Geralt slowly got on his feet while keeping his eyes on the strange creature which was howling in agony. He could tell that the mutant was really in pain because of the fire. He realized quickly that the creature may be vulnerable to fire. He immediately cast Igni on the creature. The creature shrieked in agony because it's flesh got burned badly. Finally it couldn't take anymore. To Geralt's surprise it opened a magical portal and vanished.
Geralt sighed and fell on his knees. His body ached badly. Then he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around to look at his saviour. She was exactly the same as he remembered her. Her red hair was glowing from the fire of the torch in her hand.
"Are you alright, Geralt?" She asked.
He put away his sword and got on his feet again. "I'm alright." Geralt said looking at her. "Thanks for your help."
His saviour blushed slightly. "It was the least I could do to repay the debt, Geralt."
"What debt?" Geralt asked, a little confused.
"You saved my life Geralt. I will never forget that." She said. Her voice filled with admiration for the Witcher.
"It was the right thing to do, Abigail." Geralt stopped her. "You didn't deserve to die."
Abigail remembered very well how the Witcher defended her. "I don't know whether it was the right thing you did. Maybe I deserve to die back then. I really don't know but I know that I will always be grateful to you. You risked your life for me, Geralt. I was nobody to you. Yet, you risked your neck and saved me."
"Look, Abigail. I still don't know whether you played a part in the murder of that merchant but I saw you took care of Alvin. You were genuinely concerned for him. The villagers accused you about things which you never did. That was enough for me to defend you." Geralt replied.
"I….." Abigail couldn't explain. From the moment this man saved her she took a liking to him. She even offered herself to him, but he rejected her advances politely. She was both shocked and amazed. She knew that she is beautiful and men desired her but she couldn't tell why the Witcher rejected her.
She was intrigued to know why he rejected her advances. So, she used her power to read the Witcher's mind. She saw in his mind the face of another red haired woman, the sorceress, Triss Merigold. She quickly pulled back from his mind in fear that he may realize that she was reading his mind.
Her thoughts broke when her eyes fell on the deep gash over his left arm. "Geralt, that wound looks pretty deep."
"It will be okay…." Geralt tried to say but Abigail was having none of it.
"No. You are coming with me. At least stay the night and let me treat that nasty wound." Abigail requested.
Geralt sighed. "Alright."
She led him to her home in Velen, where she was staying disguised as a healer. She let him sit on her bed while started to brew a medicine which will heal his wound. After a few moments she was ready. "Let me see it." She demanded.
Geralt took off his armour and let her inspect the wound. "Geralt it looks really bad but I can heal it." Then she started to clean his wounds.
"Tell me how did you find me?" Geralt asked curiously.
"I was tracking him for a quite some time now. I didn't know that he was after you." Abigail said.
"Tracking him? So, you knew about him?" Geralt asked.
"Yes. He was the student of the sorcerer Azar Javed you killed. I know about Javed's experiments about creating mutants. It failed because he couldn't control those mindless creatures. But there was one exception. This man was also the subject of the experiment and miraculously he didn't lose his mind. He gained the strength, durability, endurance and speed of a Witcher. But there was one drawback. He was turned into a half-monster but he could control it. It was dangerous. He couldn't be killed by any weapon. But he had only one weakness." Abigail explained.
"Fire." Geralt said.
"Yes. That's how Azar Javed used to control him because he was a master of controlling elements with magic." Abigail said.
"But I never saw this man before. He was not there in Vizima." Geralt murmured.
"I don't know either. Azar Javed must have hid him somewhere for some reason but thankfully you killed him." Abigail stated.
"How did he possess magical powers? I saw him escaping through a portal." Geralt asked.
"I told you Geralt. He was a student of Azar Javed. He was learning sorcery but maybe Javed saw that it was too dangerous for even him to let his student learn magic. That's why Javed never taught him properly." Abigail explained.
"So, the only way of killing him is fire?" Geralt asked.
"Yes. But today we only slowed him down. He will be back. We need bigger and more powerful fire source to kill him." Abigail replied. "I'm afraid I can't help you in that matter."
"You did enough Abigail. But how did you know that he was after me?" He asked.
"I have my ways, Witcher." She smirked.
Geralt quirked his eyebrows at her but didn't say anything.
Women and their secrets.
CROOKBACK BOG, NEXT DAY
Geralt bid goodbye to Abigail and finally reached Crookback Bog. The place was inside the swamps. It was no surprise because the witches won't leave among the population. He found several human parts hanging in the trees alongside the road that led to the home of the witches, mainly human ears. He let Roach stay outside the swamp because it was not safe for her. The area was infested with drowners. He went on his feet inside the swamps. True to his prediction he encountered several drowners on the way. He get rid of them and finally reached the home of the Crones. He could see two huts and there were several childrens playing among themselves?
In there? Inside the swamps and near the crones?
"Dog went in the kitchen, stole a hunk of meat."
"Cook gave him a licking, strung him by his feet."
