Chapter 16: ballistic trouble

Castle of Katalis

Viren, Hainn, and the guards stopped their horses in the courtyard of the castle, Viren looked defeated, his plan had failed, "hey you did well" Hainan said trying to reassure Viren, Viren continued looking defeated. Opeli came running down the stairs looking like a thundercloud, she was furious.

"How dare you!" she yelled, stopping Viren in his tracks, "You used King Harrow's seal to summon the pentarchy! And you lied to them! You called yourself the regent of Katalis! You committed Treason Viren! And for what?!", "for nothing" Viren said looking more defeated than ever as he continued on, "you will be removed from the council for this!" Opelic continued, "and that's all if you are lucky!"

"Perhaps now he will come to me" said a voice in Hainns head that no one could hear, "indeed but we must get prepared" Hainan Whispered back as he brought from his cloak a scroll with the seal of the wild hunt on it, he opened a portal next to him, "you better know what your getting into with siding with Viren" Opeli called to him, "you are walking dangerous ground"

"I would advise being careful when picking sides yourself" Hainn replied calmly and he went through the portal to who knows where. We will have to see for later.


Cliffside unknown location

It had been a while since the group had left Villads ship and had made it to the nearest town and were now wrestling in a cave in a cliff face not to far away from the town Callum was rolling the cube like a dice with Bait next to him and the earth rune began to glow as it got close to bait who croaked inquisitively.

"What do you think this thing is anyway?" Callum asked Bait, "he said it was a key, but a key to what?", "you practising magic?" Rayla asked "or are you losing a game of rolly-cubes to Bait?", "magic" Callum said, "i know i'm getting close but there's so much swirling in my head but i need a way to bring it all together"

"Like a breakthrough?" Rayla asked, "yeah" Callum said holding the cube close to her and making the moon rune glow, as the two continued to talk, a creature walked in from in the forest, watching them tilting its head inquisitively as they was in it's territory now, this entire forest had been it's territory since it's totems had been magically moved here.

Then a Shadow passed overhead as the two small creatures returned to the cave, curious as it had never seen such a large flying shape it turned to look at it and watch it move towards the town.


Not to far away from the town

I just realised we haven't heard of Soren, Claudia, Snake or their prisoners in a long time so now let us turn to them, "once we are in town we can ditch these two in jail or something and be done with them" Soren told Snake and Claudia, pointing back towards the two prisoners their hands tied and being pulled along, "but we are so far off Callum, Ezran and Rigrans trail now" Claudia said, "not as far off as you might think" Snake said, "they would want to make haste so they probably went through the ocean, if my calculations are right they might be in this town at this very moment".

"you Witchers are seriously good hunter aren't you" said Walter bitterly, "i would say we would help you track the but i think you are doing just fine so dump us off at any prison you wish and be done with it, i'm done staring up a horses ass".

"Is this an attempt to escape?" Soren asked a little confused, "it's better than corvus's if it is" Watler scoffed, Corvus raised an eyebrow, "this search would go quicker if you untied me" Corvus offered, Snake slashed with his scythe across Corvus's forehead drawing a little bit of blood, "come on we've wasted enough time" he growled to the siblings.


Back at the cliff

Callum groaned, flopping onto the ground staring up at the cave ceiling, "Why is this so hard? I have to be a mage again. I mean, we saw a dragon in the clouds yesterday! Things will only get tougher when we get into Xadia. And crossing the border? That's going to be crazy dangerous."

"Eh, well," Rayla shrugged, "maybe not.", "There's a river of lava!" Callum deadpanned, "one does not simply walk into Xadia", "Actually, one does simply walk into Xadia," Rayla corrected. "There's a secret path: the Moonstone Path. It'll be safe and easy, even for you, magic or no magic."

"You two best get some sleep" said Rigran who apparently was awake making the two jump a little, "this place is well hidden we shouldn't be found" he added. The two then lay down and tried to get some sleep, but Rigran was only pretending to sleep, or still was actually as Witchers liked to keep on guard.


Meanwhile at the town

Claudia, Soren and Snake rode into town in a steady walk dragging the two prisoners behind him, there was a crowd gathered around the tower, "Excuse me, Excuse me" Soren said as the crowd parted to let them through to a group of guards, "we are looking for a town Jail, we have two horrible traitors to lock up for, uh, traitorous words and deeds. standard traitor stuff"

No one made a move so much as looked at them, in fact they were all looking up and muttering to each other, "Excuse me?" Soren said a little louder and pointed to himself, "crownguard here" Snake looked around and realised the whole town was looking up with worried looks, "okay something's weird" Claudia said, "yeah no one listening to me" Soren deadpanned getting a deadpan from Snake, "what?" asked Claudia taking a double take.

