Notes for this chapter

Hen llinge = Elder Speech = language of the Aen Seidhe elves

Muiren llinge = the language of the Aen Muire elves

Ellylon = language of the Aen Elle elves

Laith aen Undod = One Speech = language used by both Aen Seidhe and Aen Elle elves in times when they were united as Aen Undod

The days were passing by quietly after the successful defence of Vergen. Saskia, Philippa Eilhart, the Witcher and – most importantly – Iorveth were gone. They left for the peace summit in Loc Muinne. Although the way how they did was not sitting well neither with Keaira, nor with the majority of the town's inhabitants.
For a while Vergen was in turmoil, reflecting how she felt inside. Not really because of what happened, but those strange dreams returned to her where she remembered finally after so many years the bits and pieces of her early childhood.
Combined with the time pressure of finishing her current assignment as soon as possible, the hateful looks of some Scoia'tael and that political plot that was obviously going on back home related to this world, it all gave Kea often a headache.
The more time was ticking away since Iorveth's sudden departure, the more clear it became to her, that she won't catch up with Faoiltiarna the old-fashioned way – crossing the Elskerdeg pass herself and traveling on horseback. There was also the question of what to do with already so many elves that have decided to join her and Neach and leave this world.

Neach... He was her salvation these days. Seeing her mood, he didn't ask anything. Just appeared out of thin air when she felt the worst, quietly stroking her cheek, hugging her tight and kissing her temple softly before leaving again. Or bringing her a portion of fresh pumpkin pie from the tavern with a victorious grin – every time he managed to bring it in one piece without having bitten something off...
All that while spending his days to acquire more and more elves together with Deagan, trying to get word out to the last few remnants of the Scoia'tael in Temeria, Lyria and Rivia. Dealing with any issues many of the elves in town asked him to help with, regularly checking in on each of the former commanders and their groups.
When she watched him from afar, she admired him more and more each day. If not in a private discussion with someone, he usually only used very few words and just his gestures or gaze to communicate.
And it was enough. The strength with which these silent orders have been given had the majority of the people complying without a second thought, trusting him fully.
Her heart was skipping a beat each time he caught sight of her and just tilted his head, a small smile playing on his lips as his grown out hair enveloped his shoulders.

Deagan's face was beaming with joy every day Kea has seen him. Once he's found his younger brother in one of the houses where the elves had made camp and it was clear that Ciaran aep Easnillen will survive his serious injuries, the change in his attitude was massive. It was as if his golden coloured eyes have become two sparkling ambers, framed by light wrinkles creased in a constant smile.
They've decided to distribute a large portion of the money they had between the refugees, the families, the remnants of the commando's to ensure everyone has what they need. And Kea also donated a portion to the city as the elves were occupying many of the abandoned dwarven houses. After the battle with Henselt's forces Vergen was in dire need of redevelopment and any help was welcome.
She spend her time during the day often at the alderman's house, where she was undisturbed. Sitting at a long table near a warm fireplace, studying the hand-painted map from Philippa Eilhart. So far unsuccessfully trying to compare it to the more detailed Haakland maps El has send to her.

The door squeaked and Cecil Burdon has entered, gesturing towards her with a bowl of food in his hand:
"You shouldn't forget to eat something from time to time, Miss Keaira."
She had to smile hearing the 'Miss', but thanked him for being so attentive and gladly delved into her meal.
The dwarf joined her at the other end of the table, packing and lighting a pipe after a good lunch.
"Cecil?" she asked when she finished eating, licking the pork stew from her lips.
"Aye?"
"I've heard many of the dwarves and some humans in town mentioning Iorveth's fierce support for Saskia and her cause. It surprises me to see someone like him aiding other races aside from elves. It's not what... I'd have expected and not what I've been told about him in the past. Would you be willing to share your opinion on that with me?"
The old dwarf looked at her briefly, then into the flames dancing in the fireplace, inquiring doubtfully:
"Are you asking only to sate your own curiosity?"
"I won't tell anyone if you say something unflattering."
"Hmm..." For a moment he still hesitated, but then blew out some smoke and turned to face her:
"If I wouldn't know better I'd say he's doing it just because he has a crush on the Dragonslayer. Judging by how he's staring at the lass's cleavage when he thinks nobody's watching..."
At that point Kea was happy not to be chewing on her food anymore as she'd be choking in this instant. So she only raised an eyebrow in surprise, motioning for the alderman to continue.

