Chapter 10: Love and Vengeance
October, 1274...Castle Ruins.
Meanwhile at the castle, Rita along with Eskel and Lambert searched for clues. Using magic, Rita traced the mage's movements across the courtyard and located an echos of the mage last portal. Both Witchers searched the surrounding areas once more for additional clues as the sorceress worked. Rita paused, then stared at the sight of dried blood on the grounds of the courtyard. Partially covered by snow, this was the spot where she and Keira had tended to Triss. The scene sent shivers up the sorceress spine. As Eskel and Lambert approached the wall where Triss was struck, their medallions vibrated violently. Eskel inspected the scorch marks on it, then turned his attention to the charred markings on the wall.
"Strong magic presences, powerful. Not the happy kind of magic." He mumbled.
"Whatever happened to Triss was caused by this magic. Climb the wall Lambert and place this up there." Rita said to Lambert as she handed the Witcher a magical device.
"Yes your highness. Damn, Sorceresses are all alike. You all refuse to get your hands dirty." He remarked, sarcastically.
"I could teleport to reach it Witcher, but my magic will interfere with the echos from the mage's portal." Rita replied.
Lambert grumbled as he climbed the castle wall to placed the amulet Rita handed him. He turned and faced the sorceress, but her attention was focused on Eskel sitting on a fallen section of the castle wall. Lambert threw his arms into the airs and smacked it against his leg, then squatted, leaned over the edge and clamor from wall.
"Excuse me your highness, I know Eskel look beautiful from the side, but in case you're wondering I'm done up here."
"What are you talking about?" Rita asked, as Eskel turned his gaze onto her, "Is he always that sarcastic?"
Eskel grinned, then rose to his feet and answered, "You will get used to Lambert soon enough, just stick around a little longer."
"You can come down Witcher." Rita said.
"Wait, there is something up here. A small scroll." Lambert said, then squat to retrieve the item.
"Retrieved it. Please," She replied.
Yes your highness, damn sorceresses. She bark commands like Keira.
Lambert climbed down from the wall after he retrieved the scroll with magic glyphs. Rita cast a simple trace spell using the amulet to locate the echoes of the mage's portal. Moments later she determined the portal exited inside the city. As she worked, Eskel took his seat on a crumbled section of the wall and watched.
"Did you learn anything?" Eskel asked.
"Yes, the portal leads into the city, but I cannot determine the exact location. Maybe the scroll will yield more clues." Rita replied.
Suddenly, there was a loud crack and a portal opened nearby. Both witcher's hastily unsheathed the swords and raised them in the guard. Eskel placed himself between Rita and the portal as the sorceress quickly moves to his side. Both Witcher's eyes narrowed as they moved toward the portal.
"Stay back sorceress." Eskel ordered.
"I am not helpless Witcher! I can take care of myself." She replied, proudly.
"I know you can, but this is not the time for this."
She frowned , then turned to him and said, "Stay focused."
Evelyne exited the portal, raised her head and immediately froze at the sight of both Witchers with their swords at the ready. The young sorceress stared intently as both Witcher sheathed their blades. Eskel turned and briefly glanced at Rita as his eyes glowed, then quietly returned to his seat on the crumpled wall.
"Yennefer told me you were here, so I came to help. I didn't expect Witchers to greet me with swords in hand."
"Apologies Evelyne, but the Witchers are anxious after what happened to Triss, frankly, so am I." Rita said.
"Forgive me. What is that you have in your hands Witcher?" Evelyne asked.
"A scroll Lambert found on top the castle walls. Do you know what this symbol means?" Eskel replied.
Evelyne glanced at the scroll, then took a step back, "I recognize this, this symbol and text." She said.
"What does it mean?" Rita asked.
"It's the crest of an abandoned fort much like this one, the text is a code perhaps, but I have seen this before on the Redanian letter." Evelyne said.
"How do you know this symbol sorceress?" Eskel asked.
She gave him an odd stare, awkward in a way, "I am Koviri. The local children play there. I'm sorry I cannot translate the text, it's not familiar to me."
"No Evelyne, this is helpful to us. Now we have a location to investigate." Rita replied.
"I must report this to the Royal Guards." Evelyne responded.
"No! We will keep this news between us. If you alert the guards their presence may alert the mage to our findings. Also the guard may already have been bought by the attacker." Rita warned.
Evelyne frown arching her brow, "Not possible, Koviri royal guard are fiercely loyal and they lost five of their best men protecting lady Merigold. Besides, why would a mage from Kovir attack her?"
"We can talk about this when we get home. Let us leave this place." Rita said, then open a portal to Triss's home.
Both sorceresses and the Witcher's returned a few hours later with new information about the masked mage. Using the echos of the mage's portal Rita determined he had exited somewhere inside the city of Pont Vanis, though she could not be certain where. Shortly after they returned to Triss's home, Rita gathered everyone in the parlor to discuss the new developments. During their preparation, Evelyne could not rid her thoughts about the meaning behind the scroll Lambert had discovered. A member of Kovir nobility involved in the assassination plot meant the nobles were divided, and someone had sided with the assassins to kill Triss, but who she could not say for certain. She paused briefly, This is worse than I imagined, how could this happen?
Keira interrupted everyone and said, "Sisters, Witchers, our first priority is to lift the curse afflicting Triss."
"Where is Geralt, he should've be here for this?" Yennefer asked, then placed her hand on her hips.
Turning her head to Yennefer, Rita answered, "In his state, he is of no use to us. No, did you bring everything Keira asked for?"
"Yes. If Keira is right this curse is complex, so caution is warranted. We know it was intended to kill Triss, but it didn't. To break the curse, we need to apply strong magic or use other dangerous methods." Yennefer replied.
Keira rolled her eyes, then turned to Evelyne and asked, "What did you find in your search?"
"Yennefer is right, this is not a simple curse. It can be lifted using magic, but that's not simple either, there are significant risks. The second option is to kill mage or ask him to lift the curse." Evelyne answered.
Frustrated, Ciri tapped her feet against the floor, then turn her focus to Lambert and Eskel, "Witcher are trained to lift curses, can you think of something?"
"No, this is way more complicated than what Witchers deal with, I don't even want to try it. Triss life is on the line, any mistake and she dies or turn into something I don't want to imagine." Eskel answered.
Lambert sighed, then crossed his arms as he leaned against the wall, "I agree, we need sorceresses for this."
"Argh, can't we simply kill the Mage who cast it then?" Ciri said, then jumped from her chair and sent it crashing.
"Calm down Ciri, I know you are angry, but Witcher's show restraint. That's not an option. We have no way of finding the mage." Lambert answered.
"What about the scroll Lambert found, can we use it?" Eskel asked, as he turned his gaze toward Rita.
Rita met his gaze, but her eyes quickly wandered away, "The scroll gives us a location, but there is no guarantee the mage will be there."
"Maybe, some form of hydromancy. Use the scroll and find the mage." Ciri asked.
"That might work." Lambert answered.
"No the cloth is not part of the body. It's just a piece of garment and magical at that the chances are slim." Keira replied.
"Dammit!" Ciri responded.
