"War?" Triss echoed, clearly dismayed at this news.
"How soon?" The King's calm baritone asked.
"It's not immediate, but I recommend we gather the militias and the mercenaries and begin training. Nilfgaard has been gathering troops in the capital city," the small man took a seat, leaning back casually. "They are just getting started. But something Nilfgaard has always been is organized and ruthless. They also have ships. We are going to need help. An alliance would be good right about now." Tancred sighed and leaned back in his heavy chair.
"I have already received requests from Novigrad to help secure the walls as has Cerys. An alliance between us would be beneficial indeed. We need to send out runners. Triss…" But Triss had already dipped her quill and was writing the first of many urgent messages to gather the troops.
The summer was waning, and the King had given Triss a day of rest after weeks of constant writing, planning, and official royal visits. She would be able to return to Toussaint with Eskel but would have to return throughout the winter.
The morning had dawned bright and beautiful, inside as well as out. Since she was home for the day, the lovers lingered in one another's company, but the afternoon sun eventually drew them out doors. Triss was kneeling in front of a flower and herb garden and Eskel sat rubbing oil into a newly purchased bridle, softening the leather when they received a very unexpected guest. The full royal entourage approached, dismounted and stood at attention as the King rode between them then himself dismounted.
"Your Majesty," Triss said in surprise jumping up. Eskel casually wiped his hands on the rag across his lap before standing. "This is unexpected."
"It has come to my attention, Witcher, that you have asked after the children. Frequently."
"I have," Eskel admitted quietly.
"It seems that there is no one interested in taking in two more mouths to feed. And less now that the tents have gone up outside the city walls. And it occurs to me that since you seem so interested in their welfare, maybe you should be in charge of it." He motioned behind him and a nursemaid came forward carrying the infants.
"Me?"
"Well, the both of you. You have not been alone in your inquires," his gazed shifted to Triss and she colored and lowered her head. Tancred chuckled. "You've never spoken of this?"
"I…just…" Triss stammered. The nurse passed the twins over, one to Triss, the other to Eskel. "We don't know anything about raising children." The nurse bobbed a curtsy.
"That's why I sent for my niece, My Lady. She's young, to be sure, but has the care of her many younger siblings. She's a steady girl and her family could use the extra income with all those children." She curtsied again and returned to the carriage. Eskel stood staring down at the little girl in his hands. So much was running through his mind just then, but he remained silent. The King cleared his throat and continued.
"Triss I wish I could allow you some time to adapt to your new family, but we have matters to attend to. I will expect to see you in the council chambers early tomorrow morning."
"Of course, Sire." He turned to leave and as he reached up to mount his great gelding, Eskel found his voice.
"Why did you bring them?"
"I thought I made that understood."
"Not why, but why you?" He released the saddle and faced Eskel fully.
"There are those that still loath and fear your kind. Mutants, mages and the like. It was a show for the people that you are to be trusted. I am going to need them to trust you before all this is over."
"Thank you." The royal envoy mounted and left them standing in front of the cottage pondering what else the future held in store for them.
Triss woke to find the other side of the bed empty. She pushed back the covers and slipped into her robe before going to find him. Eskel stood in the kitchen before the fire looking down into the basket.
"Eskel? Come to bed."
"There was a time I dreamed of this moment, but now that it is actually here, I'm not sure what to do with it." He said softly. Triss joined him and slipped her arm around his waist as he draped his arm around her shoulders.
"Neither do I. But I never realized this was something you thought about."
"It's been a long time but yes. I gave up and walked away." Eskel moved to sit on the bench and Triss joined him, waiting for more of the story. He was in a rare mood to talk and she in the mood to listen. There was still so much about him that she did not know.
"Her name was Rina. Young, beautiful and in love with me. And I loved her in return. She wanted to have a child. My child. I tried every potion, herb, and folk remedy I came across for two years. That last summer I found a derelict mages tower. Inside I found a remnant from the mage's journal. It held an astonishing amount of information on the Witcher's mutations, including that the infertility was irreversible. It was done that way on purpose as a way to control us. If we were unable to breed, then any desire to have a life outside of the order was quashed and the sorcerer could keep tabs on his creations.
After I found that journal, I knew I couldn't stay with her any longer. On my way back to Kaer Morhen, I ended it. She was broken hearted, but it was for the best. I couldn't let her waste herself on me. Some years later I got up the courage to go back. She had married and had ten children. Named the oldest boy after me." Triss slid her hand into his and held tight.
"We could name this one after you." She said trying to cheer him up. Eskel handed her the journal he found in the chest on the wagon. He had read it many times since handing over the infants to the King. Using her free hand, she flipped through the pages.
"These children already have names. Rayden and Isabella. I thought we could give them the name Merigold, though, since I have no idea what my surname is." He turned his head and gave her a smile. She leaned her head against his shoulder.
