Chapter 2: Unholy Wine. (2/5)
The sunlight was pleasant enough, but it certainly didn't suit his outfit.
The Land of Wine, such a bright place. Malak of Cintra thought as he observed the outside from a window.
After getting unceremoniously knighted by King Foltest. His aunt Triss opened a portal that sent him into a place considerably close and he had to open a second portal to take him to his destination. Which ended up being Flovive, a village in Toussaint. The first thing that the Black Wolf did upon arrival, was find a inn called The Barrel and Bung Inn, the main public house of the village, which serves food and drink, the latter being primarily wine of all varieties. He found a relatively cheap room there and he was currently observing the outside from the window of the room.
According to the letter that uncle Dandelion send me, he's probably stuck at the Toussaint Prison, which is located southwest from here. Breaking him out will be difficult then. Malak thought carefully, trying to formulate a plan. Sneaking inside during the night and teleporting out with uncle Dandelion is the most obvious option. But there still the issue of after. The young man still had a lot of questions. Although, uncle Dandelion does foolish things on a daily basis, but only someone insane would return after what happened between him and the Duchess. The big question was. What exactly are you doing here, uncle Dandelion?"
Turning his back on the window, Malak took a few steps towards the bed. His weapons, utility belt and armor were place on the table next to the wall. He decided to lay on the bed for a bit, as he had to wait until it was dark to put his simple plan into motion. The Black Wolf sighed as he stared at the celling.
Several minutes passed, and he decided to close his eyes. Which turned out to be a bad idea.
Winter was strong and the cold was consuming everything. Luckily, a young boy was keeping himself warm through some very intense exercise.
"Faster and be more unpredictable."
Two individuals were inside a large room, one was a grown man with white hair and the other was a young boy with black curls. The boy was attacking the man with a sword and the man was deflecting it with his own sword.
The boy was delivering quick and precise attacks, but they were too predictable. The attacks themselves weren't bad, but they would be utterly useless against monsters.
After a bit, they decided to pause.
"Not bad." The man, was Malak of Cintra's father, Geralt of Rivia.
"But not good either." A young Malak complained. "It's hard to be unpredictable while fighting against something that isn't a monster."
"You already got the basics of swordsmanship, we just need to develop your instincts to react naturally to the situation." His father told him.
"I'm actually a little surprised, I was expecting some type of ancient style of combat, but I realized that most of the Witcher's fighting style rely mostly on improvisation." Malak was actually very surprised, but he decided to hide that from his father.
"Fighting a monster is unpredictable, you need to rely on whatever method that serves the situation that you find yourself in." His father explained. "In other words, improvise, because plans rarely go the way you wanted them to."
"I can see that." Malak replied before getting into a fighting stance. "One more time?" He asked.
"No, let's continue tomorrow." His father decided as it was getting late. "Remember, don't think too much while you're fighting." The White Wolf instructed his son.
"That will certainly be a difficult task, because I'm always thinking." Malak pointed out as he places the training blade back at the spot where he picked up.
"A task that you will have complete, because a second that you waste thinking, is a advantage for your opponent." His father also placed the training sword back where he picked. "Monster or not." He added.
The Black Wolf opened his eyes, visibly bothered by the unfortunate memory of his father. Oh father, you would have definitely been the one that Uncle Dandelion wrote to for help if you were here. He thought as he observed the bland ceiling.
But then he remembered his father's advice about not thinking too much in combat. He eventually learn to just rely on his instincts during combat. Malak was a late boomer in terms of swordsmanship, as it took him longer to learn, at least in comparison to Ciri. Unfortunately, the image of her appeared on his mind. Ciri... Why did you left me? We were supposed to leave together. As we promised.
Malak sat up and decided to find something to pass the time. Can't let myself get depressed again. He thought as he stood up from the bed. The beautiful Witcher then checked himself in the mirror. Without his armor, Malak's outfit was composed of: Black cotton trousers tucked in on very high quality black leather boots, a linen black shirt, a black doublet under a customized leather black jerkin that had a hood on it. Though Malak decided to take off the jerkin and the doublet, because it was hot. Ironically, if he wasn't a Witcher, most would probably confuse him with a noble.