"No wait, we will investigate just to be sure, but I doubt the mage will be there." Eskel said.
"So we truly have only one option. We must try to lift the curse ourselves and seal it in a phylactery." Evelyne said.
"That will require constant application of powerful magic to remove this curse and seal it. It will be very dangerous and if we fail, Triss will not survive it." Rita said.
"I see four powerful sorceresses sitting right here." Eskel said, as he placed his hands on his thighs and rose from his seat. "You four are sorceresses, so what's keeping you from jumping at the opportunity to lift this curse?"
Rita smiled, then answered, "Thank for the vote of confidence Eskel, but this is no ordinary curse. Whoever cast it meant to kill her in the most horrible of ways. How she survived it is a mystery that puzzles me still."
There was long awkward silence as the sorceresses contemplated their options. None wanted to admit, but the situation looked grim. Evelyne option offered no guarantees that the sorceresses though powerful, would possess the magic needed to lift such a curse without knowing the exact words to the curse. Unable to find the mage, that they had no other means or learning the curse. Ciri grew more and more frustrated with the silence and resumed tapping her feet. She stopped suddenly to speak, but Yennefer noticed her frustration and interrupted.
"We have one sure method of lifting the curse, but the risk is significantly greater and the cost is high." She said.
"How does it work? Is it like lifting the curse on the elf at Kaer Morhen?" Lambert asked.
"Similar, but It requires a very strong, and dangerous potions. Combined with powerful magic it's sure to work. There are no deformities in her body say for the marking, so we have no need for mutagens. Before arriving, I consulted with a friend, and this was one option provided. It's guaranteed to lift the curse but... " Yennefer paused.
Ciri quickly leapt from her chair, then asked, "But what? What's the problem? If it's guaranteed to work we should do it."
Yennefer stared at everyone curiously, then turned to Ciri, "Don't be hasty, there is always a price to pay. The Triss we get after, will not be the Triss we all know. Nothing will remain of her old self."
"What do you mean?" Ciri whispered, with a horrid look in her eyes.
"She means Triss will look like Triss in every way, but she will be stripped of her personality and mind Ciri. She will lose all her memories of everyone and everything she know. Worse, she may never recover it." Keira replied.
"No! That is horrible. You are not considering it, are you?" Ciri said frantically.
"I know one person in this room who will benefit from that approach and it's certainly not Merigold." Lambert mumbled to Eskel and the Witcher nodded his head in agreement.
Yennefer stood and extended her arms as Ciri moved closer. Everyone could see that Ciri was distraught over Triss's condition. She was irrational, but understandable given the circumstances. Triss was very important to her. Yennefer placed her arms around Ciri and hugged her. They held their embrace for a moment. Ciri could not control her emotions in the moment, she fought back tears.
Cirilla wiped her eyes, as Yennefer whispered, "It's just another option Ciri. I would never do such a thing to Triss, without exhausting every possible option to save her life."
Ciri grabbed onto Yennefer blouse and tugged on it, "You all have to help her."
"We will do our best, but right now you should go to Triss's bedside and wait there with Geralt." Yennefer said.
She wiped the tears from Ciri's eyes, then smile and stare as Ciri turned and walked to Geralt's bedroom to be with Triss. She cares and cries for her? Not surprising. Although we have our problems, and I am unable forget her betrayal. I don't enjoy seeing Triss this way. As Cirilla closed the door behind her, Yennefer turned to the others to finalize their plans. She knew the plan was risky, but it was their one sure option to have a positive outcome. Unaware, the sorceress started to pace back and forth as Ciri did, then paused, took her seat and continued.
"Evelyne plan is not guaranteed, but it's our best chance to get Triss back without any complications."
Rita uncrossed her legs, then concluded, "It's settled, we will begin when everything is ready. Eskel, you and Lambert will investigate the old Fort while we prepare. Everyone must rest tonight, we have long days ahead sisters."
"Someone has to monitor Triss at all time while we work." Yennefer said.
"I will monitor her while the three of you work to lift the curse." Evelyne replied.
Yennefer yawned, then got up and headed to Triss's bedroom, "Alright, I will stay with Triss tonight, and watch over her."
Concerned, Keira asked, "Are you sure?"
"Now, now, don't gave me that look Keira, it will be alright. I promise not to charm Geralt and take him away." Yennefer mocked.
"Agreed. I will see you all in the morning sisters." Rita replied.
Keira mashed her lips together, took and deep breath, "Agreed? Um, is there no problem here."
Yennefer sneer, then leaned her head slightly to the side, "Go on, I jest."
"Good night Witcher." Rita said as she observed Keira and Yen.
"Good night sorceress." Eskel said.
As their meeting adjourned Rita and Evelyne departed Triss's home through portals. Keira gathered her thoughts and then walked toward her bedroom, she paused briefly and told Lambert to meet her when he finished with his conversation with Eskel. Exhausted from the long day and fully aware of longer days ahead, the sorceress changed into her night wear, then retired into her bed. Lambert and Eskel remained in the parlor for a while and continued their conversation. Eskel was unsettled, but he kept his cool, Lambert always in the mood for a confrontation showed amazing restraint during the meeting.
Eskel raised his head and looked toward Lambert, then asked, "Yennefer here? Whose idea was it to invite her?"
"Keira said they had no other choice." Lambert said, then took a seat on the chair across from Eskel.
"Hmm, I don't like it, trouble always follows when she appear, but it's none of my business."
"Eskel, you dog.—Yen is not your concern, but that Rita wants your attention. First you appeared with the sorceress, then you're unusually respectful and delicate with her. Soon she will have you eating from her hands brother." Lambert jest.
Eskel waved his hand in protest, "Not this Witcher, I keep my distance from dangerous women. I am leaving Pont Vanis after we deal with the mage who attacked Triss."
Lambert stood and walked to the window, turned then leaned against the frame, "Heh, dangerous? Eskel you think all sorceresses are dangerous. That sorceress is interested in you, she's beautiful, quite exactly your type. Yennefer on the other hand is one dangerous bitch."
Eskel stared intently at Lambert, he shook his head and replied, "I don't take chances, they are sorceresses. All of them are dangerous maybe more so with Yen, but the others are very dangerous too brother."
"Yeah I got it, sorceresses are dangerous. Funny you say that now, so what was all that Merigold is like family shit? Spend a lot of time at Kaer Morhen and Vesemir approved of her." Lambert said, "But enough of this sorceress shit. What will you do after you leave Pont Vanis?"
Eskel raised his head angry, "You listened to my conversation with her?"
"Sorry, I'm a Witcher in case you didn't notice, I can't help what I hear." Lambert said, "but enough of that shit I said, What will you do after you leave Pont Vanis?"
"I don't know yet, maybe head north. Velhad might be a good place to start. We'll see." Eskel replied.
"You should consider wintering here in the city."
"Maybe, but unlike you and Wolf I have no reason to stay in Kovir." Eskel answered.
"You fucking serious? You must be blind not to notice. No, you are not blind just stupid. Well brother the decision is yours."