"Cook then bled him empty, stripped his skin off clean."
"Laughed and said, 'How tasty, best sausage I have seen.'!"
"Cook's a stupid killer, shouldn't have ate the pup."
"Now we light a fire, gonna roast him up!"
"One, two, three, the one to fetch the kindling's...thee!"
Geralt heard the children playing among themselves. He decided to intervene. "Interesting rhyme." He revealed himself.
The children looked at him for a few seconds before speaking, "Don't know you. Go away."
"What are you doing out here alone?" Geralt asked ignoring the child's statement.
"We're not alone, we're with Gran." One of them said.
"But where did you all come from?" He asked, although he suspected where they came from.
"We're orphans." Another one replied.
"All of you?" Geralt asked again.
"There's a war, so there are orphans. Didn't know that?" Another one said.
Geralt nodded. "I'm looking for the witches of Crookback Bog."
"You looks like a witch yourself." A little girl said.
"The wi...witches? Of the Bog?" One of them stammered nervously.
"We can't go in the Bog. Gran don't let us." The girl said.
"When my brother Zemek went missing, Gran said it was because he went in the woods and got lost. Gran cried an awful lot after that." The boy answered who stammered before at the mention of the Crones.
"He could still come back." The girl said.
Geralt looked at them and really felt bad. These innocent childrens. They did nothing wrong but their life was ruined because of the stupid war. Then he thought that one of these children might have seen Ciri. Perhaps? There was no harm in asking.
"A young woman got lost in the swamp. She has ashen hair and a scar on her face. You kids see anyone like that?" Geralt asked.
"Ain't no lassies here." The boy said shaking his head.
The girl beside him got annoyed. "What am I?" She asked.
"You're no lassie. Lassies got tits." The boy said.
Geralt's eyebrows shot up at the boy's answer.
"They do. Heard an old man say once, when the army was here, 'Hide them lasses in the woods! They're dazzling the soldiers with their tits, and it's torturing the poor lads!' That's what he said." Another boy agreed.
Geralt knew this boy was talking about tortures and rapes. These childrens didn't deserve to see those vile things. But yet they did, because of the war.
"Anyone else here? Besides you?" Geralt asked because he needed to talk to someone about Ciri.
"Meaning who?" The boy asked.
"Someone who might have seen the woman."
"Like the six-eyes tree?" The girl asked.
"Tree's slept all year. But there is Johnny." The boy said who was talking earlier about rapes and tortures.
Geralt was about to ask who this Johnny is but was intervened by an old woman. "What's this talk? What kind of jabbering is this? Eh?" She asked angrily. Then she looked at Geralt. "No one allowed here. Just kids! My kids, they're allowed. But who are you? Wearing swords like a bandit?"
"You one of the witches of the swamp? I hear Crookback Bog…." Geralt asked the old woman.
"Witch? Me? Nay….. I have no broom, nor owl, and not one wart on my nose. Got a pretty nose. See?"
"Gran's got a lovely beak." One child agreed.
"Oh, you darling. Kids are so sweet." She said.
"Who's Johnny?" Geralt asked.
"Johnny, Johnny, ate a cat, come the morn some fur he shat!" One of the boy started but was stopped by the old woman.
"Watch your language!" She barked angrily. Then she looked at Geralt. "They tell tales. Nothing but tales and tales."
"You look after these kids?" Geralt asked looking at the kids.
"They're my grandchildren." She replied.
"Gran's good to us. Gonna be soup with scratchings for supper." One of the boys said happily.
"Kids get lost in the woods. I miss them. See them in the woods? No one has." She said and her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
"Just talking to the kids. Asked them if they'd seen an young woman." Geralt said.
"I was a lovely young woman. Wore a long, beautiful braid my mummy did up for me. Had dresses with flowers on them." The old woman said in a tone, like she was in some kind of trance.
"Maybe you've seen her. Young…. Ashen hair." Geralt asked with hope in his voice.
"Your betrothed?" She asked.
"Daughter actually." Geralt answered.
The woman looked down as if the word 'daughter' had some effect on her. "Daughter, my dear sweet daughter and her little sister. Where are they now? Maybe they've come to some harm?"
Now Geralt was irritated. "Had enough of it. Asked a simple question. You seen the woman or haven't you?"
"Fear not children…." The woman said cautiously stepping back, seeing the anger in Geralt's eyes.
"He is not to fear gran. He is only angry because he cares." One of the children said.
"Maybe Johnny knows something? I'll take him to Johnny, before he goes barmy on us…." A boy offered.
But the woman was having none of it. "Johnny's your invention - and you shouldn't be using those ugly words." She glared at the boy. "To the hut! Go on, now! You'll stand in a corner, I'll make sure you do." Then she turned to Geralt. "And you stop scaring the little ones. Begone now." She took that boy inside the hut and shut the door.
Geralt sighed. This was not going to be easy.
MEANWHILE AT NOVIGRAD…..