"That's wonderful, but, truthfully…I'm terrified. Being responsible for children was never something I thought would happen to me. When I became a sorceress and they told me all that it means…I was so focused on how I could help people that I stopped thinking about what I had lost." Eskel slipped his arm around her again and they sat in the quiet of the night watching the fire die down.
The next morning, Eskel sat on the porch sharping his sword. It had been a rough first night. The boy was easy enough, but the little girl…She only calmed when Eskel held her to his bare chest and began to hum, his hot breath blowing down over her downy head. It was a song that he had always known, just not where it came from.
He opened his eyes to see a man ride up to the cottage, a girl on the back of the horse. They came to a stop and she slid off and walked toward him, a basket on her arm. Eskel, assuming this was the servant's niece, stood and went to meet her.
"Kari!" The man said sharply behind her and she stopped. She was young, about fifteen or sixteen, with a willowy build. Eskel noticed her take a slow deep breath as her father came up and placed a heavy hand on her shoulder. He turned a wary eye on Eskel.
"No one said nothin' about no freaks."
"I'm a witcher."
"A freak."
"Papa!"
"What exactly do you have against witchers?" Eskel asked casually but the man still squirmed beneath his yellow gaze.
"You be freaks of nature, killers…seducers." He squeezed his daughters shoulder as he said the last.
"You can rest easy then. I am a freak of sorcery not nature, I kill only when necessary and, as pretty as your daughter is, I have a grown woman to warm my bed."
"There is a woman here?"
"She is not here at the moment, but yes."
"I expect I'll have to escort her home in the evenin'." Eskel saw the girl's face tense up.
"It's a live-in position. Triss spends most of her days at the castle with the King and I will be away from home days at a time when I pick up a contract. She will also be traveling back to Toussaint with us in the winter. I have a vineyard there. Triss is King Tancred's advisor so we'll be here in the summer." Eskel saw a gleam in the man's eye and he knew he was counting up the gold coins. Behind him there came a tiny plaintive cry that mobilized the girl to action. She pulled from her father's rough grasp and went toward the door with purpose. Eskel turned to follow.
"I'll expect payment regular." Eskel stopped and shook his head.
"You'll get your gold." Then followed the girl inside and closed the door. He watched her lift the crying babe and cradle him, cooing. Rayden calmed at her touch.
"Your name is Kari, I take it. How old are you?"
"Fifteen. I have been running the entire household for four years. Mama falls into childbed rather frequently. I thought I was to come alone, but when Papa heard it was for the King's advisor…" Kari shrugged. "I want a home and family of my own one day, but that won't happen if I lived with Mama and Papa. Papa has a greedy streak."
"He knew?"
"Yes. He was testing you. See if you would be honest about it."
"So, all that talk about freaks…"
"Oh, no, he was being serious. He hates anything abnormal. I'm sorry. That wasn't a very nice thing to say."
"I'm used to it." Eskel said. He moved over to look down at his newest responsibility and Kari shied ever so slightly. "I meant what I said to your father. You have no need to be afraid of me. And Triss and I will make sure you have something of your own, not just send everything to your father." She looked sharply up at him, eyes wide.
"Really?"
"Really."
"That's…thank you."
"I know what it's like to be at another's mercy."
"But you're a witcher." Kari said as if that was the obvious answer.
"I could force others to my will, yes, but that is not who I am. And what I am was created to help humanity, not hurt it. And I have stood by that for nearly a century even as witchers fell into disfavor, as people have cursed and spit at me…feared me." Eskel leaned over and scooped up the tiny little girl as she began to stir. "But now, I live my own life. Without regard to what others may think of me."
"What about the scars? Did you get them from a monster?"
"No. A crazy person." Kari fell silent as she resettled Rayden and took stock of what was in the other basket left by the nursemaid.
"You'll need to buy a goat." She said suddenly.
"Goat?"
"For milk." Kari straightened up and looked at him. "You really don't know anything about babies, do you?" Eskel laughed at her surprise.
"I trained with a sword since I could walk. Not exactly what you would call a normal upbringing. So, no, I don't know much about babies. I do know a little something about goats, though."
He hated his job. Really, really hated his job. But to refuse was to forfeit his life. The clerk took a deep breath and pushed through the large door. Emhyr was resting in a large chair, eyes closed. The clerk stopped several feet away and cleared his throat. The Emperor opened his eyes slowly and turned his head to face his servant.
"What is it?" he asked, his voice tired and agitated.
"Your Eminence, we have found them. It seems they headed north to Kovir."
"And?"
"I…she is dead." The clerk flinched as Emhyr picked up his goblet and threw it. Quickly the clerk continued. "But she had given birth to a child not long ago. It seems a witcher took the child to King Tancred. After that…we don't know. Also, I was asked to put this directly in your hands." He produced a sealed missive and laid it his master's palm. Emhyr broke the wax and unrolled the parchment, his eyes scanning its contents.
"Has anyone else read this?"
"Of course not, Your Eminence. It was for your eyes only." Emhyr began to laugh, a deep dark sound that sent chills down the other man's spine.
"Two birds with one stone. Bring the Witcher to me."