The young man then opened the door to check the inn. It was a nice looking place, unlike some others he encountered during his travels. He was currently at the second floor, where the rooms were located. Descending towards the first floor, Malak noticed a few people conversing, drinking and playing music, but he didn't pay attention to them. Making his way to the counter, where an attractive auburn haired woman, who was the innkeeper, was cleaning the place with a broom.
" Greetings, sir." She greeted him. "What do you need?"
"A nice cup of wine would certainly improve my day." He told her.
"What kind? Red,white, rosé? Dry,semi-dry, sweet? How heavy? What appellation?" The innkeeper asked.
"Rosé, sweet, as heavy as possible and pick an appellation for me." He made his request to her. "And... Upon my arrival here, I couldn't help but notice a deck of Gwent on your hands." He pointed out as he summoned his personal deck.
"I won."
While appreciating the taste of a very delicious wine. He was also enjoying a very challenging game of Gwent with the were already on the seventh round. Malak has won three rounds while she has won three as well.
But, before they could have a decisive round, he looked at the window of the bar and noticed that it was dark already, so he decided to go back to his room to gather his equipment in order to rescue his uncle.
"This was fun, but I must get going now." Malak spoke as he put his deck away.
"Hey, you can't just leave now." The innkeeper told him. She was very passionate about Gwent.
"Forgive me, but I need to go meet up with my uncle, he awaits me." Malak explained politely before he moved away from her. "But depending on the circumstances, I would love to continue our game tomorrow."
The competitive innkeeper sighed, but nodded. "Okay."
Malak just smiled at her, before he gulped down the rest of his delicious wine and placed the cup on the counter. Then he turned around and went back to his room.
The moment he was back inside the room, Malak started to gather his thoughts in order to prepare. I better go inside with minimal equipment, it will allow me to get inside the prison quietly, but I will be relatively vulnerable. The Black Wolf then inspected his equipment. He picked up the dagger that belonged to his mother. This shall do. It may seem foolish to bring only a dagger, but Malak didn't plan on getting into a fight but if he did, his magic and a dagger was all he needed . Grabbing his jerkin and putting the hood on, before he put a black piece of cloth on his face.
"Okay, here I come uncle Dandelion." He spoke out loud as he opened the portal that would take him to an area close to the Toussaint Prison. The Toussaint Prison is located on Crane Isle in the Sansretour River, southwest of Flovine. And if rumors are true, it is guarded by a large number of Ducal Guards.
After teleporting himself next to the area where the prison was located. Malak slowly approached the walls of the ruined keep. According to a little research that he made, Toussaint once fell victim to a leprosy epidemic. To isolate the infected from the healthy, by ducal decree a leper colony was created on Crane Island. When all the colony's inhabitants died, the complex gradually fell into ruin and the decision was made to adapt it into a prison, which it remains to this day. The damage left a lot of openings, so Malak decided to utilize one.
Climbing the east wall was a easy task, using the darkness to hide his presence, the young Witcher swiftly reached the top of one the towers of the complex. Where two fully armored guards were talking while they were sitting down with their helmets off.
"I swear, if that bloody Bard starts to sing another one of those vulgar songs of his." The guard carrying a crossbow spoke angrily. Not one of the ones he made about me, I hope.
"But, you think it's true?" The guard carrying a spear asked.
"You genuinely believe that five virgins would give a boy aphrodisiacs so he would have his way with them?" The guard spoke in clear skepticism.
It was actually four, and only one of them was an actual virgin. Malak thought as he recalled the event with disgust, the girls weren't exactly attractive but the aphrodisiac caused his already overdeveloped libido to increase into absurd levels, causing him to have his way with the girls for hours and he had to fist fight the virgin's three older brothers afterwords and it wasn't pretty. Why did I told uncle Dandelion? The fact that he wrote a song a about it... Malak thought as he fully climbed the tower and entered.
"Why wasn't he hanged yet again?" The guard with the spear asked the other.