"Nevertheless that old elf is not so selfish. One might call him a terrorist, or a murderer, or even a butcher, but I believe he seeks a new start. I wouldn't bet anything on what's now more important to him – Saskia, or his elves screaming for freedom." Cecil snorted in contempt,
"He did fight with them here for an independent Pontar Valley however. I think they intend to stay. Maybe he's hoping for Saskia's affection. Maybe he's just tired of hiding. I don't know."
"I have to grin every time I hear someone calling him old. Or most of the other elves here. They might be old compared to other species and so because of their real age people call them 'old'. But most of the Scoia'tael are still relatively young elves. It's the young ones, that rebel and fight, that join the commandos. This is one of the reasons why their overall numbers are dwindling so drastically. Those, that could have children, are instead dying prematurely in a war they cannot win."

"So you're telling me that all these 'young' elves here want to settle in Upper Aedirn just to start breeding like bunnies?" Now the alderman's voice was dripping with unexpected sarcasm and Kea had to laugh aloud for a moment.
"I doubt that with their slow fertility cycles they'll be breeding anytime soon 'like bunnies'. But Iorveth's drive to support a new independent state with Vergen as it's capital, where the elves – and specifically the Scoia'tael - are not prosecuted, would then make more sense."
"Honestly, I do not believe, that it will work out. Vergen is our town," the dwarf pointed a finger at the middle of his chest to emphasize his words, "it has always been a dwarven town. Now it's overrun with humans and elves, bickering who's going to rule. We'd prefer they all... take that argument elsewhere. Nobody wants them here! Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they've helped in the battle. And you're a fine lady, but I hope you don't plan on staying here for too long with those pointy eared bandits."
Cecil Burdon wiggled angrily on his chair, fidgeting with his pipe and added after a while mumbling into his beard: "I hope this discussion will stay between us. I've already said more than I wanted to."
Keaira bowed her head respectfully in agreement: "I appreciate your honest words, Cecil. Thank you."

She had the feeling he would have said many of the things even more bluntly had she been a man, but simply out of respect he seemed to be weighing his words.
Deeply in thought and with a mounting frustration from her maps, she decided to leave it be for the day and went out in search of the she-elves just to have some chit-chat and clear her mind.

Kea found them in the early afternoon at a lake behind the town's northern gate, where Liadan and Toruviel seemed to have a competition in archery. There was a target situated on the other side of the small lake and Kea noticed a ford connecting both shores almost through the middle of the pond. She recognized Niall standing not far away from the target and waiting.
A couple of elves and dwarves were sitting around in the grass, watching the females each shoot three arrows at the target. Niall then evaluated who has been closer to the bullseye and rose a hand to show which one of the she-elves won the round. Right for Toruviel, left for Liadan.

Keaira spotted Fionnlagh sitting not far away and waving her over, so she sat down next to him, whispering:
"Who's winning?"
The proud elf produced a mischievous grin: "Lia. You can still bet if you like."
Kea quirked an eyebrow: "How much did you bet on her?"
"I think I'd rather not tell you. Just a hint – I'm very sure I'll win."
He smiled almost a little evilly as he regarded someone behind Keaira's back, so she turned around.
Ailill made a depressed grimace and turned his eyes towards the females who just finished another round. On the opposite shore Niall's left hand rose towards the sky and Ailill's unhappy face was now accompanied by a barely audible growl.
She couldn't help herself and had to chuckle, to which the unusually tall elf reacted with a rather nasty scowl in her direction.

Kea turned back to Fionnlagh: "Thanks, but I think I just watch."
He nodded and concentrated back on the contest.
Someone in the crowd yelled loudly:
"That's nine to four. Just one more round Lia."
Kea moved to sit next to angry Ailill in the dry grass who just pretended to ignore her.
"So, how much?" she quietly asked as she bumped his arm with her shoulder.
Another growl, but he reluctantly replied through gritted teeth:
"Almost everything I had. I wanted to buy new clothes. It's hard to get anything in my size, but there's a good craftsman here in Vergen. I was hoping to..."
He didn't finish the sentence, silently staring at the small pouch that appeared next to his bend knee. Ailill slowly turned his face towards her, his expression unreadable.
"Before you get offended – it's a loan. You'll have to pay me back once we're on Gwaeloth."
She saw him gulping, quickly looking around, then studying the pouch for a while before reaching out for it with a soft "Thank you."
"You're welcome. Just – please, no more bets."
His eyes found the smirk on her face and she watched him leaving the lake's shore in a much better mood, hurrying towards the town's market square.

The competition ended soon after with a local dwarf handing out coin pouches to the winners of the bets. Most of the spectators have dispersed and walked back to Vergen, the chilly air and quickly falling temperatures were not ideal for longer stays outside. Only Toru, Lia and two-three elves from their respective commandos have remained. Including Niall on the other side of the lake, gathering all the arrows.
Keaira approached the two, listening in as Toruviel was discussing which feathers are best used for the fletching and both female elves greeted her with quick hand motions.
Once their discussion ended, Liadan has turned towards Kea:
"Would you like to shoot some more with us?"
The short human just chuckled: "I don't think it'll be any fun for you, I'm way too bad at this. Surely at such a distance." pointing towards the target, which was at least 80-90 yards away on the other side of the pond.
"Oh please, it can't be that bad." chimed in Toruviel with a wink – a clear challenge to see how much truth is behind Kea's words.

