He handed the carcass over. "Lay low. I'll be back after full dark." Eskel lit the decaying carcass of a deer on fire before turning and walking out of the trees, making a show of wiping the blood from his blade. The pink light from the sunset glinted off the steel as Eskel let his gaze sweep across the field and those that were watching. Emhyr turned his horse and rode away, his entourage following. By morning, they would be gone.
Eskel walked slowly up the hill, thinking. In the moment the two witcher's eyes had met over their blades, Eskel had seen a flash of this man's life. The face of a pretty woman. Two young boys running to greet him. Black armored guards banging on his door. He wasn't here by choice.
Late that night, Eskel returned to the forest as the soldiers mourned their dead and celebrated Emhyr's defeat. He followed the witcher's marks to the cliff side then jumped down onto the ledge. Overlooking the valley below, a small cave dipped back about twenty feet. He walked in and saw Benedict sitting cross-legged beside a small fire. He didn't look up. Benedict knew he had company.
"When we were fighting, I saw things. An empty village, a woman and two young boys." Eskel said, getting straight to the point. "Who are you and where did you come from? Why are you here?" Benedict paused and looked down at his hands, rubbing them together. Eskel sat as Benedict replied.
"So, you want to hear my story…"