"The Duchess hasn't returned from her trip yet, and she insisted to be present for his execution." The guard with the crossbow replied.
That explains why he still alive. Malak thought as he camouflaged himself on the shadows. Whatever he is doing here, he probably thought he could do it because of Duchesses absence. It was the most logical explanation.
"Is it truth that... The Bard and the Duchess..." The guard with the spear was trying to ask him if the rumors that the two were lovers is true. It is.
"Of course not!" The guard with the crossbow spoke angrily. "Our duchess would never degrade herself by allowing such a man into her bed."
Except that she did and he would have probably stayed there if he wasn't unbelievable fool. Malak thought as he closed the distance. Reading their minds as he did, in order to uncover where exactly his uncle Dandelion was being kept on. After getting the exact location. The Black Wolf stood behind the two guards, and delivered a very hard cross at the back of the head of the guard carrying a crossbow, which knocked him out cold.
The other guard quickly stood up and tried to get into a fighting stance with his spear. But Malak was quicker and delivered a knee stomp, causing him to fall down to one knee, then he got behind him and used the spear to strangle him until he lost consciousness.
Once the two guards were down, Malak used a spell to completely erase their memories, literally, they won't even know their names once they wake up.
After he was done with that, Malak decided to make his way to the floor below. Where several guards were patrolling the area. I just need a distraction... The Witcher thought as he searched around the area for an opportunity. Until he found one, he decided to discreetly conjure fire right a the platform where prisoners are hanged. As soon as the fire started to spread, the guards that were patrolling, all moved towards the fire to try to contain it.
The Black Wolf then used the opportunity to sneak inside the dungeon where the prisoners were kept. The inside stank of death and sickness, they probably left the corpses of the leprosy epidemic. As he walked down the corridors of the dungeon, Malak noticed the number of prisoners there was utterly absurd. Some of the cells were overcrowded and the prisoners were in really bad shape. But that wasn't Malak's problem.
He was going fast enough to not call the prisoners attention. But he kept on the lookout for any guard down there. Searching for the cell the he saw when he read the guards minds.
"You think you're funny aren't you!" As he ran, Malak heard an angry sounding voice.
"My friend, I assure you that you mistaking me for someone else." Then he heard the voice of his uncle Dandelion, in his usual apologetic tone, that he has when he's talking with the man that he made a cuckold out if it.
I better hurry. Malak decided to speed up, before his uncle says something stupid.
"Listen, I just wanted her opinion on a new song that I was writing that's all." His uncle tried to use one his usual excuses. That one never works, why he insist on using it. Malak thought as he ran.
"Oh, did you sang to her on our bed?" It wasn't a question. "Or did our bed had your stank because you performed on top of it!" His Uncle Dandelion does have a hard to miss smell, which was what he was using to track him at the moment.
Luckily, he finally arrived at the cell, which was open. And he saw a big guard grabbing his uncle Dandelion by the throat and pushing him towards the ground, before he started to strangle. "I bloody loved that whore!" The was lot of hate on his voice "You fucking piece of shit!"
Malak stepped inside. "Hey, hands off the Bard." He calmly ordered the guard.
The guard moved his head and looked at him. "Who are you?!" The man asked.
But Dandelion instantly recognized him. "Oh Malak, thank the gods." His uncle Dandelion sounded very relieved. "I was starting to believe that you didn't got my message."
"Yes, forgive my late arrival." Malak apologized to him. "I had to help aunt Triss with some complicated business in Temeria."
"And I would love to hear all about it." His uncle Dandelion replied with a smile.
"Preferably after a bath, in front of a fire, and with a nice cup of wine at hand." He added before he looked at the guard. "I will politely request that you remove your hands from my uncle Dandelion's throat."
"Uncle?!" The guard noted that as he removed his hands from his throat and stood up to draw his sword. "If you think you will break this scum out if here, you're mis-AAAHHHHHHH!" Before he coukd finish, Malak decided to cut it short and used telekinesis to crush his metal armor, closing his hands as he was squeezing him himself. "AAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" The guard screamed in agony as his body was crushed by the armor as it tightened around his body, with the metal piercing through his body. Until the guard finally collapsed.