Always true to his Witcher's neutrality, Eskel was eager to leave Pont Vanis. He was determined to go back on the path, but the Witcher also realize that wintering in Pont Vanis wasn't a bad idea, as Kovir was far better than the distant Kaer Morhen. With Vesemir dead the fortress lay abandoned. The Witcher also sensed that something unusual had developed between him and the sorceress Rita. He grew curious and seriously entertained the idea of making the sorceress fall for him. Maybe, I will see what happens later. He thought.
***][***
That night, Yennefer stayed at Triss's bedside and cared for her old friend. Despite their past and their love for the same Witcher, it was obvious Yennefer was very concerned after seeing Triss's condition. The curse was like nothing she'd seen before, there were no deformities, nothing unusual, and yet Triss's life was slowly fading away. Yennefer realized that if the curse is not lifted or the mage is not killed soon, Triss had mere weeks to live. Although she still harbor a inescapable grudge toward her friend, had she been fully aware as to the extend of the curse, she would've arrived much sooner. She grabbed a wet towel from a warm pan of water, climbed into the bed and wiped Triss's brow and hands.
You are not defenseless Triss, so I am left to wonder. Who could have bested you so easily? I guess you've met your match.
Yennefer watched carefully as Geralt whispered into Triss' ears, then touch her cheeks. Laying on the right side of the massive bed the witcher's could easily reach her. He moved his chair closer to the bed and stuck his face against hers, then buried his head deep in her pillow. Exhausted from days without sleep, it wasn't long before Geralt drifted into a deep sleep. Yennefer periodically woke during the night to checked the ailing sorceress, then used her magic as Triss breathing became more erratic. Outside the windows, the wind hissed and howled throughout the night, and the calm was occasionally interrupted by the thumping of the branches against the walls. Geralt would mumble Triss name occasionally as he endured his nightmarish dream about the attack. As he slept, his hands found hers and he held onto them tightly.
I thought I be happy to see you down. Honestly a part of me wanted to leap for joy, but I can't. Despite the anger I feel toward you and your betrayal. I can't bring myself to hate you while you lie there defenseless. You are a friend and seeing you this way is distressing.
Yen, whispered, then lean across the bed and tapped Ciri on the shoulders, "Can you put something over his body please and get me some water for her?"
Ciri, quickly placed a spread over Geralt as he rested his head against Triss body, then handed Yennefer some water, before returning to Geralt side. She leaned her body against the Witchers chair, then quietly drifted back to sleep. Everyone in the room were fast asleep except Yennefer who remained seated on the right side of the bed with her body resting against side of the bed and her head firmly on the mattress next to Triss's hand. Later that night, she raised her head to check on the sorceress, then fixed her eyes on them as Geralt adjusted his body, moved his head and rested it on the right side of Triss's chest.
All you cared about was taking advantage of Geralt's kindness. You seduced and took him from me. How could you Triss? I want you to recover so you never escape your betrayal. I'll make sure you are tormented with guilt little girl. But for now you must recover.
Later during the night, Geralt woke from his nightmare and opened his eyes. Oblivious of his surroundings he gently placed his hand on Triss's face, then pushed her hair behind her ear. He focused his senses to listen for her breathing, then lay his head against her face as he whispered into her ears once more. Cirilla briefly opened her eyes, as Geralt rested his head against Triss's chest and drifted back to sleep. Yennefer glared at his interaction with Triss and rolled her eyes.
Look how pitiful you've become Geralt. Lying there and whispering like a love stricken pup. Your kiss and words are not going to bring her back. How can you love someone who's deceived you so many times? What does he see in her? I'm not eager to return her to you, but if I refuse to help her now, Ciri will never forgive me.
Vexed by the sight of Geralt affection toward Triss, Yennefer woke Ciri again and told the young Witcheress to adjust his body. Ciri hesitated knowing Geralt would not remove his head even if she asked him to. Since her arrival in Pont Vanis, she had noticed that he often sleep with his head against the bed or directly on Triss's body and any attempt to move him would surely be met with protest. In his grief the Witcher felt closest to his sorceress this way. She frowned as Yennefer repeated her commands.
She raised her head and whispered, "Ciri, I said move him away gently? He must be uncomfortable and he is resting directly on her."
Tired and groggy Ciri replied, "He's not going to move, he always sleeps with his head resting on her body. It makes him feel closer to her perhaps and calms him."
"A smack of perversion if you ask me. Is their relationship based solely on sex and bodily contact that he must rest his head on her to sleep or feel close?" Yennefer muttered.
Ciri rubbed her eyes, then answered, "He is not trying to hurt her. I know how hard it must be to see him behave this way with her, but please try to understand Yen. He fear he could lose her at any moment and Geralt is not willing to let her go. If Triss doesn't recover...I'm afraid we'll lose him too."
Yennefer rolled her eyes, and whispered, "You're exaggerating a bit, he can't be that love struck."
Ciri shook her head, "No I'm not. You need to get some sleep, I will stay with her."
"No need, I feel fine. I'll watch over her, you go back to sleep Ciri." Yennefer answered.
"Just let him rest there or he'll become grumpy and hard to deal with tomorrow." Ciri whispered.
"Ciri?"
"What is it?"
"I love you. You do know that right?" Yennefer said.
"I know and you're going to make me cry. I care about you all." Ciri replied, then moved to Yennefer's side, leaned her body against the chair and drifted to sleep.
***][***
The Next Morning...
Ciri woke early that morning to prepared her armor and swords. Keira entered the bedroom and woke the exhausted Yennefer, then took over Triss's care. Yennefer retreated to her room at the inn to freshen up, but promised to return later so the sorceresses can begin preparation for lifting the hex from Triss's body. As Ciri entered the room fully clad in her Witcher's armor with swords affixed to her back, Keira paused in amazement at how much she reflected Geralt. Her movements, armor, and look matched his demeanor, were it not for her feminine curves the young Witcheress could easily be mistaken for her father. Ciri observed Geralt who was wide awake and sat at the edge of the bed with his hand on Triss face.
She moved closer, paused and stared for a while, then rest her hands on his shoulder. He turned his head slowly and stared at her hands. In his eyes, Ciri saw nothing but hurt and rage. She recognized the fierce and determined look in his eyes and shared in his anguish. She remember the feeling well, because she'd harbored the same feelings when Vesemir fell to Imlerith. Triss was barely hanging on, and her condition grew worse by the day. After the attacked, the Witcher had been lost, he spends his days sitting at her side and often mumbled inaudible words into her ears, then sleep only when his body could no longer remain awake. From his actions and sadness, it was clear to Ciri that, he missed the sorceress dearly.
"Don your armor Geralt. Retrieve your swords and come with me, we have a contract. I know a place where you can clear your thoughts after." Ciri said.
He failed to respond to her orders and gently rested his hand on Triss's face, then lightly stroked her cheeks. Ciri stared at Triss's unconscious body. The sorceress was pale. Her usual rosy cheeks lacked their crimson glow. Her wounds were healed, but a powerful curse gripped her. Fearing the Triss may deteriorate into the same state as Avallach when a curse afflicted the sage, Ciri grew more rash with her actions and ideas. She reached down and grabbed Geralt by the arm, then forcefully lifted him to his feet. She pointed to his armor and swords hanging nearby, then glared at him as Geralt hesitantly moved from Triss' side. Slowly the witcher donned his armor while Ciri turned her attention to the woman lying before her. Triss was someone special and dear to her. She gently placed her arms around the sorceress, raised her from the bed, leaned her head against her shoulders, squeezing her body with a tight hug.
