Chapter Two: Hunting the Hunters
Spring 1274, Pont Vanis, Kingdom of Kovir and Poviss
Royal Palace
The silence of the room was shattered when Triss' portal opened, with her in tow, carrying the lamp she had just acquired from Geralt. However, any plans she had to spend the rest of the day with were interrupted immediately. She walked into the main section of her room to find Markus pacing back and forth, clearly anxious.
"My lady Merigold! Thank the gods you're here. The king wishes to see you at once. He has summoned you to the council chamber." Markus expressed a sigh of relief, audibly relaxed that Triss had finally arrived. Triss was surprised, but left the lamp in her room and headed off to the chamber immediately.
What could the king need me so urgently for? There was no scheduled meeting, so something must have gone wrong…She shuddered to think of what could possibly await her. The sense of urgency and worry reminded her of the days she spent in hiding in Novigrad, or even her old days advising King Foltest. She had hoped to avoid that here, in a small and detached kingdom. Nothing bad happens in Kovir.
Nothing ever happens in Kovir.
She found the door of the council chamber flanked by knights of King Tancred's personal guard. Shit, something has gone horribly wrong. He never brings that many guards. Upon walking inside, she found the entire council in their seats. King Tancred was sitting on his raised chair in the farthest portion of the table. From there he could see everyone and hear everyone. Triss carefully and quickly walked to her seat a few spots down from the king. An awkward silence filled the room; it was clear they were in the middle of a heated discussion when Triss interrupted them.
"Your Majesty, I apologize deeply for being late, I was very-" Triss bowed much more obviously than usual, hoping the king was not too displeased at her tardiness.
"I understand Lady Merigold. You may take your seat." King Tancred waved his hand. It was clear there were more important things to handle. "Would any of you be so kind as to explain to Miss Merigold the reason for this meeting?"
The viceroy, Jon, got up in his seat. "If I may, Your Majesty?" The king nodded, and Jon began, "For hundreds of years, Talgar has relied on the deep mineral mines of the Dragon Mountains for trade. It's this mining that has kept Kovir strong for centuries. Recently, monsters began appearing in the mineshafts, and thus mining operations have ceased. A witcher was hired to take care of the problem, but he has yet to return. Two days ago, a small detachment protecting the Hengfors League's ambassador to Kovir was attacked in Berniken, the local capital. Only one man of that detachment remains, and he is with us at the moment." The viceroy pointed to a man, who had been sitting patiently in the corner. The man was nursing several wounds, and was dressed in dirty rags. The man jumped up upon hearing himself be mentioned, and immediately interrupted Jon.
"I'm telling yous, it was a massive monster! It has huge horns, at it made this loud noise that could knock you out in an instant! And then there were big ghouls, dozens of them, bucket fulls of the bastards! They cut us down like we were nothin!" The man bolted out of his seat, racing around, raving like a madman, before two guards grabbed him and restrained him.
"…Yes, indeed. It appears whatever we are dealing with is sentient enough to communicate with other monsters. Something needs to be done; we must find out what happened to the ambassador, or we risk a crisis with the Hengfors League. We must reopen the mines, or we will run out of goods for trade in a moon. Half the farmers of the region are too terrified to tend to their fields, so we risk no food in Talgar by harvest. The people of Berniken need protection, or we risk a refugee crisis. Hundreds, if not thousands are going to be affected." With that, Jon took a definitive look around the room, and sat down. Triss had no idea what to say. Sentient monsters working together and plaguing the countryside? National crisis? It's just like Temeria after all.
"General Frederick, you may make your proposal." It was obvious from Tancred's tone that this was not going to be a good proposal.
The stuffy general, wearing an armor coat decorated with far too many medals, stood up, lifting his chin to the ceiling, "The Koviri Chargers have yet to see action. Give me leave to seize the land-"
"I am not going to let you take an army and put a whole region under martial law. This isn't Nilfgaard or Redania, General Frederick. Remember that." King Tancred's eyes were glaring daggers at the general. Triss had remembered the two disagreeing, but never this aggressively.