Keaira sighed heavily, already anticipating the usual reaction, removed her gloves and took the offered bow from Toru's hands. Looking at Niall's hair and watching it move in the wind, she waved him away from the target's position.
It definitely earned her already a few grins and cackles and a questioning look from the elf on the other shore as he rather hesitantly moved aside.
Then she drew, held her breath and released the arrow with a silent prayer wishing it really doesn't hit him...
The arrow swished and rolled through the air in a mild arch, hitting with a cracking sound the high stone wall in the background somewhere between the target and Niall, then disappeared in the tall grass below.
Yep, there it was – the open laughter she was so used to every time she tried a shot at this distance. And always failed. Well, almost always.
Kea just grinned and shrugged her shoulders, handing the bow back to Toruviel:
"Told you so. I know I'm bad at this. For some reason nobody wants to believe me."
"Nonsense!" uttered Liadan while snickering and pushed the bow back into Kea's hands.

"Who taught you to hold the bow like this?!" her tone changing into a chastising one a short while later.
"My late brother. And then my archery teacher. Why?"
"Well, did your brother or your teacher have breasts?"
"What?!"
"Did they have breasts? You know – Tits. Boobs. Knockers. Globes. Hooters..."
"Ok, stop! No, they didn't."
"So why are you standing like a male? Turn slightly more sideways. Yes, like that, move your leg more to this spot. Exactly. Now straighten your back, head up, chin level to the ground, collar bone parallel to your arrow. It hurts my eyes to see your bow arm!" the she-elf unceremoniously slapped Kea's stretched arm holding the bow, moving it into the right position.
"Draw the bow-string fully, fingers next to the corner of your mouth. If that doesn't work for you, move them next to your cheek. All right, that's much better. Shoot the target now." Liadan's open palm pointing to the target in the distance.

Niall didn't dare come closer yet to collect the previous arrow from the ground, eyeing Kea's posture and contemplating whether to remain in his current spot.
She took another arrow from the offered quiver, corrected her pose based on Lia's instructions and let the arrow fly. It wasn't a very good shot, but at least this time she managed to hit the target in one of its upper corners.
"See, you just need more practice. And unlike a male, you need to get your breasts out of the way. You know – tits, boobs..."
Lia didn't continue anymore as she's watched Keaira flash her teeth in a huge grin and she couldn't keep her stern face anymore as well and chuckled.

A cold breeze swept a couple of unruly hair strands into Kea's face and she slowly removed them with her hand, looking at the target as she put her gloves back on. The mentioning of her deceased brother has brought back some memories and a little melancholy. It didn't go unnoticed by the two she-elves standing close to her.
"How about we have a drink at the Cauldron?" offered tentatively Toruviel, studying Keaira's face.
She agreed with a sad smile and soon after the three of them were sitting in the tavern exchanging stories over mugs full of Mahakaman mead.

Isengrim Faoiltiarna has been patiently waiting for two weeks until his new armor and boots were ready, enjoying the quiet days at the inn. Like possessed he requested every single night a bath, scrubbing himself with the various soaps the innkeep offered, as if trying to rub away not just the roads' dirt from his body, but his entire past.
Strolling during the days through the small town's streets, admiring the windmills and the local architecture. From time to time visiting a bookshop he discovered. The shop had a vast array of books in multiple languages, probably due to its close proximity to the borders and Isengrim managed to find a couple in Nilfgaardian, which he spoke almost flawlessly as it was largely based on Elder Speech. The owner spoke a bit Hen llinge and so he tried to ask for other elves, pondering which road to take from here.
Unsurprisingly the shopkeeper suggested a trip to Ebeltoft, just like Dijkstra already when he met him on the Elskerdeg pass. Though it did seem like a lifetime ago now.
The scarred elf nodded and borrowed another book, which he intended to read that evening after his bath.

But instead he just paced back and forth in his rented room after he got out of the wooden tub, not being able to concentrate – neither on the book, nor on deciphering the inscriptions on his two new swords, or anything else...
Irritated he threw another log into the fire burning in the fireplace and sat down naked as he was into a chair in front of it to dry off. He was nervous, tense, muscles taut...
Faoiltiarna quietly growled to himself and closed his eyes.
Was he no longer able to live a simple normal life? Was he becoming restless from the uneventful stay in this small town after just a few days? Was he fearing the rest of his days would be boring?
But he felt finally so at peace... So relaxed... So carefree and easy... So...
His head lowered as his eyes slowly opened.
And he was greeted with the sight of his own raging hard-on.
After months - if not years – Isengrim Faoiltiarna burst into loud laughter. Laughing so hard at himself he had tears in his eyes.
It took him a while to calm down, only to realize the tears have remained and were still falling...
He wished someone familiar would be there with him. Anyone. Just to make him feel less... lonely.