"Ugh!" Dandelion looked away in disgust. "Kind of exaggerated but..." He commented as he stood up. His uncle was tired and dirty, wearing dirty white rags and he looks a little thinner.
Malak didn't say anything, he just approached his uncle Dandelion and gave him hug. "I'm glad you are okay."
Dandelion quickly returned the hug. "I'm not exactly okay at the moment, but that will change once we're away from this place."
"Good point, let's get out of here." Malak replies before they separated from the hug. "But you and me need to talk."
His uncle Dandelion sighed. "I already expected." As you should. "Mind if we have this conversation after I took a... Very long bath?" He spoke while presenting his very dirty clothes.
"Not at all." Malak pinched his nose, as his smell at the moment was the full definition of unpleasant.
After teleporting himself and his uncle Dandelion out of the prison. But his uncle said, that he couldn't leave Toussaint yet, so he ended up teleporting back to The Barrel and Bung Inn.
The first thing he did, once they were back. Was find a bath for his uncle, because he couldn't stand the awful smell anymore, and neither did Dandelion.
They were currently inside a room that had a bath on it. The Black Wolf was sitting next to the bath, pouring more soap into the water a his uncle scrubbed himself to get rid of the dirt.
"Ahhh... Much better." His uncle spoke as he leaned back to get comfortable inside the water.
"Yes." Malak filled two cups of wine, from bottle that he got from the innkeeper. He handed one to Dandelion and drank for the other. After taking a sip of the wine, he decided to ask him. "Uncle Dandelion, why are you here?" He asked him, already giving him a apprehensive stare.
"Well..." His uncle drank a cup of the delicious wine. "For this..." He showed him the cup.
Malak put his cup down and folded his arms. "Would you kindly be more specific?"
"You see... I have an old friend that requires some, very... Specific kind of wine that, only Toussaint is able to provide." His uncle spoke ad he gulped down the wine.
Malak just stared at his uncle with a very, very... Cold stare that would put his ice spells to shame. Then he grabbed a cup of wine and completely gulped down, then he refilled in order to gulped down once again. Before he turned to his uncle Dandelion and said. "You, came back to the land where you got banished from, under the threat of execution from one of your many,many,many lovers." Malak was pointing out how absurd the situation is. "Because an "old friend" asked you to grab some for him?"
"Well, when you put it like that, it makes it sound really bad." The Bard spoke in a joking matter.
"It is really bad." Malak kept his composure, but he had an urge to tell at his uncle. "What exactly would you have done it if I didn't arrive at time to rescue you?"
"I would have probably have to find a way to convince Anna to spare me." His uncle spoke with confidence.
The Witcher could only place his hand on his face in deep frustration. I'm not even gonna waste my time arguing with him about the many possible ways on how that could go incredibly wrong. He removed his hand from his face and asked. "Did you at least got the wine?"
"Unfortunately, no." His uncle spoke as he washed his hair. "And I can't leave without it." He added. "And since you're here... You wouldn't mind giving me a hand, would you?"
I wouldn't mind knocking you out and dragging you as far away from Toussaint as it is humanly possible before you get yourself killed with your foolishness. "Okay..." Who am I kidding? I don't have it in me to hit uncle Dandelion. Besides, this way, I can make sure he doesn't get himself killed with his stupidity. "But, this wine that you are after, what is it?"
"You better get us some more drinks, because it's a long story and let me warn you before hand that getting it, will not be a easy task." His uncle explained to him.
"Alright," Malak stood up from his seat. "I'm gonna see if I can find you some clothes as well." He spoke as he walked towards the door.
Why do I have a very bad feeling about this whole situation? Who am I kidding? Anything involving uncle Dandelion is a constant reason to have a bad feeling about it.
"Okay, so, to put it simply." Malak spoke as he stated at the window while his uncle got dressed after getting out of the bath. "This special wine that you are after, is a wine that is as old as Toussaint itself and that it has been anging for a century or two, which is why it's so valuable."