"I don't need a whole army, I just need twenty men-"
"Oh shut your bollocks about twenty men! You can't do shit with twenty soldiers trained with steel! Koviri charger or not, we can't fight monsters like we do men!" The exclamation came from the treasurer, Alexander. He stood up and stared directly at the general, yelling, "You want your men's blood on your hands? What makes you think you can fight something that can defeat a witcher?"
"So you have something better, Sir Trojden? Or are you denying the brave soldiers of this country the chance to prove themselves because you just enjoy it?" The general spit back, clearly angered by the treasurer's remarks.
"Yes, I do have something better! We happen to be in a city full of mages, all immensely grateful for our protection. Perhaps our mages can help us handle this problem." With that, Alexander look directly at Triss, hoping for some help. Shit, should I say something?
"I'm certain I could find a team of mages who could help tackle this problem. We would need a small escort, but that is all." Triss stammered out. Ploughing hells, what did I just agree to? Witches don't kill monsters, witchers do!
King Tancred smiled slightly. "How long would you need to assemble a party?" he asked, clearly hoping to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
"I would need at least a day. Perhaps two."
"Very well. You have two days' time to gather a mage party. You will leave from the Northern Gate with a dozen soldiers in escort. They will take you to Berniken. You are to find out what happened, find the ambassador and the witcher if they are still alive, and defeat whatever lies in those mines. Is that understood?" The king got up from his seat, and with that, everyone else got up as well.
"Completely, Your Majesty." Triss nodded her head, getting up from her seat.
"This council is adjourned." With that, everyone filed out of the room.
Two days!? I suppose it will have to be quality, not quantity…
Two days later…
Pont Vanis, Kingdom of Kovir and Poviss
Northern Gate
Triss looked over the crew she had assembled as the escorts brought out the horses they would be riding. I know we can't afford to waste any more time, but...
No buts. King's orders. We are going to fix this. We have to; we can prove the North that mages can be a help.
With the horses saddled up, she looked around at the four mages she had recruited. The girl closest to her was called Emily; she had long, flowing blonde hair and specialized in wild magic. The boy directly next to her was Albert, a small skinny boy with a pale complexion and coal black hair. He was a wild card, but his mastery of lightning and wind was second to none.
The older man who was waiting far out by the edge of the gate was Fendar. He was a quiet man, over five centuries older than Triss. However, his understanding of monsters and beasts was unmatched; he was apparently good friends of George the Dragonslayer, the legendary witcher of the Griffin School.
And across from him was Beata, a native to the region. She was raised in Berniken back when Bernika, the town's namesake, was actually alive. Beata could manipulate ice and water in ways Triss could only imagine.
Together, the five of them were a powerful bunch. There were dozens more mages in the city, but most of them were either inexperienced, busy, or too scared to go out on such a dangerous mission.
"Miss Merigold, we are ready to depart when you are." The captain of the escort, Sir Bruno Nowak, was wearing full steel armor, with a Koviri crest emblazoned on the front. Triss nodded to him, and soon enough they were all heading out for Berniken.
That afternoon…
Berniken, Talgar, Kingdom of Kovir and Poviss
As the escort approached the hamlet, it became clear that the problem was going to be much worse than originally anticipated. The wooden walls that outlined the town were full of holes, and large sections of it had been torn to pieces. As they rode in, they saw the few remaining tending to their sick and wounded.
"Oh, it's the king's men! They've come to save us from this rotting hell!" an old gran yelled, laying against the side of a house that was torn in half. The dozen or so townsfolk all stopped what they were doing and looked at the party as they piled in.
"We are here from the direct order of his Majesty King Tancred, First of His Name. We have been tasked with protecting the people of Talgar and defeating the monstrous vermin that lies in the mines." With that, the captain's horse got up on its hind legs, as if it knew it would make the moment more dramatic.