"I'll bring him back to you, I promise. You have to come back to us." She whispered into Triss's ears, then gently lay her on the bed.
After fastening his armor, Geralt affixed his swords to his back, then retrieved the small box that held his daggers. They were gifts he'd received from Triss months ago. The Witcher fastened the first blade onto his chest, then unsheathed the second and stared at the engraving. He turned and walked toward the bed with the second dagger in hand as Ciri rose to her feet. She gently removed the blade from his hand and read the inscription on it. Familiar with Elder speech, she deciphered its meaning and significance.
Elder speech, it reads Esseath me Gwynbleidd. You are my White Wolf. Triss must have made them for him.
His breathing was deep and slow, but his heart rate remained steady. He held back his anger, and his interactions grew colder, unsure, and distant. Geralt hadn't smiled since she arrived days ago. She handed him the second dagger, and he sheathed it, then leaned on the bed by his lover's side, and kissed her lips. Her body was cold, and her lips were absent her smile and warmth. As he rose to his feet, Geralt met Cirilla's gaze. Her eyes were red, and she had been crying moments earlier. She felt his anguish, because she also held the sorceress close to her heart. Her minds raced in anger, and her thought wandered. She remembered the moments she shared with Triss and their time at Kaer Morhen so many years ago, and suddenly she was overwhelmed by emotions.
Geralt walked toward the door, but paused briefly next to Ciri and whispered almost inaudible, "I miss her, I just want her back."
"I know you do and so do I Geralt. She will come back to us, she has to." Ciri replied.
Ciri remained frozen and unable to move, as Keira approached and touch her. She snapped to reality, then quickly composed herself and wiped her eyes. She tilted her head to face the sorceress, but Keira grabbed, and hugged her without thought.
"The two of you are so alike Ciri. Do your best to bring him back to her. Triss will need Geralt when she wakes, not the Witcher we have now." Keira whispered.
Ciri closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then answered, "I will, and you must take care of her while we are gone."
Geralt walked moved into the parlor without saying a word to anyone. Lambert rose from his seat intending to make light of the moment with a joke, but Eskel stopped him. Geralt paused, then nodded toward his brothers as both Witchers returned a nod in approval. He sighed, then exited his home and continued towards the stables as Ciri left the bedroom and entered into the parlor.
Eskel rose from his seat, then extended his hand. Ciri grabbed onto his forearm and they shook, he asked, "Where are you taking him?"
"Into the mountains, Geralt can use fresh air to clear his mind." She replied.
"Yeah? Whatever you have plan I hope it works Witcher. I don't need to say more, you've seen the way he is." Lambert said, and Ciri nodded in agreement, then shook Lambert's hand. She opened the door and before exiting, she turned and gave the other Witchers, her family, another look.
Lambert laughed, "Damn, that little girl from Kaer Morhen is all grown up. She's a Witcher, taking her own contracts."
Eskel took his seat against the wall, then replied, "Yeah, she looks and move like Wolf."
"Ciri acts like him too, but hell we have something to do. I'll be outside waiting when you're ready to join me." Lambert replied.
Eskel grumbled, then replied, "Soon. I need to clear my head first."
"Oh yeah no problem I'll wait for you. That Margarita is playing tricks with your mind." Lambert replied with his usual sarcasm.
"Fuck off, Lambert!" Eskel answered, "What happens between Rita and me I not you business. Focus on Keira you fuck."
"Don't sit on your ass too long, lover boy, we have to investigate that camp before Geralt and Ciri get back." Lambert said.
"Alright, Alright I'm up, let's go. You are such a dick sometime." Eskel replied.
"I try."
Ciri and Geralt rode out into the mountains and arrived at a clearing she had discovered a few days earlier. Geralt was familiar with the place, both he and Lambert had trained there before. There was a wooden dummy for sword play that Lambert had set up and Cirilla intended to use the training session to get Geralt talking and back to his old self. Dismounting their horses, she tied both animals to a stake as Geralt planted himself on a large boulder nearby. The air was mild, not too cold and fresh snow covered the ground.
"Watch my footwork Geralt and critiques my movements. I am still having trouble with my footwork." She said.
In truth the young Witcheress was exceptionally skilled with her swords, her movements were flawless and almost mimic her teachers. Ciri was raised and taught at the Witcher fortress of Kaer Morhen by master monster hunters. She drew her sword and began practicing on the wooden pole. She deliberately made mistakes hoping to get his sharp corrections, but Geralt remained silent and stared into the distance. After practicing for a while without corrections from Geralt she paused and turned toward him.
She quickly sheathed her sword and asked, "So what did you think about my footwork?" He wasn't even watching me.
"Mmhmm"
"Geralt?" Ciri called to him, as he turned his gaze toward her, "You were not watching my feet."
He answered with a sullen look in his eyes, "You're doing just fine Ciri, your movements and swings are good."
"Liar!" She replied. "I know you weren't watching, You mind is with Triss."
"She's lying there because of me. I should've been there to protect her. But I wasn't." He replied.
"This is not your fault. Triss is strong and she doesn't need your protection. She'll overcome this too, she always does." Ciri said, as she sat on the boulder next to him, then leaned her head against his shoulders.
Almost by instinct Geralt place his arms around her. He missed his daughter, yet his mind was with the sorceress. He'd last seen Cirilla as they parted ways when she set off on the path alone. Her trip to Kovir was the first time he had seen her in many months. Cirilla look more like a witcher than the young girl they had raised at Kaer Morhen. She stood, walked a few paces from him and remained quiet for a while, then grabbed a handful of snow and formed it into a ball.
"I asked a witcher once, how was it that he always manage to stay calm and smile? He told me his teacher taught him an ancient trick. Promised it always work. He taught me that trick and now I want to remind him." She said, as she turned and threw the snowball.
Geralt moved slightly, but the snow hit him in the face, "Ciri, now isn't the time and place to..."
Ciri threw another snowball and this time it hit him square in the face. He wiped his face and frowned. He raised his gaze to meet her, as a third snowball hit him in the face. She laughed uncontrollably and pointed her finger at him. He wiped his face clean, then remained sitting as she threw a fourth. This time, he moved his head slightly, and she missed.
Surprised, she shouted, "Hey, why did you move?"
"Missed me," Geralt replied, as another snowball bounced off his head.
He reached down and grabbed a handful of snow and made a large snowball. As Cirilla raised her head to throw hers, he hit her square in the face with the snow, and she staggered back. He rose to his feet, then grabbed another handful of snow and formed it into a ball. He grinned and threw it, but Ciri blinked and re-appeared to his left hitting him a fifth time. Geralt jump down from the boulder and formed a pile of snow beside his feet, then use his Witcher sight and hearing to determine the endpoint for her next move. He cast Aard against the ground and send the pile of snow crashing into Ciri as she appeared. Covered in snow, the young Witcheress blinked again and threw multiple snowballs into his face. Geralt threw another snowball at her, but missed as she disappeared.
