Chapter Seven: How to Deal with Colossal Pricks
Spring 1274, the next day
Pont Vanis, Kingdom of Kovir and Poviss
Pont Vanis Harbor
It was still morning when Keira and Lambert arrived in front of the Merlin, the galleon that belonged to the Koviri Corp's of Mages. Two large banners flew on the docks next to the boat; one the crest of Kovir, and the other the symbol of the Corps, a black owl on a blue banner. There were a few guards standing outside the entrance, and more in the vicinity of the boat. However, much to Keira and Lambert's relief, Damien was waiting directly in front of the boat, helping to check in mages as they arrived onto the ship.
The duo made their way to the entrance, waiting behind a young boy, shorter than both of them, with pale white skin and black hair, similar to Damien's. Damien smiled in approval when he saw the boy, and let him on board immediately. "It's good to see you Albert!" He yelled as the boy boarded.
Damien turned to face Keira and Lambert, and smiled again. "Glad to see you guys could make it! Come with me. Captain, you can finish up the check in by yourself, right? There's only a few people left."
"Of course…but master witcher, who are these two? They-"
"Are with me. Last minute additions, don't worry about it. They have other business that needs to be taken care of." The captain accepted Damien's excuse, and returned to his position checking in mages. The trio walked up onto the boat, and followed Damien to the upper deck, where he rested on a railing overlooking the rest of the bay.
Keira decided to head below deck to get some food, and in the meanwhile, Lambert took a spot on the railing right next to Damien.
"So, what is it that you even do for the Corps?" Lambert was curious as to what a witcher could do for the mages that they didn't already need.
"Training: Monster hunting skills, standard tracking knowledge, self-defense, how to protect yourself if you're binded with dimeritium. I've also started teaching a few of them of some sword fighting techniques, as they wanted to learn."
"So you're off the Path?"
"No, not really. For now, I'll do some work with the mages. I'll do contracts and help out as needed. In many ways I'll be better at it; the king can provide me with the resources needed to get to towns when they're in danger, rather than just wander around until danger strikes."
Lambert nodded knowingly. "Seeing as I know Geralt, and now know you, I must ask. What's so alluring about Triss Merigold?" Damien starting laughing at the question.
"I know you two don't get along Lambert, but that doesn't mean everyone else won't as well. She's intelligent, brave, caring, compassionate, thoughtful, and of course, in my mind, gorgeous. I couldn't be happier to know that she sees a lot of those traits in me." With that, the captain announced that the ship was leaving the docks, and shortly afterwards, they departed into the bay.
"She tell you to go to Poviss?"
Damien was surprised at the question. "No, I was offered to assist by one of the mages on this expedition. Are you trying to imply something Lambert?"
"All I'm saying is that the Triss Merigold I know used Geralt as a tool to further herself. And lied to him about their past so he would sleep with her."
"Indeed she did, because she was, at the time, emotionally unstable and needed someone to latch onto. I'm also certain that being good friends with Yennefer only made her want Geralt more, as he was something she couldn't have. While it doesn't excuse her actions, I have reason to believe she's changed since then, and grown as a person. If Geralt and Yen can accept her, I can as well."
"She's that good?"
Damien looked at Lambert, raising an eyebrow quizzically.
"In the sack? That good that-" But before Lambert could finish his sentence he fell over as Damien blasted him in the chest with Aard. "Shut the fuck up Lambert."
"What's going on here?' Keira asked, as she came up the stairs, carrying a plate of assorted meats and vegetables. "You boys aren't getting rowdy, are you?"
"No, uhm,-"
"Lambert here was saying that he had the better arrangement of the two of us with his lover. Naturally, I had to say otherwise on my honor. I felt it only fair to show Lambert I would not accept an insult to my lady." Damien successfully navigated the situation; although Keira did not believe Damien completely, she was satisfied with an explanation that made everyone involved look better. In a move to solidify his point, Damien reached out a hand to lift Lambert up, which he took gladly, smirking as he did so.
