.XXV. The Woodland's Mistress.
From time to time, a drop of blood would break from his finger tips and fall down on the narrow path that led back to Erde.
The fight with the werewolf, Reginald, only reminded him of how much he missed wearing a proper armor set. As his witcher armor would've never allowed the claws to dig this deep or cause as much damage. Thus, it was obvious that before he would set sail for Skellige, he had to find an armorsmith that would have the ability and the tools necessary to craft him a new set of armor.
Also these recent wounds, meant he would have to ease his pace a bit. Not really an option in the current situation, for he was sure that this individual hailed Arlow, won't just share the information he requires out of the kindness of his heart...
When he eventually reached Erde, in front of the gridler's shop several people were gathered, as if they were waiting for someone. Clients, guessed Gerd, as he walked past them.
'Master Witcher !', yelled a woman, rushing towards him. 'Master !', she called again.
'What is it ?', replied Gerd, turning.
'I'm in need of your services.', the young woman answered.
'With ?', Gerd asked coldly.
'M-My future to be husband has gone missing. Please. I-'.
'When ?', he continued with the same tone.
'Four days ago. He went as he did every mornin', into the woods north of here, huntin'. But, didn't return.', the young woman answered again looking at her feet, clutching her fingers around the sides of her skirt, as a tear dropped from her left eye and fell on the dusty ground. 'I- love him...'.
From those that gathered in front of the shop, an old woman approached the bride, followed by a younger one. 'Oh, sweet child...', the old woman whispered while moving the young woman's head to her shoulder. 'Go to your sister, I'll take care of the rest...', she continued, watching as the young woman walked to her sister, then looked at Gerd. 'Listen here ! I need that wonderful child to stop weeping cascades of tears, and you to find that damned soft-headed idiot or, if he's actually dead, his fuckin' corpse. So, how much will it be ?'.
'I won't take the contract.'.
'Your kind doesn't fancy coin anymore ? What ? You bastards grow it in trees nowadays ?', she replied while she placed her hands on her hips. 'How 'bout I look at that wound of yours ? I'll patch you up. That why you don't want to take the contract. Ain't it ? So, how much ?'.
'Eighty.'.
'I ain't gonna give you a copper more than sixty.', replied the old woman.
Seeing that the old woman wouldn't budge a copper more, he agreed to take the contract. 'Fine.'.
'Good. Now, take off that armor, and go sit on that stump over there.'.
Gerd took his chest armor off, and sat on a stump near the gridler's shop. While the old woman went to the gridler's hut to get some bandages and alcohol needed to clean the wound.
'What happened ?', asked the gridler, as she approached. 'Did you find Aidan ?'.
'I did not.'.
'He might be out hunting. You could check on him later...'. she responded, unsure.
'I might.'.
'Well, I better go finish your straps. Talk later ?', she replied, then proceeded to the entrance of the shop.
'Sure.'.
The old woman returned shortly after with the necessary items. She ripped a piece of cloth in two and folded it, took out the cork of the bottle and poured over the dressing. Then looked at Gerd. 'Why are you lookin' at me like that ? If it worries you, I got enough experience as I've done this plenty for me' husband.'.
'Was he in the army ?'.
'No. Just a drunken-fool.', she replied while she cleaned the wounds. 'But, the most handsome lad in these cursed parts. I loved that man 'till his last day in this world. He still was a fool and a drunk though.', she sighed and then continued. 'He died twenty summers ago. Peacefully in his sleep.', she then looked at the young woman. 'Youth and love blind like no other...'.
'About the spouse. You think he got cold feet ?'.
'Who knows. Might've been killed by a damn boar. There's plenty of em' round here. 'Sides, he ain't that great of a hunter as that naive sweet lass thinks. Just a few springs ago, he got chased out of the woods by a damned deer. He claimed it had antlers as big as a dog, and was taller than a horse, but my grandson saw him run out of the woods like a scared fool with nothing giving chase, yelling nonsense...'.
Gerd's mind already thought of a Leshen.