Drawing him deeper into her game Ciri shouted, "Hahaha. Muff!"
"We'll see who muff." Geralt replied.
Ciri quickly blinked and threw another snowball hitting him in the back of his head, then repeated her previous move hitting him on the sides of his face, then in his face as he tried to block it. She moved closer and he tried to grab onto her, but she quickly disappear and reappeared on the boulder behind him. He turned quickly expecting another snowball, but lost his balance and fell into the snow. She held her stomach laughing as Geralt sat upright.
"Eight hits Geralt, I call that a win." She said.
He let out a subtle grin and replied, "Vesemir's Trick."
As she formed another snowball in her hand she replied, "No. Geralt's trick." I'd hope it brought you back Witcher. She thought.
He took some snow into his hand and loosely formed it onto a ball, then hastily threw it at her. She blinked, then reappeared next to him. She hits him with another snowball, then blinked away as he threw his. They threw snow into each other faces for while, then she jumped on his back and requested a ride like she did so long ago as a child. Geralt did not hesitate, he ran in circles around the boulder and wooden dummy with his daughter on his back, then stop and threw her into the snow.
She laughed, rose to her feet and hugged him. He paused and stared at her as she brushed the snow from her armor. For a moment the pain and anguish he felt were laid to rest. Ciri playfully punched him in the chest and he staggered backward, then fell into the snow. Surprised, she reached out her hands to help him, but Geralt pulled her down into the snow and threw more snow onto her face, then quickly rose to his feet, and claimed the boulder as his throne.
"It's good to see you smile again." She said.
Brushing his hands, he replied, "Not much to smile about when Triss is not around. You've grown taller and stronger."
"No, it's just the armor." Ciri replied.
"Beautiful craftsmanship. Master crafted—where was it made?"
"Crow's Perch, a Skelliger woman, master armorer. Surprising, I requested Witcher's armor, light, durable and she carried on about a Witcher name Geralt and his armor diagram from Kaer Morhen wolf school, so I had her to make me one just like it."
"Suits you. And the swords?"
"Silver sword I received from a very special Witcher, my father actually and the steel sword I liberated from Kaer Morhen. Triss ruined my sword when she saved me during our battle with the wild hunt, she heated the blade and pierced the elf. It was never the same after that." She replied, as Geralt grinned wildly.
"Your father is a smart Witcher." Geralt replied, "We can make you another sword just like your old one."
"Mmhmm—I like it when you smile. Triss will be alright, and everything will work out just fine. No need for a new sword, I like this one."
"We should, head back. It's late and Triss…"
"Alright, let's head home, Triss is safe in Keira's care Geralt, you are troubled, I know, I can see it in your eyes, but she is going to be alright. You have to trust me."
On their way home, Geralt and Ciri chatted about her adventures on the path. She had crossed path with a few beast, but always took contracts that were not too difficult. She told him about her most recent contract, a Tangalore. Always curious he asked a lot of questions. She answered them quickly, but the questions kept coming.
"How did you defeat it?"
"Wasn't easy. After my nightmare about Triss being injured, and calling to me in my dream, the creature sounded like her and called out to me for help, it was horrible."
"Tangalore's can be very dangerous, but you did well." Geralt replied.
"Mmhmm, I was anxious to get to Pont Vanis so I killed the beast quickly, collected the coin and came straight here."
Suddenly she challenged the Witcher to a race. She dug her heels into Broggha, the horse jerked and whined, then took off before he could react. Geralt followed close behind, but he was unable to catch her. Her riding skills had improved greatly and she easily maneuver the mare through the winding trails to easily won the race. Surprised, Ciri accused Geralt of letting her win and demanded they race again later to determine the true winner. They both dismounted their mares far from the house and walked the rest of the way.
"Beautiful mare, very nimble. Where did you get her? And Broggha who idea was that?" Ciri asked.
"You can't laugh, you named your mare Kelpie. I won that mare in a game, and Triss named her Broggha." He replied.
"Inchu inchu beag Broggha...Yes! I remember the story. Triss read it to me each night when she tucked me to sleep while she cared for me at Kaer Morhen. That was so long ago." Ciri said.
"Really? Hmm an Elven tale about the frog and the lark." He replied, then took a deep breath. "I remember it very well."
"She told you bedtime stories and comforted you through your nightmares too?" Ciri smiled, "I had such terrible nightmares back then and Triss's voice calmed me to sleep and made me feel safe."
"No, but her voice will do that...when I learned she was in Novigrad, I wanted to see her again." Geralt said, he lowered his head. "Good memories from the time we spend together in Novigrad."
Ciri could hear the anguish in his voice, she moved closer to him and whispered, "Triss has very good taste to name her horse a frog. I think it's very funny and I like it."
"Me too." He muttered.
"So, shall we have a rematch later? You allowed me to win that race. I demand a rematch." Ciri chuckled, then walked toward the house.
"No—You won fairly, but if you want to beat me again, we'll race another time and Triss…" He replied, then paused.
She stopped, turned around and answered, "Triss will be the judge."
They continued walking towards the stables as Ciri remember something she had seen while she cared for Triss. It bothered her then, yet she decided to wait until now to ask. The Sorceress did not heal a deformity in her fingernail and Ciri was curious as to why and how she got the scar.
She leaned her head slightly to look at him, then said, "When I held Triss hands she had a missing fingernail. All fingernails are perfect and flawless except one. Why is that? She can easily heal it, but she did not."
"Hmm."
"Geralt are you listening to me?"
"Mmhmm…"
"Well, why doesn't she heal her fingernail? What are you hiding it from me, did you do that to her, playing silly games in the bedroom?" Ciri jest.
"I don't want to talk about it." He replied.
Insisting Ciri continued to pry, "It can't be a very bad story, it's her finger, she can heal it at anytime. So tell me Geralt, what happened to her finger?"
"She did it for me."
"What? Triss hurt her finger for you? I don't doubt her love for you, but it ought to be very painful to remove her own fingernail. And that's not a normal way to show her love." Ciri chuckled, and replied.
Geralt took a deep breath then answered, "No! It happened in Novigrad during my search for you, Triss agreed to be used as bait." He said.
Ciri stopped and frown at him, "Continued, Geralt. What do you mean bait?"
His eyes burned with rage and hatred for the hunters, he said, "Triss was tortured Ciri! She was tortured by witch hunters. We tried to get information about Dandelion. He was that last person to see you. They ripped her fingernails out."
"Why would you allow her to do such a thing? Why didn't you stop them? How could you put her in such danger? You let those whoresons touch her. Why would you do that?" Ciri said, in anger and hit her fist against his armor.
He grabbed her and pulled her closer to him, "Ciri please! I live with that decision every day. After Triss learned you were in danger she refused to listen to reason. She made me to promise to go along with her plan and refused to change her mind. I tried to stop her, but she refused said she do it alone if I refuse to help."