Late at night when she finally left the tavern, Kea dragged her feet to the house she and Neach were sharing with Deag and his gradually healing brother. Only to fall asleep the moment she sat down on the bed, noticing just in the morning that Neach had removed her boots and covered her in blankets.
The nightmarish memories from her childhood have returned that night.

She was too young to count the days, but she realized that a few have come and gone since she finally managed to lift with her small arms and the help of a hammer's handle the heavy lid on the cellar, where she was trapped with her father's dead body. He succumbed to severe burns when he dropped her down the stairs, but didn't manage to hide himself in time. Her mother didn't make it to their hideout. The little girl unfortunately found her charred remains a few feet away from the entrance. For the next few hours she was just sitting there next to her mother's body. Crying, sobbing and screaming...

Then the hunger and thirst forced her to get up and look for anything edible. Anything just to quench her thirst... But all around her was just a wasteland. A burned world filled with the horrible smell of decaying bodies, burnt trees and plastic, ash and concrete dust from ruined buildings. There was so much dust and smoke in the air clouding the two suns, that the temperatures started to drop each day significantly and it was increasingly harder to breath. Scared to venture too far out the small child returned for the night to the safety of the cellar, no matter how terrified she felt about staying in the vicinity of her dead parents. They... did smell weirdly...

She was lucky to find a day later in one of the ruined buildings nearby an intact can full of fruits. Countless hours have passed as she tried to open it with her bare hands, a stone and later a short knife she found. The little girl gave up a couple of times, then renewed her efforts again despite her bleeding fingers until the can's lid finally broke. Through a hole she drank all the sweet syrup in one go, not noticing cutting her lips on the razor-sharp edges of the opening. Another hour has passed until she managed to enlarge the hole and pull out one by one all the fruit pieces clumsily with the knife, injuring herself a few times in the process. The exhausted child fell asleep just a few minutes later on the floor of the dusty ruins cuddling the empty can...

A sound woke her up. People! There's people talking! She crawled out of her makeshift home, staring at what had to be a small spaceship and a handful of tall men wandering around the area observing the damage surrounding them.
"I've found a child." spoke a voice matter-of-factly above her and she looked up, not understanding a single word from that odd language.
The towering figure of a man was staring down at her with an emotionless expression and the little girl noticed his strange pointed ears peaking out from his long hair. He looked like a being out of the fairy tales her parents were reading to her as bedtime stories – an elf.

She's never seen anything like him before and in her childish naivety stretched out her bleeding hand towards him with the empty can. All she knew at the moment was that she's hungry and thirsty again, the air burning her lungs as she was coughing through the dried blood covering her lips.
"Leave her be, we can't do anything for her." a cold voice replied from behind her back.
The elf in front of her cocked an eyebrow and his gaze switched from the little human girl to the other elf behind her back, snarling:
"I hope you're not serious."
Distraught and already crying as she couldn't fathom why they're not giving her something to eat, she turned around to look at the other person...

Kea woke up panting, her heart beating erratically, but with calming words whispered into her ear. She turned her head and looked at Neach.
Even though it was still quite dark, he was studying her face, worry creasing his forehead. He remained quiet as she caressed his cheek and ear, leaning into her touch, silently squeezing her in a tight hug. She snuggled into his chest and calmed her breathing, inhaling his scent as her thoughts scattered into a dreamless sleep.
When she woke up again later, the pale early winter sun was already shining through the window behind her. Keaira was desperately trying to remember the elves' faces from her dream, but could only vaguely do so with the one who saw her first.
Well, it's not really a dream if it's your own real memories, now is it... she thought bitterly.

Only now did she understand what the elves have said back then. Only now she could identify the language as Muiren llinge... That fact and their unusually cold behaviour and unwillingness to care for a helpless bleeding lonesome child gave her the shivers. Something was absolutely wrong here.
She couldn't shake the feeling that there's a reason why she's remembering it all now. Some subconscious force compelling her to live through it all again – but this time as an adult, paying attention to the details, connecting the dots... Even though it hurt. Deep inside her mind every single sight, smell and sound from that almost forgotten time in her life hurt. It was as if her brain was trying to protect her from the pain, blocking it all for so many years. She tried to avoid thinking about those two dead bodies that used to be her parents...

Sighing heavily she turned to her side to give Neach a kiss, wanting to start the morning with happier thoughts. Just to find the blankets and furs arranged in a way, that they've resembled a lying body, with one of his shirts on top of it. She chuckled as she pressed her nose against it.
Oh wait, you little trickster!