'After four days one would call me lucky, if I am to find his boots...'.
'Meanin' ?'.
'If something big got him, there won't be much left.'.
'We haven't had such beasts 'round here for some time now. 'Sides wouldn't there be more folk missing ?'.
'There aren't ?'.
'None. We would've known.', the old woman said as she finished cleaning the wounds. 'I see you cauterized the deeper ones...'.
'It's better than stitching them. This way I can still have a somewhat unrestricted movement.', Gerd replied, as the woman applied an ointment made from honey. Then followed with the clean dressings over the wounds.
'You should change them in a couple of days.'.
'Thank you.', said Gerd raising from the stump, picking up his chest armor. 'Where will I find you when I'm done ?'.
'Brunwich. At the hut that's right of the western gate.'.
'Is there anything that could help me identify him ?',
'Black haired, scrawny. He wore a washed up black tunic and had a sword with his name engraved on the pommel, Irwin.', answered the old woman.
'Did he use to go deep in the woods ?', asked Gerd, adjusting the straps of his swords.
'Not since he ran out of them screaming...'.
'Right. Well then, I better be on my way. So long.'.
Gerd went to his mare from where he picked up some vials and herbs and fed her some hay. 'Stay put, girl. I'll be back soon.', he said, petting his mare's neck.
Then left the village and headed on foot north towards the woods of Brunwich. He entered the village and went to Turmir, the dwarven blacksmith to leave an order for the gridler's shop sign. He also checked the notice board for work, but there was no werewolf notice or anything else besides the contract he was already working on. Therefore he then decided to go look for Irwin's tracks, and find what happened to him.
It was past noon, when he entered the woods north of Brunwich and found no other tracks besides those made by boars and deer. Fortunately as he walked further north, he found some tracks that were at least three days old, that led west. He followed them for some time and reached the ruins of what once seemed to be an elven structure.
More then half of the structure was collapsed, but, a single column was still left standing, solely holding the eastern side of the ruin up for some decades now. The floor still had managed to keep it's color despite the attempts of time and rain, combined with the sun and wind's constant gnawing to render it obsolete, to wash it away and let it be lost, forever. Portraying the figure of the sun during the spring's solstice on the eastern side, where a bit of the roof was extending over, offering a slight shelter to this forgotten tapestry of the sun. The ruins offered Gerd an insight to a world that is now long forgotten. A world without humans and witchers, a world in which by the Elven history east of the Great Sea, was the closest this side of the world has ever been to paradise. Now, among the ancient trees that still remember, laying here, it's what's left of that world. Lost and almost forgotten, still enduring the trials of time...
After a few moments he spent looking around the ruins, he resumed his attention on the tracks he followed here. Gerd found none around or near the ruins, but he did find a door leading beneath them. And as he approached he noticed the footprint of a muddy boot, leading beyond the door, beneath the elven ruins. As he approached he heard the voice and the moans of a man, followed by some giggling and a short laugh, succeeded by a louder moan. Gerd unsheathed his silver, and burst through the door.
To his surprise he stumbled into something that was nothing of the sort he anticipated.
Gerd cleared his throat while sheathing his sword. 'Irwin ?'. He asked as he saw a dark tunic laid on a chair near the head of the bed and next to it, a sword leaned against the dark brick wall.
'Yes ?', the man replied.
'Is this what you've been doing in the last four days ?'.
'Hmm, yes...'.
'What do you want ?', asked the auburn haired woman that sat on top of him, more specifically a succubus. Fair skinned, with a curvaceous body and as she raised from the bed with a jiggle of her breasts, and walked toward Gerd, he noticed the rest of her attractive features. Such as her auburn eyes, prominent cheek bones, square jaw, red voluptuous lips and marks she had drawn on her smooth skin, of the same color as her lips, consisting of a line coming from her lower lip, down her neck and around her breasts, and continued downwards to her hips, and disappear as it advanced lower. 'Go on, tell me what-'.
'I was looking for him. His family and beloved said he went missing four days ago. They hired me to find him, or whatever was left of him...', Gerd interrupted looking at Irwin.