"You didn't try hard enough Geralt." She murmured, "You should have carried her out of there if you had to and kill them all for touching her."
"I did! I killed every hunter in there and she stuck a knife in Menge skull, then torched the witch hunter's barracks." He replied.
Ciri grinned and replied, "Really?"
Geralt nodded, "Mmhmm."
"I'm not surprised, I would have done worse were I in her place." Ciri said.
"Triss, is strong, but the experience affected her. I've tried to make thing better here in Kovir, but I am not very affectionate."
"No, you've changed, you show your feelings more—It's better this way." Ciri replied.
"You and Triss are two of the most important people in my life. It was awful to hear her screams as they tortured her." He whispered, not wanting to recalled the experience.
Ciri placed her hand on his shoulders, "Never take such risk with her. What if the hunters had decided to kill her immediately? What were you thinking?" .
"I've thought about that so many times and it makes my decision worse. You were in danger and Triss was willing to do anything for you Ciri, she wanted to find you." He replied.
"I know and that is why you should've stopped her. I can't lose the people I care about Geralt. Vesemir death was horrible. I can't imagine what I do if Triss had been killed by those shit eaters."
Geralt put his arms around her, "I never want to see her hurt, ever. You know that."
"I know, let's go inside. We have to be with her. You need to be with her." She answered.
Geralt paused frozen in his thoughts as Ciri entered their home. She was immediately greeted by the others, then quickly took a seat by the window with her back against some books the sorceress Evelyne had been reading. Both Eskel and Lambert eyed the young Witcheress and she nodded then smiled. Geralt walked in soon after to face his brothers. Since the attack on Triss he had engage with Eskel only once, when Eskel stepped in to defend Margarita. All three Witchers stood and faced each other as everyone watched. Their interaction was almost ritualistic, as Lambert nodded and reached out his arms and both Witchers grab each other forearms.
"Are you back Geralt?" He asked.
Geralt nodded, then replied, "Yeah."
"It's good to see you Wolf." Eskel said, then reach out his arm and they shook hands.
"Good to see you brother. No hard feelings?" Geralt replied.
"None." Eskel answered.
***][***
Later that evening Eskel and Lambert gathered everyone and informed them about their findings. During their investigation of the scroll at the old fort they stumbled upon a group of assassins and captured one. Before Eskel killed the man, he managed to pry some useful information from him. According to the man, many of the assassins sent ahead of the Redanian delegation had already met their fate at the hands of the Witcher and his sorceress. He also revealed the location of the assassin main camp and informed the Witcher that the leaders and the last remaining hunters were hiding at the camp. After explaining the situation Eskel leaned against the window and Keira gesture for Lambert to move by her side.
"It could be a trap again." Ciri said.
"Yeah I agree, but we have to take the risk. If the mage is there we can kill him in one fell swoop and end this." Lambert said.
"Agree, I want to kill him quickly, Triss's suffer enough and I need her back." Geralt replied.
"You are one needy fuck Wolf. We can't rush this or it could end badly." Lambert replied.
"Lambert! What would you do if it were me lying there? What would you do Lambert?" Keira whispered as she grabbed his armor.
"I would kill them all." He replied.
Geralt eyed Lambert, then said, "It's already bad for me. The Mage has to die!"
Eskel walked forward and said, "I agree with you Wolf, but Lambert has a point. If the mage sense three Witchers and our little she wolf nipping at his heels, the bastard will run. We are Witchers, so let's be Witchers."
"How will you attack a mage?" Rita asked.
"The Witcher way of course!" Lambert responded.
"If he is there, we will explode all our dimeritium bombs and saturate the area, then we'll attack him. If we move fast, we can kill him before he flees." Eskel answered.
"It's settled, tomorrow we will hit the camp. Ciri, you are coming with us." Geralt said.
Ciri smashed her fist together and smiled maliciously, "Now you are talking! It's time we hurt someone for what they did to Triss."
"We'll prepare while you're gone. When you return, we'll work to lift the curse on Triss, Geralt. Tomorrow just before nightfall we'll begin." Keira concluded.
That evening, Keira and Lambert retreated to their room, the lovers hadn't had the chance to be alone since the attack on Triss, and admittedly she missed him. Rita went back to her room at the inn, and Eskel decided to sleep inside the parlor next to an open window. It was a restless night for everyone, but the night was short. Ciri and Geralt spend it at Triss's bedside, and took turns caring for the sorceress. Early the next morning just one day after Ciri tried to bring Geralt to his senses, she noticed he had not fully returned to his former self. The Witcher had changed after the attack on Triss, he was different, more distant and filled with rage. She knew he lacked something only Triss could give him as the sorceress was his will to move forward.
With Cirilla and the other Witchers at his side, Geralt rode to the assassin's camp. It was dark still as they set off from his home, and Ciri followed close behind Geralt. They reached the camp just before dawn and waited until midday, to make their move. The three Witchers and the young Witcheress moved with stealth toward the camp and hid in the nearby growth. Ciri had hoped the mage would appear, so they could put an end to Triss's affliction, yet hours passed with and the mage did not appear. The assassin's camp was an old ruined castle, with crumbled walls covered in brush. From afar, they heard laughter and jest as Geralt grew impatient, he rose to his feet, left the cover of the nearby undergrowth, and walked into the assassin's camp sword in hand.
Shocked by the Witcher's presence the closest assassin drew his weapons, but Geralt parry the first blow shifted his stance to his left, and cut the man down with a single swing. As a second assassin moved to attack, Cirilla blinked. She appeared directly in front of Geralt and stabbed the assassin in his chest and severed his spine, then she twisted her steel sword as his limp body slid off her blade and fell to the ground. She quickly scanned their surroundings and counted. Ten total, those two must be their leaders. She thought. The first leader was a large build man, with broad shoulders, the second was a woman, yet her body appeared was muscular and strong. Clad in heavy armor, she wore a mask and carried two swords at her side. As more assassins moved forward to attack the Witcher and his young Witcheress companion, they were immediately halted by the commands of the heavily armored Witch hunter. Geralt recognized the face, he met the man in Oxenfurt, then Crookback bog.
"Eternal Fire murderers, now lowly assassins?" Geralt said coldly.
"Witcher Geralt, we meet again. And you and that witch cut down two of my men without cause." The assassin's leader said.
"You know the hunter?" Ciri asked, as Eskel and Lambert moved closer to the fray with their blades drawn.
"Yeah, his name is Graden—a knight of the Eternal Fire. I saved his ass along with his men from the Crones and their fein at Crookback Bog." Geralt replied.
"The crones? Vile creature they were. What were you doing there?" Ciri asked, her eyes still focused on the nearby assassins.
"Searching for the Baron's family as I followed your trail." He answered.
Lambert and Eskel stepped closer to Geralt and Ciri as Geralt continued to converse with Graden. The Witcher sheathed his sword at one point, then stood in silence as Graden ranted about justice brought by the Eternal Fire. After he had enough of the man's rant, Geralt drew his steel sword and moved forward for the inevitable. His eyes were cold, absent care or reason. He wanted one thing and one thing only, blood. The assassin's reasons were for attacking his sorceress, was of little importance, he planned to leave no one alive.