Triss was sitting in her room, thinking about how she will get all the mages out of Novigrad. Djikstra and Francis agreed to help. But she had concerns about Francis. She knew his main ambition was to take over the city of Novigrad to make it a free city which was of course a noble cause. But who could tell he won't turn into a second Radovid or worse?
She can't deny the fact that he gave the mages a shelter, a place to stay, safe from the witch hunters of Radovid. But there was also a price because nothing comes for free. The mages were allowed to stay in Putrid Grove in exchange for weekly payments to Francis. This was no Kaer Morhen.
Kaer Morhen.
The memory of that place brings so much pain to her. She missed that place: The castle, the fresh air, the unique smell that covers the entire area. She missed Lambert, Eskel, Vesemir and most of all him. She missed watching the mountain passes from the balcony of her room at the top of the castle with Geralt's arm around her waist from behind while her back pressed against his chest.
It was an unique feeling: Of peace and love. Away from all the politics and it's cruelty.
If she wanted she could run away and settled down at Kaer Morhen. Safe from the Witch hunters. But she couldn't leave her fellow mages behind. Besides he would've been there along with her and it would be too painful to watch them together. So she is better here, in Novigrad. Her life was in danger, but at least she didn't have to feel the pain of seeing them together.
VELEN
He got that same feeling again that someone was following him. He knew that who was following him. The Witcher knew his enemy but he had no means to defeat the monster. He hurried away from the villages because he knew that if that monster comes after him now many innocents will die. He needed a plan to face him again. Suddenly he remembered something, something very important, which can help him to defeat the monster.
Geralt didn't waste any time. He called Roach and ride away from there. He needed to lose his stalker for an hour at least. After few hours when Geralt was sure that he was not being followed anymore he pulled out a small amulet from his pocket. With determination in his eyes the Witcher entered into the forest away from any prying eyes.
Another few hours later he was seen to be coming out of the jungle. He had everything ready: potions, bombs, oils, swords. But he knew nothing will work against the monster. So he did what he had to. He lit a fire and began to meditate. He sat there still like a statue for over two hours until he got that familiar feeling of being followed again. He didn't even move a muscle, he just waited.
And finally the monster appeared from inside a portal. Geralt's eyes opened and met Azar Javed's eyes.
"Witcher….. We meet again." Azar Javed said with an evil smile of his own.
"Indeed." Geralt pulled out his blade.
The monster laughed. "Why try Witcher? You and I both know that it won't work."
"We will see." And then the Witcher lunged at the monster.
Azar Javed attacked more fiercely than before but Geralt still managed to hold on his own. His sword finally met the monster's neck. Blood spilled out from the wound and the monster stumbled back. But the wound was gone in the next second.
Azar Javed smiled. "I can still give you an easy death, Witcher. Give up, now."
"Never. Now!" He yelled at someone.
And then there was a mighty roar that shook the ground beneath them. The monster eyes widened as he stared in shock towards the sky and saw what was coming towards him. It was a dragon.
"Impossible." He murmured.
The dragon let out another roar and hurled a jet of fire at him, which he avoided narrowly. He realized at that moment that the Witcher has planned this. This was a trap. He knew his life was in danger and he have to escape.
He opened a portal and tried to run towards it but something exploded against the portal and it vanished. It was the Withcer who destroyed the portal with a dimeritium bomb. He cursed.
Geralt knew that the monster will try to escape, so he came prepared. At that moment the dragon dived towards the ground and spread fire towards Azar Javed. The monster had no place to escape and got caught in the fire. He screamed and screamed, but the dragon didn't stop. It kept on burning the monster.
And then there was no scream anymore. Everything was silent except the sound of the wings of the mighty black dragon. The dragon landed on the ground beside the Witcher and with a flash a beautiful young woman stood in its place.
Geralt turned towards her and extended his hand as a thank you gesture. But the woman didn't took his hand, instead she smiled and engulfed him in a warm hug.
"No need to thank me, Geralt. You are my friend and brother. I will never forget what you did for me. You spared me even when you had every reason to not to. I will forever be grateful to you for that." She said, still smiling.
"You weren't the one to blame, Saskia. The Lodge manipulated you." Geralt said.
"Yes, but I should have seen it coming." Saskia said with sad eyes. "I regret many things I did back then."
"You are not the only one, Saskia." Geralt assured her.
She smiled at him. "So, where is our lovely Miss Merigold?"
A storm of emotions ran over Geralt's face at the mention of her name. He knew that he didn't have to answer to Saskia but he owed her that at least.
"We went in different path." That's all he said.
"Why? You two had an unique connection." Saskia asked.
"It's complicated." Geralt sighed.
Saskia wanted to spend more time with her friend but she saw the sun was rising. She have to leave.
"Well this is goodbye then." She said to him.
"For now." Geralt said to her at which she nodded.
Note: I know this is a short update. But I really wanted to keep this part separated otherwise I would've waited a few more days to add more content in this chapter. Please review.