'Really ?', he answered, surprised. 'I was going to return tonight.'.
'So you came here to...'.
'Yes. I came to see Zora.'.
'Well, he was clearly not harmed.', replied Zora, then she walked toward Irwin and kissed him. 'Go on. Go to your wife. But do come by again. Alright ?'.
'Alright.', replied Irwin, excited.
'Now go put some clothes on.', she said, slapping his back as he went to get dressed. 'Witcher.', she continued, turning to Gerd.
'So, you're the 'deer' that scared him out of the woods...'.
'Quite. Anyhow...Why don't you stay a while...Let Irwin go home by himself. As you and I, have a warm bath...and-', Zora said, taking Gerd's left hand into hers, rubbing the back of his hand against her lower area, before being interrupted.
'I would like to, but sadly, I'll have to turn down your invitation.', Gerd replied, while she raised his left hand near her mouth, licking his knuckles.
She smiled pleasantly. 'It's fine. You know where to find me...', she whispered, kissing Gerd on the cheek. She then walked towards Irwin, who was now dressed. 'Well, I guess I'll see you soon, my dear.'.
'You will, my sweet. I won't take long. A few days at least. Then I'll return to you.'.
'Wonderful. I'll crave your warmth, your entire being while you're gone.'.
'Oh, my sweetest plum...I'll miss you too.', he replied, as Zora slowly reached for the top of his head while kissing him, and pushed it downwards between her legs. Moving her left one over his right shoulder, as she stared straight at Gerd, biting on her index finger.
'Irwin-', called Gerd before being interrupted by a Irwin's hand.
From between Zora's legs he murmured something. As he moved his hand along her left leg, that she had placed over his shoulder, until he reached her butt cheek, around which he clamped his fingers. While the other alike his mouth, played with her lower parts. Soon everything reached to an end as Zora let out a long moan, while she held Irwin's head between her legs. Trembling and throbbing as she tightened her abdomen, letting out a long exhale at the end. Then she raised Irwin from between her legs, kissing him.
She took a long breath, and smiled. While Irwin turned and walked towards the door.
'Let's go, witcher.', said Irwin opening the door.
'So long.', said Gerd following Irwin out, closing the door behind him.
They both walked back to the village and none of them said anything for a while.
'What are we going to tell them ?', asked Irwin, walking in front of Gerd.
'You had four days and didn't bother to find something until now ? '.
'Well, no...Think of something, will you ?', said Irwin.
'Any suggestions ?'.
'I guess...I got lost, or was trapped somewhere...I don't know...', Irwin replied scratching the top of his head.
'You don't smell like someone who's been trapped or kept somewhere for days...'.
'What do you mean ?', he asked stopping.
'You smell of perfume. You are uninjured, and look too clean.'.
'Well, we can fix that !'.
'We ?'.
'Yes. Hit me.'.
'What ?'.
'Come on. You said I am uninjured. Just a punch. Hit me in the nose, it bleeds pretty easily.', replied Irwin, squinting his eyes. 'Not hard though...'.
'Alright.', said Gerd, then punched Irwin in the face, making him fall down.
'I said not hard !', yelled Irwin, holding his bleeding nose, lifting himself from the ground.
'It bleeds alright...'.
'I told you it would ! Now, let's get rid of that perfume...', he continued looking around. 'Aha ! There is a pond not far from here... I could take a dip in that and we're done !'.
'Lead the way...'.
'This way !', Irwin said, as Gerd followed. 'So what beast did this to me ? A-a troll ? A nasty pack of drowners ? A griffin ?!'.
'Bandits.', answered Gerd.
'Oh...That works as well, I guess.'.
'If it was to be one of the three you mentioned, you would've been a turd by now...'.
Irwin laughed awkwardly. 'I would've, wouldn't I...'.
They stopped talking after that, until they reached the pond. Situated beneath a hill, from which it seemed to collect the water, probably from an almost depleted spring as well.
'Here we are !', said Irwin.
'Well, go on...'.