"Precisely, Anna told me about it once, and she told me that it's kept on a special vault." His uncle explained as he finished putting on his boots. "But I have absolutely no idea where this vault is located and I can't exactly ask Anna where it is."
"I see..." Malak replied. "Do you have any clues at least."
"Well, just one." His uncle came out from behind the cover where he was dressing himself on it. Wearing a outfit that resembles his usual one, only crimson in color and with no hat. "I managed to get myself a contact that apparently knows the location of the vault, but it wants a favor in exchange."
"What kind of favor?" Malak asked, already not liking this.
"I don't know, I'll have to set a meeting with him or her to discover." His uncle Dandelion explained.
"You don't even know who is it?" Malak officially didn't like this. "How exactly are we supposed to be certain that we're not dealing with false information."
"We don't," His uncle Dandelion sadly replied. "But it's our only lead."
The Black Wolf signed in response. Before he asked him a very, very important question. "Wanna play some dice poker until you get a response?"
"Now we're talking." His uncle Dandelion spoke happily before wrapping his arm around Malak's neck and two walked out of the room to enjoy the rest of the night.
Because the repercussions of what happened in the prison would certainly come back to bite them later.
Thanks everyone for following and favoritethis story.
As always, QuestionsandAnswers:
Guest
….. might have forgotten to add on that I hope while Malak already has a fancy sword during his time in Toussaint he gets Aerondight and becomes the lover of the Lady of the Lake
If Malak gets his own Vineyard hope he enters into Business with Matilda
By the way hope Ciri when she reunites with Malak also takes joy from indulging in the numerous lovers he's swayed
While Dandelion has no doubt started the writings of Malaks ballads and and so on like he is doing for Geralt I hope the songs and stories written down about Malak are all done by a lover of Malaks in the form of Priscilla with her becoming the main author of his tale
Hope on his travels already Malak traveled to Brokilon and while it might not be known much outside the forest itself to the Dryads Malak is known as the hero of Brokilon say he helped them out a fair bit in other words the Dryads love him and he's able to freely come and go
Lastly hope at Kaer Morhen since Malak while being able to rough it easily since he's still the son of Yennefer and thus likes the finer things at the home base for the wolves can Malak have notably a large room to himself with the largest bed to boot
Malak only uses his own sword. {His sword was custom made for him due to his unique fighting style that differed from the other Witchers.} As he uses a hand and a half sword instead of a two handed one.
He would certainly be interested.
Ciri did had her first time in a threesome with Malak so...
Dandelion never writes any epic ballads about him. He only writes embarrassing ballads about Malik's sexual encounters. Which he completely detests it.
Not exactly.
Oh, you can count on that.
Dec 17, 2021 c6Mr Guest
Sorry forgot to add hope Mal ows and is close with Orianna
Well...
Dec 17, 2021 c6Mr Guest
So with Malak getting to the land of wine next chapter some hopes I have
One it's revealed that while in Toussaint previously Malak helped resolve the case of Daphnes Wraith in the most ideal fashion possible and he slew Grottore and the Slyzard Matriarchs or replace one or add on the monster of Tufo to and if he did deal with Tufo's monster I hope he also kept the wife's secret
He's aware of the Silver Basilisk but never took a contract on it not really wanting to kill it
While in Toussaint for this arc I really hope we see Malak kill Golyat and remark it's like he killed old spear tip again but perhaps the lovely Anna could request Malak to kill the giant
Needless to say hope we see Malak take Anna as a lover
If Sylvia is around meeting her without any vampires in the duchy and charming her and getting her interest to
Going of for a moment I do hope during the events of Witcher 3 in this the state of the North isn't just Nilfgaard Vs Redania but it's those two Vs each and a coalition of Kingdoms made up of
Temeria under Queen Adda
Lyria and Rivia under Queen Meve
Saskia's free state which could have a bit more of Aedirn in it under Queen Saskia
Perhaps even
Just thought maybe in this world Adda takes Novigrad and kicks out the psycho cult
You will have to wait and see
Dec 12, 2021 c6Guest
Don't go for a small harem please
We got more sex scenes incoming?
It is not a small harem.