"Time to die!" Geralt barked.
Ciri raised her sword, and crept forward, "Finally!"
"You killed my men Witcher." Graden said, "You will find that I am not so easy to dispatch."
"They attacked, unprovoked!" Ciri replied.
"Silence witch!" He replied.
"I will cut out your tongue hunter and your men will watch you die before I butcher them." Cirilla replied, as the masked female assassin aggressively stepped forward.
"Fucking hell, Ciri is as crazy as Geralt." Lambert said.
Graden laughed, then spread his arms, "The knights of the Eternal Fire bring justice upon this land. Kovir is infested by witches and heretics. King Radovid and Eternal Fire demands the land be cleansed of the wretched creatures. The witch Triss Merigold is dead. We'll rid this land of their infestation and sorcery."
"You'll be the first to die today." Geralt said.
"Ah Witcher, a duel perhaps, just the two of us. We are honorable men after all."
"Duel? No! I'm going to take your head, then I will kill your men." He replied.
"I am a knight of the Eternal Fire, and I do not fear death Witcher."
"This is about to get out of hand, we need them alive." Eskel said.
"Don't interfere!" Geralt said to the others as he moved forward and closer to Graden.
Ciri ignored his command and followed close beside him, then whispered, "I love her too, you don't need to do this alone."
Geralt ignored her as Graden jumped from the ledge, raised his sword and attacked. The Witcher skillfully deflected Graden's blade, then countered. His first strike cut through the Witch hunter's armor, and the man staggered backwards. Ciri raised her body and sheathed her sword as the other Witchers stepped back to allow the two men to take center stage. Geralt narrowed his eyes, then moved his feet and shifted his stance to the Temerian Devil fighting style to counter Graden's heavy armor. Each movement fluid and smooth, his swings were vicious, yet well timed. He was focused one thing, Graden's head before his feet. Both men circled in a silent dance as Geralt stared intently, his eyes cold and calculating. He could easily kill the Witch Hunter, but the Witcher savored this fight. This was revenge, and he sought to make Graden experienced true despair. For too long his Witcher neutrality prevented him from acting. No more. He thought.
"You are all dead." Geralt said, as he pointed his sword toward Graden.
He lunged forward, but Graden moved back quickly, but Geralt swung his sword high in a second attack as Graden parried. The force of Geralt's blow caused Graden to stagger backward off balance. The Witcher crouched and assumed a low stance as Graden regained his balance just in time to meet another strike from Geralt's blade. He raised his sword to block the strike, but Geralt side stepped and stuck his sword into Graden's shoulder. Graden screamed in pain, then dropped his blade as the Witcher twisted his blade to open the wound cavity. As he staggered backward clutching his shoulders in pain, the masked female assassin stepped forward, but Cirilla quickly unsheathed her sword and matched her move.
"Stay out of this Ciri!" Geralt growled.
"Not a chance Geralt!" Ciri said, then moved forward defiantly.
"Fucking hell, he's about to lose it." Lambert said.
Ciri raised her voice anxious, "If he doesn't kill them soon, I will!"
"He's toying with him, this fight was over before it started. Wolf could've killed him at anytime." Eskel replied.
"Pick up your sword witch hunter and face me! Face me or your death will not be so quick. I will make you endure horrors you've never dreamt possible." They tried to kill Triss and now their lives are forfeited.
Graden staggered forward, retrieved his sword, then raised it one handed, "My death will not bring back your whore Witcher, nothing you do here today will save the witches from the Eternal Fire."
Ciri frowned and moved forward angered by Graden's insults toward Triss. With her sword drawn, the young Witcheress threatened him. "I warned you dog, now I will gut you."
More assassin's drew their swords and stepped forward to assist Graden as Geralt ordered Ciri back. Stubborn as always, Ciri refused, raised her sword to the guard and moved past him as he glared. Unfazed, she returned a scolding stare, as he took a deep breathe and and rolled his eyes to urge her ahead. Ciri grinned, then took two steps forward.
"Stop toying with him and finish this!" She said.
Geralt narrowed eyes, then fixed his sight on Graden, "Time to end this. You will not be the last to die by my sword."
Graden screamed and charged wildly, but his wild swings are easily deflected. Geralt shifted his body to the side, then severed the man's arm. Graden let out a blood curdling scream, but he is silenced by Geralt's sword as the grabbed his head and severed it. Graden's decapitated body fell to Geralt's feet and his head remained in the Witcher's hand. He tossed the head at the assassin's feet as she stepped forward.
"Surround and kill them!" She ordered.
One assassin rushed toward Geralt. He managed two steps before Cirilla blinked and plunged her blade into the man's chest killing him instantly. Swords drawn, both Eskel and Lambert entered the fight. Lambert immediately singled out two assassins on the left and offered to take them. He drew them farther away slowly and switched his stance from the guard to the Viroledan Naev'de Feaine Glaeddyv or the group style used for fighting multiple enemies at once. Eskel moved to his right and challenged the three assassins directly in front of him. The Witcher preferred speed over power, he assumed the Addan Aenye or fiery dancer fast fighting style.
Ciri faced the last two assassins, and Geralt stepped forward to kill the mask women. There was a brief paused and silence, then Ciri quickly fell her first prey with a quick blow across the neck. Blood sprayed across her armor and face as the man held his neck, then stumbled backward and fell to the ground. The second assassin hesitated and lost his head as she disappeared, then reappeared behind him. With a single swift swing, she severed the man's head, then kicked his body down to the ground.
"Fuck! You are not playing around." Lambert said.
Ciri tilted her head and stared, then replied in a cold firm voice, "No! We should end this now."
A short, but tense sword fight ensued as Eskel quickly dispatched the three men before him. Lambert quickly followed suit and cut down assassin, then sheathed his sword. Soon all the assassins except the mask woman lay dead. Ciri and Eskel sheathed their swords, then stepped back as Geralt stood in silence as if contemplating how best to kill the woman.
"You will find that it is not so easy to kill me Witchers." She said.
"Bullocks, I can kill you with ease." Ciri shouted, "Let me kill this monster Geralt."
"No, get back!" He replied.
"Make this quick Wolf. There is no mage here." Lambert said.
"Prepare to die." Geralt said, as he step forward.
Geralt assumed a high stance Temerian Devil. His feet were spread far apart with his sword high, slightly angled forward, as the tip of his blade pointed to her chest. His legs were slightly bent at the knees, as he rested his center and shifted on the trail leg. The female assassin assumed a low stance weapon at her side and pointed at the Witcher's chest. He watched keenly and listened for any subtle sound to single her attack. Geralt could hear her fingers tensed and gripped her sword, just as she thrust forward. He easily deflected her strike, then countered. The force of his attacked made her blade vibrate violently.
He was stronger and fast, notably more powerful and the female assassin knew she could not win. However, what she lacked in power she made up in wit and used his strengths to her advantage. With every attack, she moved in the direction of his strikes to minimize the impact of the blows. As she lunged forward and countered, he parried to the side, then spun around and swung his sword at her neck. Skillfully, she rotated, brought her sword to her back to block his blow. The strong impact knocked her forward and off balanced, but she quickly regained her footing.