"Up for a round of gwent, Damien?"
"Of course. Loser gets the winner lunch." Lambert nodded, the two sat down at the table, and took out their cards to begin playing, while Keira watched them.
"So tell me Keira, how did you find out about my relationship with Triss?" Damien asked, as Lambert used the Scoia'tael perk to go first.
"We heard a bard singing a song praising you and Triss for saving Talgar from the Crone the first night we were here. Since our scouting showed that there were Hengfors representatives in the court, we knew it would be unwise to see Triss in court. We decided to ask around about you, hoping you could at least tell us something useful about her. Then we found out you two were spotted together all over the city, and we realized there was something else going on as well."
As she finished, Damien passed on his turn, surrendering the round to Lambert, 29-11. Damien still had ten cards, however, compared to Lambert's eight. They began the second round as Damien responded.
"How did you find the hideout? I was pretty good about stealth yesterday; I knew if there was time to make a move, it would be yesterday."
"Well, we didn't know you were on the voyage. We tried to find out who was, but no one knew."
"I kept it that way. For safety. The mages can get quite competitive, especially the new recruits. The list of people going was kept very secret to prevent sabotage from other members who got jealous."
With that, Damien played Yennefer's card, resurrecting a Blue Stripes Commando, making a trio on the board. That successful play put him ahead of Lambert, 44-31. Damien had won the round, and with the Northern Realms ability, drew an additional card, which put him at seven cards to Lambert's five. However, he had been forced to use Foltest's ability to clear Biting Frost to win the round.
"So we tried to follow you around, but the only place we could definitively place you was the Praxeda Inn. So we staked it out ahead of time yesterday, as we heard you play gwent and participate in fist fights there. We followed your tracks afterwards, and I traced where the stone teleported you to, as it had happened only minutes earlier. "
"Smart. On most days I do spend time there, but not on days like yesterday."
"What's so special about yesterday?"
"Weekly hunting excursion of the king. He ends court early, doesn't return till the next night." Damien saw Keira understood what that implied, but it was clear Lambert didn't.
"So what? You're not a courtier, Triss…" And with that, Lambert understood as well, showing realization on his face.
"Exactly. Lambert, mate, you're down to your last card. I hope you make it count." Damien smiled, as he was currently winning. He had Roche in close combat, two dragon hunters buffed with a commander's horn in ranged combat, and a catapult and dun banner medic in siege combat, putting him at a cozy 63 points. Lambert had Isengrim, Ciri, and Toruviel in close combat, and Iorveth and a healer in ranged combat, putting him at 37 points. However, he smirked as he played his final card; Impenetrable Fog.
Doing so had cut Damien's score, built on his 40 point ranged row, by over half; the row was reduced to eight points, bringing his score down to 31. He was now six points behind Lambert, and could not clear the fog unless his one card was clear weather, a card he never kept because of Foltest's ability, which he had already used.
Damien looked up to Lambert, who was grinning strongly. "So, first I'm going to need some venison, I haven't had it in ages-" Lambert was convinced he had won, causing Damien to smile as he played his final card.
Triss Merigold, worth seven points. With that, he was now at 38 to Lambert's 37. Lambert paused, getting quiet. Keira was surprised to suddenly hear him go quiet, and looked up from her plate to see that Damien had won the round, and with that, the match.
"Well played." Lambert stated, snickering to himself about the coincidence that Damien would win the match with his lover's card. "Anything in particular you want?" He said, as he cleared his cards and packed them away.
Damien looked to Lambert, his smile wicked. "Indeed. Venison. I haven't had it in ages." Keira began laughing uncontrollably at his remark, and Lambert shook his head and headed off.
"So what do you intend to do at this elven ruin?" Keira asked, intrigued at what a witcher wanted with a ruin.
"See what sorts of enchantments protect it, find any valuable treasures and protect them from falling into the wrong hands. Discover more about the role Poviss played to the elves. Standard research."