A while later she went downstairs to find all three of the elves eating breakfast, Deagan offering her with a full mouth a plate he brought this morning from the tavern. Kea grinned and joined them at the table, having a bit of cheese and an egg with her freshly baked bread.
She waited a bit, observing Deagan as he deposited another large piece of the tasty cheese in his mouth and then she suddenly asked with faked innocence:
„Why didn't you bring some feverfew tea?"
The cheese almost came out of Deag's nose as he started to laugh, trying not to choke on it at the same time.
Neach just grunted into his mug, shaking his head and poor Ciaran was looking at them three with a questioning look.
"It's a long story." Kea wrinkled her nose in an impish grin towards him.
"Well, I've got time. I'm more or less stuck in this house. It's hard to go anywhere up- or downhill with this leg. Which is almost impossible to avoid in this town." he replied half joking, half seriously as he regarded his fully stretched bandaged left leg, that wasn't healing so well. It looked like he might be left with a permanent limp.
"You should nevertheless try to go again for a short walk today." Neach encouraged the younger one of the aep Easnillen brothers.
"Short..." Ciaran snorted, raising a corner of his mouth into a smug smile: "You'll be surprised I'm already able to walk much further than anyone thinks!"

Kea's mouth stopped in the middle of chewing on her bread, her eyes going wide for a split second, then quickly focusing on the elf in front of her. She was already standing up as she hastily gulped down the rest of her apple cider and moving away from the table.
Before she ran out of the house, she quickly gave Ciaran a hearty pat on his back: "Thank you, big guy! I have to look much further – that's it!"
All the three elves were just staring speechless at the exterior door as it slammed shut behind her.

Running up the stairs through the hidden stairwell next to Vergen's bridge, taking two at a time, she wiggled through a group of dwarves and elves descending in the opposite direction. Kea noticed Treasach at the rear of the group and just gripped his jacket as she passed him by, dragging him back up:
„I need your eyes for this."
He didn't understand her request, but heard the urgency in her voice and simply followed her back out of the stairwell towards Cecil Burdon's house.
„What's the matter?"
Once inside, his question unanswered, just an index finger quickly held up high to shush him, she was frantically pulling out her communicator and activating it to reopen again all the Haakland maps. Her hands were flipping through the images in a frenzy until she suddenly stopped.
„There!" Keaira enlarged the screen by touching the corners of it with both her hands and pulling it to the sides, stretching it wide.
Then she yanked out the hand-painted map from Philippa Eilhart from one of her pockets and laid it next to the screen onto the table, waving Treas over.
He sat down right next to her and automatically started to compare the layout of the towns on the screen with Eilhart's map. Kea did the same and they've spend the next hour and a half by comparing multiple maps from a different region of Haakland than the one she originally searched.

The blond elf's hand moved, index finger pointing to a spot on the current picture just as she was about to have a look at the next map, her eyes already tired. He was still silent, but his gesture stopped her and she stared now at the same location.
Both looked simultaneously down to the hand-painted map and then back up at the screen.
„Thank you, I almost missed it." she mumbled quietly, hypnotized by the unbelievable accuracy of Eilhart's drawing once they've found the right area.
His reaction was similarly hushed as he almost whispered: „Where is that?"
She changed the view of the map a bit and focused only on the town they've found. Small letters appeared in the lower left corner and she read them out loud: „Oudewater."
None of them knew what that meant until she marked the town on the screen with a tap of her finger and then zoomed out.
They were both soundlessly staring in awe at the map until Treasach gulped and marked another spot on the map himself: „Is this the Elskerdeg pass?!"
„It looks like it. But then this must be..."
„...the Korath desert." he finished the sentence instead of her and they both followed with their eyes the only possible path towards the town they've found.

It dawned on them that Isengrim Faoiltiarna, the famous Iron Wolf, must have crossed – and survived - the majority of the Korath desert on his own.
Kea wouldn't wish this journey on her worst enemy...

He was sitting at the small table in his room, a half-read book pushed aside into the corner. In front of him one of his new swords. The greenish blade was glistening in the sunlight streaming in through the window.
Faoiltiarna took the green embroidered glove with his right hand, carefully wrapping it around the hilt of the sword. He still wasn't sure if he can touch the hilt without the respective glove or not. Studying for the hundredth time the inscription on the sword's blade, he was trying to figure this out.
The blueish sword's freezing effect wasn't permanent – as he could experience on his own arm – and the numbness dissipated after about an hour when he was stabbed. By now the wound was already healed, leaving almost no scar.
So the sword's main purpose was only to incapacitate the struck limb or another body part of his potential opponents. It would weaken his enemies, either make it harder for them to fight back, or taking them temporarily completely out of combat.
Well, aside from the fact, that the razor-sharp blade alone was enough to kill them...