"They're looking at something" Snake said as he looked up and tried to find what they were all watching, "there!" called a guard pointing up, "it's back", the crowd all gasped in horror as a shadow flew over the village. Snake tried to make it out but with the clouds and the moonlight it was a little difficult to see, especially since it was flying at who knows how fast.

"Is that…" Claudia began, "a dragon?" Soren finished excitedly and even Snake was looking a little worried, "all the way out here?" he asked the two, "normally dragons ignore humans unless provoked" he said, "would the killing of the dragon king and the threat of war between xadia and humans be enough to provoke it?" Walter drawled, Snake shot him a glare.

The dragon was large and red with golden yellow detailing along its horns and scales, there was no denying it was a beautiful creature as it flew, swooped and looped around in the air above the town. "What's going on?" Soren asked some of the soldiers, "that dragon has been circling our town for the last few nights" responded the guard.

"You have ballista. why haven't you shot it down?" Snake asked, he had little regard for the Witcher rule of not hunting dragons, "well it hasn't attacked us yet" said the guard, a little unnerved by the Witcher. Wouldn't you?.

"So it's the enemy, get on those ballista" Soren ordered, "crown guard i might have mentioned", the Soldier looked at each other. The soldiers soon got to work arming the ballista, Soren, Claudia and Snake raced up to the top of the tower after them with Corvus and Walter being dragged not far behind.

"Hold on!" Corvus begged, "the dragon isn't attacking. It's just trying to intimidate us.", "well it's bloody working" Walter pointed out, "well then i'll just show it that humans won't be intimidated" Soren replied coolly, as the dragon continued to circle.

The 5 ran over to the ballista aiming in the right direction and Soren and Snake got to work cranking back the pulley, "Soren, please don't start a fight that you can't finish" Corvus said, Soren however was determined and he and Snake released the pulley and fired the projectile.

It soared through the air towards the dragon, however it missed and hit one of the tower roof walls of the city, the dragon meanwhile rose up and up and disappeared into the clouds, everyone watched it go, "ha!. See?" Soren said triumphantly, "scared it off", "pissed it off actually" Snake corrected as he placed another bolt into the ballista.

Sure enough there was a roar and the dragon dove at full speed with a roar.


The roar was so loud that back at the caverns Rayla sat bolt upright in alarm, "oh no, i know that sound" she said in dread, the others woke and turned to her concerned, "that is not a good sound" she added. Rayla got up and raced forward, Rigran followed instantly on the alert, Kaja and Callum followed somewhat dowzily from the sudden awakening, Ezran yawned out of tiredness before following, Zym scampered afterwards by Ezran stopped him, "no zym'' he told the dragon, "we don't know if it's safe out here so your going to have to stay here" he then turned to Bait, "Bait keep an eye on zym" he said before dashing off.


Back in town Soren, Snake, Claudia, Walter, Corvus and the other soldiers watched the dragon as it swooped and turned ascended upwards barely a few feet from the edge of the tower, "shit" Walter cursed as the dragon continued to ascend before diving once again and this time it shot a great burst of fire at the ballista.

"Get down" Soren yelled as they all jumped out of the way of fire, the dragon then aimed his fire at the town and citizens screamed as some were burnt while others ran in panic.


"What's it doing here?" Callum asked out the road as he and the others watched the dragon torch the town, "more importantly why is it attacking the town?" Kaja asked, "some idiot must have fired the first shot," said Rigran as he watched the devastation.


Back at the tower Soren got up after nearly being incinerated himself as townsfolk screamed down below with the soldiers waiting for orders, "don't just stand there get on those ballista's" Soren ordered like a drill sergeant. As they watched the dragon, "get ready to fire" Snake called before Soren called as the creature began to circle back, "wait, hold" Snake said, waiting for the right time.

"Fire!" He called just as the dragon opened its mouth to shoot fire, the dragon narrowly avoided the first shot but got a nasty long cut on its back as it barely avoided the second, however it didn't let it stop it from breathing another burst of fire at the tower. Claudia, Snake and Corvus dived in one direction while Soren and Walter quickly hid behind the corner in time to watch one of the balconies the balista's were standing on fall to the ground below.

Soren then knew what he had to do so he walked up to Corvus and drew his sword, "wait" Walter said as Soren raised the sword, "Soren" Claudia exclaimed, "what are you…?" Corvus began but yelped as he brought his tied hands up to protect his face as Soren swiped down and cut the ropes that bound him.