"Will they make the monsters go away pa?" A little girl asked her father has he rewrapped cloth around her knee. The man just nodded his head. "I hope so."
The village elderman walked up to the party. "Is there anything you folk need to help you out? We haven't got much, but we'll do whatever it takes to make the monsters stop." The man was obviously very distraught, and his clothes were tattered.
However, before either Triss or Bruno could respond, Fendar, who had already dismounted, quickly asked, "How many did you lose?"
"Uh…eight in the initial attack. Three more since. Another five when you count the escort that came through."
"Did you find the ambassador's body?" Triss asked.
"No. The monsters must have taken him. Whether he was alive or not at the time, I can't tell you."
"When was the last time you saw the witcher who came through here?" Bruno asked, as he ordered his men to guard the entrances and exits to the village.
"Must have been around a fortnight ago. He came through, and we told him what happened. He agreed to help, but said he needed to take a look around first. Came back that night, ate with us, and left the next morning. Never came back."
"Did he mention anything? Any details that could help us find him or where he went?"
"He asked for the key to the mineshaft. I didn't want to give it to him at first, but I did in the end. Figured he can't search the mines if he can't get inside. He also asked us about a weird beast…a…lesher?" The elderman was grasping for words.
"A leshen?" Fendar pipped up, looking up from the wall that he was inspecting. With that, Albert's face seemed to get even paler.
The elderman's face lit up. "Yes, that was it. He wanted to know if we had seen some pillars in the woods. I'm not sure why, but he claimed it would help him figure out what was plaguing us."
"And the attack four days ago? What was it that came for you?" Emily asked, considerably softly compared to the rest of the party.
"A large fiend, taller than the walls. The ambassador was just buying some supplies when we heard a loud noise. I couldn't see for a few moments, and soon half the wall was missing. The thing trampled the guards and decimated the houses. Everyone ran to safety. I don't know where the ambassador went, but I couldn't pay attention with all the mayhem. And once the fiend had left, the ploughing ghouls showed up. The men of the village and the guards tried to fight them off, but they couldn't." The elderman was shaking at the thought of the attack, visibly and audibly distraught. He could hardly finish the last sentence.
"Don't worry sir. We will avenge them." Triss said, the anger in her voice. She was going to make whatever was behind this pay for this sort of harm. "Bruno, you know what you guys have to do. When we are ready to leave, we are going to need two of your men."
"Clear as day Merigold. Make those demons pay."
The mages all set about surveying the town and the surrounding area, trying to understand what had happened. Shortly, Fendar gathered them together outside the gates.
"There's a path of blood here, distinct from the rest. I may not have a witcher's nose, but I'm willing to bet this leads us to the ambassador. I asked the eldermen, and he said this is the way to the mineshaft." Fendar pointed up the path to the mountains.
"This is the way then. Everyone get ready, we leave as soon as possible." Triss ordered, as she headed back into the town to grab some additional potions and bombs. As she rummaged through her sack, she realized that she had the lamp as well. Huh. Don't know how useful it will be…
…then again, ghost of the witcher could come in handy…
She decided to take the lamp. As a precautionary measure. The decision had absolutely nothing to do with its background or who gave it to her.
Absolutely. Nothing.
The mages and their guards began marching up the path towards the mine entrance. As they did, Triss decided to pick at Fendar's mind.
"What do you think Fendar? What's going on here?"
"Hm. Something was commanding the fiend and the ghouls. Whatever it was, it sensed the arrival of the ambassador and ordered the attack. I would have guessed a leshen, but leshens can't control fiends. Least, I've never seen a leshen do that. But if the witcher found totems, there must have been a leshen around here. That would explain the wolf tracks around the base. But those tracks are much older."
"How do you know so much about monsters?" Albert pipped up.
"Learned from the best kid. No one can understand a monster better than a witcher."
"Yeah, but witchers don't get along well with other people. What made the one you knew bearable?"