But if this greenish one was really poisoned, then he couldn't imagine, how such an injury would just simply heal without any lasting damage.
The inscription was driving him crazy – it was elven and it had some similarities to Hen llinge, but at the same time it was so different, that he understood just a few word roots and those didn't make any sense being carved on a sword's blade.
Isengrim was sure though that this is neither in Ellylon, nor in Laith aen Undod as in that case he'd be understanding much more. Naturally not everything, but at least the gist of it.
Here he knew not what to do with the unfamiliar words, nor whom to ask.

For the hundredth and first time he just sighed in frustration, reading the words again and again. Of course he could just try to test the blade's effect on a living being. It didn't look though as he'd be in a fight anytime soon – there was no obvious animosity towards elves in this country and even though he was a foreigner, most of the local residents were friendly and tried to be helpful. The patrols from the small town's own garrison have only politely nodded to him when they've passed him by, knowing him to be a paying guest in the tavern. And if there were any shady places in Oudewater with criminals lurking around, he simply didn't find them.

Buying a goose or a piglet from the innkeep just to stab it with a poisoned sword was a repulsive thought for him – it would be disrespectful towards the tavern's owner, who has been so far only kind, and also a waste as he wasn't sure the goose or the piglet could still be eaten after being poisoned by the blade.
Again he was left wondering about these highly unusual swords and their origin.

While Treasach Ath-Eagaraich was informing Neach and the other commanders about Faoiltiarna's whereabouts, Kea found Cecil Burdon in the late morning hours and they've both departed the city through the Mahakam Gate.
Lunchtime found them looking at the vast Old quarry southwest of Vergen.
She admired the view in front of her and smiled:
"This is perfect, Cecil. Thank you, that's exactly what I had in mind."
The dwarf was standing on the ledge of the quarry next to her, wondering about her plans.
"But this is the only way in or out. There's only a heavy locked door at the other side of the quarry and that has to stay closed?!"
She looked at the alderman, observing the nervous movements of his hands as he pointed them towards the gateway he spoke of.
"Don't worry, we won't be using the door if that's your concern."
Cecil Burdon visibly relaxed and opened his mouth as if to say something when they heard his nephew yelling from the distance:
"Iorveth's back!"
The young dwarf was almost out of breath as he approached them at a quick pace.
"But Saskia is not with him and I don't know what to tell the townsfolk now. They're all riled up!"
Skalen Burdon looked towards his uncle expectantly hoping that he'll know what to do.
The older dwarf sighed and started to move back towards the city's gates, but turned around towards Keaira before leaving:
"If you need anything else, I'll be either at the Castle of the Three Fathers or in my house."

She thanked him and watched him leave, then turned her face back to the quarry. Estimating the width and the depth. The surrounding hills should provide enough additional cover to potential prying eyes...
Someone behind her back cleared their throat and then went silent again. Kea resisted the urge to see who's the one following her around today.
For a few days she knew Ele'yas, Iorveth's adjutant, was on her heels and she didn't have to be a genius to know he did so at Yaevinn's behest. Alternatively someone else from Iorveth's commando always quietly followed her around, trying to be inconspicuous.
But this time she wasn't so sure.

"What can I do for you... Yaevinn?" she spoke aloud still examining the quarry, correctly guessing who is shadowing her.
"I hear many of my brethren speak highly of you, yet you seem to have the usual barbaric human nature, finding it appropriate to turn your back on me when speaking."
Unseen by the elf behind her, Kea rolled her eyes at his mildly flowery speech. He was well known for being rather flamboyant with words.
"And you are the epitome of a true Scoia'tael. Sneaking up on me like this..." she almost chuckled, her words laced with sarcasm.
The elf remained unusually silent once more and she wondered where this is going.
"I prefer a straight talk, Yaevinn. Excessive use of verbal ornamentation might be nice to listen to for an elf, but to me it's just a waste of time. And as a human I don't have as much of it as you do. I hope you understand."
Keaira now faced the black-haired elf standing a bit to her left near an empty hut.
He didn't seem too happy about her reaction, mouth forming a mirthless grin, but he gave her a short nod.
"I arrived to tell you what the dwarf already did. I'm wondering whether he was taking a shortcut."