To astounded for words Corvus just watched the rope fall for a second, "i don't understand" he said, Snake clearly did because he used his sickle to cut walters ropes, "these people need help" Soren explained, "get as many as you can to safety".

"Right" Walter said, immediately rushing down the stairs, Corvus stood up and just before following he turned to Soren, "don't' get yourself killed" he told them and disappeared down the stairs.

The remaining trio turned back to the dragon still scorching the town bellow, Soren watched the devastation, "you wanted to fight a dragon and now you gotta fight with a dragon" Snake told him, "oh i have really messed up this time" he said sorrifully, "I don't know how to stop it".

"Don't say that" Claudia reassured as she went into her bag, "i have an idea" and she fished out a small box, "it's the eye of a griffon" she explained opening the box and presenting it to the two, "with this i can enchant a ballista bolt to never miss it's target. No matter what".

Soren took one look at the eye and gagged, "so you just carry a griffon eye about with you?" he asked more out of curiosity than disgust, "you got a problem with that?" Claudia asked in a tone that basically said, I dare you to argue, "no" Snake said to his surprise, "good job for being prepared".

Claudia looked triumphant, "see someone appreciates me" she said snarkily to Soren who sighed as they went over to the ballista, they were reminded of the urgency of the situation by the dragons roar.

Soren turned the ballista to face the dragon while Snake began cranking back the ballista bolt and Claudia crushed the griffon's eye in her hand and uttered the spell before placing her hand on the bolt and allowed the magic to flow through the projectile.

Snake finished cranking the crank and when the dragon turned and charged at the tower once again. Snake fired the bolt which soared through the air, the dragon rolled in the air to avoid it, Soren jolted back thinking they had lost but Claudia held up a hand.

The arrow grew wings of magic all of a sudden as it turned and followed the dragon as it destroyed the top of the tower making it fall to the ground in a heap of rubble.

The arrow missed the dragon the first time it caught up with it but it didn't give up. It followed in hot pursuit through the air and finally rolled around the dragon and plunged into its side just below the wing.


"They hit it!" Rayla exclaimed in horror as the massive creature flew past. Turning in the air, it flew towards them, and Rayla tackled Callum and Ezran to the ground while Rigran grabbed Kaja and bent down protectively over her as the dragon's claws passed on where their heads had been a moment before.

It was then they heard the loud crash.

Sitting up, they looked with wide eyes towards the large trench in the ground, a red shape lying at the end. Ezran scampered past them, down into the woods, ignoring his brother's calls as they chased after him, scrambling down the slope and over roots and rocks.

When they caught up, they were at the edge of a clearing, the dragon lying in front of them. "Is…is it dead?" Callum asked. Rigran felt its body, "no" he said with no small amount of relief.

a soft growl echoed over them and blue eyes slowly opened.

"You're in pain," Ezran said, kneeling in front of the dragon's muzzle, hugging it gently. "You're ok, we can help you." Ezran patted the dragon's nose, shuffling around till he pointed at something, "There! Beneath her wing."

Rigran was the first to move, running over, he began to lift the massive appendage. Witchers were stronger than humans and so with no small effort Rigran managed to lift the wing up while Rayla raced under and pulled the projectile out with a burst of blood and threw it away as if it was poisoned.

The dragon flinched and growled but Ezran stroked its nose soothingly, "can you heal it Kaja" Callum asked, "I can true" Kaja responded, bending down to the dragon and placing her hands on its neck letting the magic flow to its wounds, unfortunately there was no time.

A neighing of a horse echoed through the forest, causing the group to turn. Through the brush, they could see an approaching party of soldiers. "The humans are coming," Rayla growled, brandishing her swords, "We have to protect her."

"We can't fight them, Rayla," Callum said. "I can't just leave her!" Rayla responded "Callum's right, and we have to get back to Gym," Ezran spoke up, tugging on Rayla's arm.

"We did what we could," Rigran nodded. "We can't afford to be caught."

"But Rigran…" Kaja protested, Rigran silenced her with a regretful but stern look.

With a gentle nudge, they managed to get Rayla moving, allowing them to hide in the woods on the other side of the clearing as the patrol came in.

A patrol, led by Claudia, Snake and Soren, Shit, just what they needed.

"How did they catch up so quickly?" Rigran wondered if it should have taken them ages to go around the great body of water they themselves had painfully crossed, either way it didn't matter they all began heading pack to the cave.

Unfortunately in a tree overlooking the dragon was a bird, this was a raven but there was a very sinister green glow in it's eyes as it watched for unbeknownst to everyone something had been disturbed when the dragon had crashed and it was watching and waiting for the right moment.