'Fine...', he replied, walking in the water, until it reached his neck.
'That's enough...', said Gerd, watching from ashore. 'Come out.'.
'I'm coming...', Irwin replied, turning back. 'It's quite muddy.', he continued as he advanced out of the water. 'Witcher !', he screamed then was suddenly pulled in the water.
'Dammit !', cursed Gerd rushing in the water where he last saw Irwin and advanced a bit searching for something to grab. When he finally did manage to get hold of him he dragged Irwin out of the pond as quick as he could. Throwing him near a tree, as he coughed the water out, while Gerd unsheathed his silver sword.
From the dirty water of the pond a nasty red and dark skinned water hag burst out, trying to get Gerd with a vertical slash of her long claws. The witcher responded with a slash across her face, cutting her mandibulae clean off, then jumped back. She made an obnoxious screech and charged towards Gerd, who moved aside and cut through the water hag's right arm, then used his Aard sign to push her away from Irwin, making her fall. Gerd quickly moved above her and stabbed her in the chest.
'By the gods !', said Irwin approaching. 'What was that ?'.
'A water hag.', answered Gerd, sheathing his sword.
'Well...Thank you.', replied Irwin coughing.
'Right. Let's get you back to the village.'.
'Alright.', replied Irwin looking back at the corpse of the monster the witcher slew.
After a while they arrived in the village. Irwin now looked and smelled like someone that had a near death experience. Still Gerd wasn't sure if Irwin won't do more visits to Zora, as he doubted Irwin learned anything from all of this...
'Irwin !', his beloved called as she sprang up from a chair as soon as she laid eyes on him.
'Mira !', he replied when he heard her call, quickening his steps.
'Are you alright ? What happened ? I was so worried !', she said wrapping her arms around his back.
'I'm sorry. Bandits took me captive...'.
'Oh.', she sighed as she hugged and kissed him. 'Thank you !', she said as Gerd approached.
'There's no need for that. I'll go take my coin. Take care you two.', Gerd replied heading for the old woman's hut, who was waiting on the porch.
'It seems you have found that dimwit...', she said sitting on a rocking chair. 'Here's your reward.', she continued grabbing the pouch from a table near her, and throwing it towards Gerd. 'By the way. The dwarf, Trumir, finished that sign. I sent my grandson to deliver it to Erde.'.
'Thanks. Farewell.', he said after catching the pouch the old woman threw.
Therefore all he had to do now was go back to Erde. From where he'd have to ride to Novigrad, to ask Francess about another man, named Arlow. This far it seemed that if he was to find the location of this man, he would get yet another meaningless name out of him that would only prolonged this contract even more...
Thus, when he reached the village of Erde, he went to the girdler's shop to pick up his promised payment for getting her sign.
The owner was outside already trying to find the perfect place to hang the sign.
'You're back.', she said, as she went inside the hut and Gerd followed. 'Here, as promised.'.
'Thanks.'.
'I'd say, today proved to be a pretty productive day for you...', she said smiling.
'I guess.'.
'Well, here are your new straps.', she replied, taking them from behind the counter, placing them on it.
'It wasn't dull for you either...', said Gerd, handing her his swords.
'You know I never told you my name...'.
'I never asked...'.
'True. But I usually do tell it to costumers. So, Ella.'.
'Gerd. Nice to meet you, Ella.'.
'Same.', she replied. 'Here you go. Good as new.'.
'Thanks again.', said Gerd, placing on the counter the required amount of coin.
'You could go back to check on Aidan. He must be back by now...'.
'I don't need to anymore. I've got the answers I needed.'.
'Well, then that's good, I guess. I wished he would get to meet you. He's such a kind man. You two would get along rather well...'.
'I bet he is. Well, I better be on my way.'.
'Alright, take care. And do come back.'.
'I will. So long.'.
It was late in the afternoon when he got out of Ella's shop and went to get his mare. Who was eager to get out for a stroll, after staying all day near the watering spot. So he led her by the rains out of the village, where he jumped in the saddle, and rode to the city of Novigrad...