"Witchers can be very understanding, when you get to know them." Triss said, a great deal of emotion in her voice. It was clear to Albert that he had hit a soft spot, so he shut up and looked away, making Emily chuckle to herself. Beata simply rolled her eyes.
Fendar looked at Triss, with an intrigued smile. He tried to gauge her emotions, attempting to see where that feeling had come from. "You know how it is lass. We freaks have to look out for one another, right?"
Triss looked at him and glanced down. "Sounds like something-", and then she stopped herself. Sounds like something Geralt would say. "Like something…my witcher friend would say." She struggled to get the words out.
That's what we are now. Friends. That's all we will ever be. Why is that so fucking hard for me to say?
"Wait, is the witcher friend that man who helped us flee Novigrad? Girl, if I were you he'd be more than just a friend…" with that, Beata elbowed Emily in a knowing manner, and the two gave each other knowing smiles.
Triss' face got red with anger and jealousy. She gritted her teeth, trying to prevent the other mage's words from hurting her.
He had been more than just a friend. He had been more than just a friend. He had been more than just a friend…
"Triss, are you okay?" Albert said, clearly worried. "You're mumbling to yourself-"
"He had been more than just a friend okay! He had been! And then he left, okay! We went our separate ways and it's over, now shut your fucking mouths about it!" Triss screamed, stopping where she was standing, staring intensely at the ground. Her throat felt like it was burning, and birds scattered around them. Everyone, even the guards, paused for a moment.
"Sorry, Triss, didn't mean to-" Beata mumbled, clearly scared that she had pissed Triss off so.
"It's fine. Whatever. Let's just focus on the mission at hand okay?"
The walk to the mineshaft was silent from then on. When they arrived, they found the entrance surrounded by white wolves and small ghouls. A small fight ensued, and when it was over, they inspected the entrance. It was blown completely open, leaving the entrance wide open. At the base of the entrance, however, was something else.
"A stag skull, surrounded by cut roots." Fendar said, reaching down and picking up the skull.
"A dead leshen." Albert said, the words barely escaping him.
"Looks like the witcher got to him after all. Clearly not the only beast out here though." Triss surveyed the landscape. "He must have gone into the mineshaft. It definitely looks like it was destroyed by something big though."
"You think the fiend got to him?" Emily asked, her voice soft.
"Let's hope not." With that, they ventured into the mines.
A few hours later…
The mages had been traveling in what felt like circles. They repeatedly found small nests of monsters, first ghouls, then nekkers, then endregas. They encountered nests that had clearly already been destroyed, but had no clue where the witcher could be.
But then they moved into a large cavern, with a much higher ceiling then the tunnels had been. There were signs of a fight; stalagmites were broken, signs of burns and large dents in the flooring.
But most importantly, the room was covered in dried blood.
"At least a few days old." Fendar said, as he studied the blood splotches. "If he was anywhere, he was here. Must have fought the fiend in here. Clearly didn't win, because the fiend got out alive. He can't be far." His voice was somber. Their chances of finding the witcher alive were slim, if any.
While Triss and the other mages were searching, Albert was standing almost completely still. When Triss noticed, she called to him, but he motioned her to keep quiet. Soon the whole room was silent, save for the occasional wind blowing through the massive chamber.
"He's close. Must be in a nearby cave." Albert rushed towards a wall, following it along the length of the room to a small inlet. "Look! I found a trail of blood!" the crew all headed down the path, a small path close to the end of the room. They followed the trail, carefully searching for the blood drips, which had dried.
After a few minutes, they found the end of the trail. At the end, a small raised platform. Atop that platform? A man, wearing green and black scaled armor, with two swords on his back, his back to the wall, his head drooped on this shoulder. There were several potion bottles on the floor around him, some empty, some not. His armor was damaged, cut in places. His body was pale, drained of life. His black hair was in a mess, his eyes were closed shut. His breath was rare and short, barely audible.
And on the man's neck? A silver medallion, shaped like a griffin.
End of Chapter Two