"Argh, I'm not going to lose to you mutant." She shouted, "We'll kill every last mage in Kovir."
"Hmm, I am going to split your body in half with this sword and let the crows feed on your rotten corpse. You are strong against defenseless peddlers and mage bound and chained. You trap and burn sorceresses tied to stakes, but you pick the wrong sorceress to fuck with. She's mine and I am going to kill you for what you tried to do to Triss." Geralt replied.
"The Eternal Fire guides me freak." She answered.
Geralt assumed his guard and replied, "You are dead!"
The female assassin braced for his strike and assumed a high stance, then retrieved a shorter sword from her belt. She stepped forward, blindly to attack, but Geralt transitioned and blocked her sword. She quickly brought her short sword to bear and swung it at his throat, but missed. His movements were quick and he easily avoided each of her strikes. Ciri and the two Witchers stepped forward, surprised.
Shit, he avoided my sword easily. If he doesn't make another mistake I am dead. Why is he toying with me? She thought.
"Damn, she is not bad. That was close. The blow would've left behind a nasty scar." Lambert said.
Ciri crept forward, then drew her sword, "Why is he taking so long? Kill her already Geralt!"
Eskel quickly assess the woman fighting skills, then replied, "I don't know. She's not a bad fighter, but Wolf could kill her easily if he wanted to. She's terrified of him, but she's not showing it. This one is trained, she's been around swords a while."
"She don't stand a ghost of a chance." Lambert replied.
Geralt stood motionless his body poised to strike. He quickly stepped forward into the assassin's guard. His speed was impressive, but the way she moved to counter warranted praise. She dodged the Witcher's first and second strikes, but his third connected across her shoulder down to her chest. She stumbled backward and grabbed her breastplate, as blood poured through her fingers.
Damn, he is fast. I am going to die here. So this is the skill and power of a Witcher? He is terrifying.
"Let's end this." Geralt muttered.
He regained his stance. His left arm positioned out wide as a distraction as he crouched his body slightly and shift his center over his knees. Addan Aenye style, his blade stretched across his shoulders to his left elbow. As she brought her sword to the guard, he lunged forward and pierced the woman's left shoulder. She let out a screeching sound as, he slowly twisted and withdrew his blade. Her arm went limb and she dropped her left sword. Geralt moved in for the finishing blow with an upward strike, but she parried with a second sword. The force of his blow knocked her sword from her hand. The Witcher cast Aard and send the women tumbling violently. Her mask came loose as she slammed against the ground and broke her one usable arm.
"Your arm, are useless, you have no way to defend yourself. Prepare for death witch hunter." He said.
Geralt slowly walked toward the bloodied woman, then raised his sword and prepared to deliver the finishing blow. She struggled to move and defiantly raised her head off the ground and glared at him. He paused, pointed his sword at her throat as he recognized her face.
"What are you doing here Tamara? Is this what you do...attack sorceresses whose fled?"
"You attacked first Witcher and I don't answer to a freak." She replied
He pressed the sharp edge of his blade against her throat, then replied, "Answer or you will die!"
She raised her head and said, "The Eternal Fire is the truth…"
He flattened his sword and pressed the flat side against her throat and choked her airway, "The Eternal Fire is the truth that will never lead you astray. Righteous and brave men. Yes, I remember your words"
Tamara eye watered, "Yes—Witcher and they still hold true! You—you can never understand the salvation I found in the Eternal Fire. Witches torture my mother and took her mind."
"And those crones are dead, the girl you see behind me eager to take your head, my daughter Ciri killed them." He replied.
"All witches and magic user must be cleansed from this world by the Eternal Fire, their sorcery is an abomination." Tamara replied, as she coughed blood, and moaned in pain.
"Yet you fought alongside a mage to attack my Triss. Bad move!" Geralt mumbled.
"The Eternal Fire bring justice to the oppressed, and fire to the unholy."
Geralt frowned, he removed his sword from her neck and stuck his fingers into the woman's wounds to cause her more pain, "Is that how you've justified the torture and murder of mages on the pyre? What about the torture and murder of non humans?"
She screamed, then pant and closed her eyes. Geralt smacked her face as she faded in and out of consciousness, she called out, "Kill me Witcher, we have no more to discuss, you've won. I would've killed you if I were your in position."
He removed his hand from her wound and sheathed his blade, "Tell me the name of the mage who try to kill Triss. Who's behind this plot?"
"You don't scare me Witcher, I am prepared to die." She replied, as more blood spew from her mouth.
His eyes burned with hatred. He took a deep breathe to calm himself, "You are alive because the Baron—your father—helped Ciri. I am returning that favor, but do not try my patience assassin or I will make you talk."
Angry at his mention of her father she answered, "What good was my father to me? Spare me your sentiments Witcher, I know you have no feelings or emotions."
"Your life has been spared for now. That was more than your Eternal Fire offer to Triss, but you will talk willingly or I will use other means to make you speak. I promise it won't be pleasant and you will not survive it." Geralt replied.
Meanwhile, Ciri grew anxious as Geralt sheathed his sword. She moved closer to the bout with her sword in hand. The situation was tense, almost too tensed for the young Witcheress. She wanted to move to his side, but Geralt had ordered her to stay back. She paced in place left and right as she mumbled her anger. Eskel and Lambert also grew concern as they listened to the discussion between Geralt and the female assassin.
Ciri grind her teeth, then asked, "What's going on over there? Why won't he kill her?"
"Don't be so rash Ciri. Wolf called the woman by name. He knows other, something about a baron." Eskel replied.
"Let's go!" Lambert said, as they all moved to Geralt's side.
Ciri sheathed her sword and stood up right, "Who is she?"
Geralt tilted his head and glared at her, and replied, "The baron's daughter. Her name is Tamara, she coming with us."
"Fucking what? She's an assassin Geralt, an assassin who tried to kill Merigold remember? We should kill her. Besides with her injuries, she won't last the night." Lambert said.
Dizzy from the heavy loss of blood Tamara mumbled, "I will tell you who the mage is Geralt. He is Koviri, Sigo Buntz of the royal court. We planned to trapped and kill him after the lodges of sorceresses were dealt with."
"Strap her on my horse, we are leaving. If Triss dies, she'll die." Geralt said. As expected from an agent of the Eternal Fire. They'll lie and do anything to save themselves. Sigo warned me, there is no way he's involved I would've knows.
Ciri quickly applied some dressing to Tamara's wounds and hastily secured it. Geralt cast Axii and gave the woman a suggestion to sleep just as Lambert grabbed her violently and threw her over Roach. Her wounds were severe and Geralt knew she would not survive the ride if he rode fast. Ciri and the others mounted their horses, and they rode back for Pont Vanis. During their journey, Geralt slowed his mare to ensure Tamara's wounds were not aggravated. She was badly injured, but he needed her alive. Her father had cared for Ciri, when she was injured and fleeing the wild hunt, this was his payment on that debt.
Thanks for reading this chapter. I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. Let me know what you think I am always looking forward to improving my writing and ideas.