Yes
Ye
Nov 15, 2021 c6 12Super Comrade
Okay, this is pretty good so far. I really enjoy Malak as a character. Can't wait to see more.
Good to know.
Oct 17, 2021 c6Mr Guest
Enjoyed the chapter
Liked the scene at the start with Triss also interesting to learn that if he really gets into it Malak has the potential to wipe out cities with his Wind Magic haha
Hope Malak later finds out that Aryan as executed
Liked the lemon we got with Triss even if it was a short one
Haha hope Malak doesn't have to break Dandelion out of prison as I don't want him forbidden from entering the land of wine like the bard
Really loved the scene with Adda and learning how the two meet and how Malak is the one that took her virginity and just everything about the scene really lemon was again perhaps on the short side but still loved the interaction with Adda
I'm just happy with the full conformation that Adda does really love Malak and again I do hope that while Ciri is the main love or to put it another way the First Lady of the harem I do hope Malak has enough love in him where several woman like Adda and Triss etc etc also hold a good deal of his love
I also really hope that Adda does end up as the ruling Queen of Temeria
Also like Malak getting Knighted first step noble title he gets that I hope leads to him being the King of Several Kingdoms haha
Okay I find the fact Malak considers himself the least skilled Witcher from the school of the Wolf kinda funny but glad this isn't true and the others certainly don't think this
Eager to see what other fun potions Malak has up his sleeve
With Philippa been meaning to say I hope Aryan actually gets on with her despite what his parents relationship with her can be like
But as you know I'm hoping Malak is close to all the members of the Lodge haha
But it takes a toll on his body.
Nah, the nobles of Temeria wouldn't allow it.
Sometimes, short and sweet is the way to go.
He did had to break him out of prison unfortunately.
Don't worry, they'll meet again later.
The circumstances on the Witcher 1 will be heavily altered, so, is a possibility.
Malak would be better suited as a emperor, if you ask me.
He was a late bloomer in terms of swordsmanship.
He will need them to face a certain foe.
What?
Most of them
1Call-Me-Author-Boy
the chapter was really interesting to me, I too just like the other characters was surprised at Malak's request.
one thing that caught my attention was the fact that you mentioned Malak doesn't have any scars on his body, and then you said when Adda bit him, he expected it to scar but it didn't. does he have some immunity to scars and if so how? I hope its something that Yen did to him because it kinda reminds me of Baldar'sthe norse god who was also in god of war) story, or maybe he got it in some other way. there is also a very likely possibility that I'm reading too much into this but anyways thanks for the new chapter and I hope you have a great day!
Not exactly surprising, knighthood can open a lot of doors for him.
Let's just say that, Malak didn't exactly came out of his mother perfect.
Oct 16, 2021 c6chungorion15
I agree with small Harem like Ciri, Triss, and Saskia r the only ones he takes serious relationship with and the other girls like princess just now r just one night stand and of course Ciri has to decide if it's okay to add Triss and Saskia in there relationship because after all Ciri is MC true love
Malak on really loves Ciri.
【Question from another fic, by Mr Guest.】
Saw the summary for the Disney fic
Hope it's only a dark fic in the sense of the Oc Sevemus is kinda a villain in the sense that his a Dark sorcerer and is considerably more dangerous than the villain of whatever Disney movie or world he's in
Also in the sense that he ruins whoever the Disney Princess or non princess was originally going to be with
Plus it'll be fun seeing him with the ladies or Disney like Jasmine, Ariel, Esmeralda, Rapunzel etc
Appearance wise for some reason I'm hoping he's got grey hair and pure black eyes
A dark fic is when you pick a story with a otherwise light-hearted tone and makes a dark and edger version of it. Which is basically what this is going to be.
Imagine for example:
In Alladin, what if Jafar actually got the Genie before Alladin did and used his three wishes to get what he wants. {Turning poor Jasmine into his sex slave in the process.} So Sevemus had to deal with him. {Having to battle people in a Prince of Persia style.}
This fic will be basically dark and grittier retelling of the classics but with a kind of villain protagonist. {Sevemus is in for personal gain, and nothing else.}