A pause followed, but Kea could feel there is more and simply sat down on a larger piece of rock, waiting for him to continue.
"I am known to be very patient."
At this point she remembered some of the information from his file showcasing a number of rash actions and almost snorted hearing this statement.
"But even my patience has it's limits. You... No, all of you – including Coinneach, Deagan, Treasach, Toruviel, Ciaran... – you seem to be waiting for something. Something to happen. You convinced the Scoia'tael who joined us from all over Aedirn to stay here in Vergen instead of returning home and to wait for Iorveth's return. There's more and more warriors arriving here each day also from Temeria, even Lyria and Rivia. Yet you refuse to tell anyone of us why. Half of Iorveth's unit and some of the new arrivals are by now blindly following any order Dá Reo utters, spending their days secretively whispering. The rest of us doesn't know what to think. Just a few years ago I'd have seen only how this situation drives us apart and blame the obvious enemy here."
He looked her over from head to toe as if reassessing his judgment.
"But I'm not. It is my understanding, that Iorveth plays a crucial part in this... in whatever this is. But he is back now and I'd be glad if we could finally resolve the mystery. The town's inhabitants weren't very enthusiastic when he and Saskia left for Loc Muinne so suddenly and without a word. We've managed to calm down the situation, but the dwarves are growing restless. Too many Scoia'tael occupy their small city and they're wondering. Rightly so, I might say, human."

Keaira hasn't missed the 'human' instead of the usual 'dh'oine' and the general dignified politeness from Yaevinn's side, even though his tone was icy and bitter and he kept his distance.
"For a time you used to be under Neach's command as well, Yaevinn. Voluntarily. But I can clearly hear the disdain in your voice now. What changed?"
"Have you not seen yourself in a mirror?"
"Iorveth was fighting not so long ago in this very town alongside humans. With them and as well for them. Just like for himself and the elves he's leading. And the dwarves. Everyone – regardless of their race. You seem to value his opinion, but don't seem to understand that his motives and goals might have changed."
"You cannot be so naive to truly believe, that he will ever forgive the dh'oine for everything they've done!"
"No, of course not." Her admission made the agitated elf quirk an eyebrow in surprise. "But I believe he learns from his mistakes and from the mistakes of other elves in the past. He IS trying to save what's left of your species and wishes to settle down and live in peace. That much I do understand from what the dwarves, humans and elves in Vergen have told me. Unlike you he seems to realize, that mindlessly fighting anyone who doesn't have pointed ears, will only lead to the extinction of your own kind."
"Our fight is not mindless! You should be more careful with the choice of your words!"
"You're missing the point, Yaevinn aep Luanaigh."

For a moment the elf's face froze hearing his full name from the woman in front of him. Then his nostrils flared and his eyes dangerously narrowed, the left palm squeezing tightly the sword's pommel on his hips.
He didn't move though, only shortly frowned as he studied her face for some time, before asking:
"Tell me - what do you believe in, human?"
"In being able to help you, for example."
The tenacious elf in front of her grunted with a mocking smirk: "Have you ever consulted a medic with your delusions?"
"And have you?"
She already carefully stood up while talking, the fingers of her right hand spread across the narrow pockets on her sword-belt, waiting for his next move. Her last retort wasn't exactly helping in the already tense situation and Kea was well aware of this.

His gaze slid towards her hand, then lingered on the hilts emerging from her belt, recognizing them for what they were.
"I've seen you train with those not so long ago. Do you expect me to be intimidated by your readiness to fight?"
"You're mistaking self-defense for aggression."
"I shan't attack you. At least not until it's clear what you want from Iorveth."
Keaira's hand moved away from her belt and nonchalantly gestured towards Vergen:
"Well, would you mind then to accompany me on the walk back? So that we can finally 'resolve the mystery'..."
Yaevinn proudly squared his shoulders, raising his chin and looking down upon her with an expression as if it would be the hardest thing to do to overcome his disgust for her race and share the same path towards the town. His look was greeted with a silent stone face, the woman's hand frozen in her previous motion in Vergen's direction, and so he simply turned around without a single word and started walking, biting down another cynical remark.

When they've arrived at the Rhundurin Square, Kea knew Iorveth's solitary return has caused another uproar in town. It seemed half the city was gathering here and she assumed the entire marketplace will be soon filled with Vergen's citizens. Most of them not fond of hearing, that their beloved Saskia is missing.
To her surprise she spotted Ciaran aep Easnillen limping on crutches, heavily supported by Deagan on the left elevated side of the square, leading to what the dwarves have already started calling 'The Elven district'. When Deag looked at her she mouthed if they're ok and he just rose his thumb up with a smile.

Keaira squeezed through the masses, finding a nook not far away from the stairs next to the Mahakam Gate, where Cecil and Skalen Burdon were standing on top, facing the crowd. The square was packed with people – elves, dwarves and humans alike. Some of the louder peasants have positioned themselves at her left, making it hard to hear anyone else aside from them.
Behind the Burdons only a few individuals could be seen. The most distinctive two were elves and Kea had to conceal her grin as she watched both Neach and Iorveth standing next to each other with their arms crossed on their chests like a pair of twins.
Or more like two peacocks each trying to assert dominance over the other... She thought looking at the lone feather sticking out from Iorveth's red bandana.