"I'm guessing it's more lucrative then standard witcher contracts."
"I'm offended, Keira," Damien feigned shock, "that you would imply a witcher would only do such things for the gold. But yes, it does pay well, as do most contracts in Kovir. But honestly, I would like to learn some more about magic. The Griffin school puts more emphasis on that then any other witcher school I've ever met."
Keira scoffed. "You don't know the half of it. I'm lucky if Lambert can tell the difference between teleprojection and macrocubic symphonic resonance." When she saw the blank stare Damien was giving her, she decided to drop the subject.
They waited in satisfied silence, relaxing under the perfect Northern sun. Lambert came up with plates of food, which they all ate, happily and merrily.
"Damien, do you mind me asking, how do you stay so relaxed and positive?" Kiera asked, as they finished their meals and looked out to the beautiful Koviri mountains that they were rounding.
"I don't mind. I understand, most witchers are much more negative than I am." He glanced at Lambert, who shook his head. "I get angry and annoyed too, but I suppose I was taught how to control it well by my mentor."
"Who was your mentor?" Lambert asked.
"George the Dragonslayer." Although the name sounded somewhat familiar to Keira, it made Lambert drop his jaw.
"Yes, that George. He was always a very temperate and calm man, and he taught me how to control myself around villagers, how to gain their trust. Well, as much as you can with villagers." Damien and Lambert gave each other knowing looks.
"I've also been very lucky. I gained a great name for myself when I was still very young. It's only really known out in the northern most regions, but just saying it in many places out here elicits respect."
"Ah yes, the Silver Blade of Hengfors." Lambert said mockingly.
"Mock it all you want, Lambert, but it has saved my skin more times than I can count."
"Sounds better then Butcher of Blaviken at any rate."
"Indeed it does; I may not be immortalized in Bard Dandelion's tales, but I have my fair share of renown, and no negative name for dumb shites to call me."
Damien paused, before continuing, "That reminds me Lambert, what was the name of your mentor at Kaer Morhen?"
Lambert looked surprised. "Vesemir, why? If you're looking to meet him, it's too late, he-"
"I know what happened to him. I just wanted to confirm." Lambert looked at him, confused, but decided to ignore the statement.
"If you want to go see his tomb, Ciri made him a monument at Kaer Morhen. If it's any interest to you."
"It is Lambert, it is."
Later that day…
As the boat docked at Tridam Harbor, all of the crew got off the boat and congregated near the inn. Damien got off with Keira and Lambert, and said his farewells to them as they headed down to see some of the ships headed south.
"Anywhere in particular, you guys planning to go?"
Keira replied first before Lambert could even open his mouth. "Cintra. We have some promising leads there."
"Well, I hope you the best. Fair winds guide you both, and Lambert, good luck on the Path." With that, the witchers gave each other strong handshakes.
"You as well. And visit Kaer Morhen if you get the chance." Lambert reminded him, as they walked off.
"Don't worry, I will." Damien waved goodbye to the duo and walked up from the docks into the actual town. He saw Albert waiting for him at the entrance gate to the town.
"Master Damien, the mages are all accounted for."
"Good, we leave in a few moments. Tell them to have something to drink and or relieve themselves in the woods now. We congregate at the other end of the town."
"Absolutely master witcher." Albert started walking off, then paused and turned back. "Master Damien, can I ask you a question?"
"Already doing that." He smirked.
"Who were those two on the boat with us? Are they coming with? I wasn't aware anyone else was coming on the expedition, is all."
Damien laughed, and patted Albert on the shoulder. "No son, it's nothing like that. They're friends, is all. I was just helping them out. They aren't coming with."
"Oh, well, I was only wondering because you hadn't mentioned anything…"
"Yes." Damien looked out to the harbor, and saw the almost dozen boats in the harbor. The sun was approaching sunset, and from his vantage point, it made the harbor sparkle a million different colors. "That's what happens when you aren't expecting guests."
End of Chapter Seven