He was visibly tired, his heavy armor still dirty from the days he spend traveling, his bandana askew and not entirely covering the scar on his face. Kea had the impression he wasn't too pleased about what he was going to announce.
Skalen Burdon had enough of the waiting and the increasing noise level and yelled as loud as he could:
"My name is Skalen Burdon and I'm here to maintain order in Vergen. Iorveth brings news from the peace summit, so let's be quiet and hear him out."
All the people's voices lowered, aside from a brash serf screaming right next to Keaira:
"What has he done to the Virgin?! First she gets poisoned, then disappears with that wench Eilhart and now the Squirrel is returning without her! Why is he not telling us what..."
The sudden silence in the middle of his sentence made half the people turn their heads and watch the blood drain from the peasant's face as the tip of a sword pressed lightly against his throat.
"If you don't let him speak, you'll never get an answer." said the calm female voice belonging to the owner of the sword.
Kea waited for a bit longer to be sure the lout understood, then retracted her sword and pocketed it in a fluid motion. She's noticed an almost imperceptible thankful nod from Neach towards her before Iorveth cleared his throat.

His voice was carrying across the entire square: "The summit in Loc Muinne didn't go as planned. It was interrupted by an attacking dragon. The war reparations will have to be negotiated later and therefore Saskia could not return together with me. I've come back immediately to let you know she's alright and that she will arrive in Vergen as soon as she can. I will discuss it all in detail later with the alderman. For now continue with rebuilding the city - as she would have wished."
Kea observed a brief questioning side glance Neach threw in Iorveth's direction as the noise level increased again, people mumbling unhappily. But the masses have started to clear out from the marketplace, having the information they wanted the most.
She stopped Cecil on his way home, keeping her voice low:
"Cecil, I'd like to ask if we can use the large meeting room in the Castle of the Three Fathers. There is much to be discussed with the elves, but it's not for everyone's ears."
"As long as it means they'll be leaving soon, be my guest." the old dwarf replied grumpily and left towards his house.

She turned back towards the stairs, her eyes searching for Neach and she saw him quietly talking to Iorveth, heads nodding as if agreeing on something. Then he looked at her and motioned for her to join them. Kea climbed the stairs, seeing Iorveth's contemplating gaze as he watched her approach.
"I believe you haven't been officially introduced yet." Coinneach's voice was slightly tense, not knowing what reaction to expect from Iorveth. It was quite some time since they've seen each other, aside from the brief encounter before Iorveth left Vergen with the Witcher Geralt of Rivia. The last time they've actually talked, they were both very different people indeed.
The one-eyed elf's pose reminded her strongly of Yaevinn's pose just a short while ago – chin raised high, shoulders squared, looking down at her with his one healthy green eye. But with the difference, that the muscles in Iorveth's face were moving the corners of his mouth into something that could be interpreted almost as a courteous shallow smile. He stretched his glove-covered hand towards her and she shook it with a respectful bow as Neach introduced them both to each other.

"There is much to be discussed I hear." spoke Iorveth with a weary voice, continuing to study Keaira.
"Yes, we were waiting for your return. And you arrived at the right moment. We should all meet in the Castle of the Three Fathers once it suits you." her sight lingering on his fatigued face and dirty clothing, wordlessly hinting, that he should get some rest first.
"All?" It was Yaevinn's voice behind her back that sounded startled.
Kea turned around to address him as she replied:
"Yes, all of the unit's commanders and all those elves, who aren't yet 'blindly following any order Dá Reo utters'."
She smirked when repeating his own words back to him, making his nostrils flare again in anger and his eyebrows furrow in a glare.

"Careful, Keaira Ther'eyllis. That one," Iorveth was pointing his right index finger at Yaevinn's face with an almost proud tone, "can shoot and hit a moving target with his arrow at a distance of 150 paces. You'd be wise not to forget that."
"That's correct. He's not known solely for his tendency toward magniloquence..." added Neach with a humorous undertone and she had to bite her lip not to start laughing.
She heard Iorveth's dark chuckle though and turned as he spoke again with an amused grin: "Let's meet tomorrow after breakfast then. All of us."
He departed with a gracious nod, heading towards the Elven district with an irritated Yaevinn in tow.

"Sounds like you had an interesting chat with Yaevinn at the quarry." Neach smirked, wrapping his arms around her as he lowered his head for a kiss.
"And how would you know?" she asked, pretending not to know herself that whether it was Ele'yas, Yaevinn or someone else from Iorveth's commando who were following her around, there was always also someone from Neach's unit watching her back.
"Shh!" he grinned already when whispering into her ear shortly before licking her earlobe, "The house is empty now..."