.III. Blood, bones and drowners.
As he was left with no choice, than to follow once again the trail of Galodo.
Gerd, got on his horse, leaving Jakko, in the empty village of Jorg, as he set to track and kill the mercenary.
But as he was on Galodo's trail, witcher Gerd remembered about a contract that he had not long ago. This one happened last Yule, on the Arc Coast of Redania:
Memories:
Gerd was passing by a city, and thought that having more coin wouldn't hurt. Thus, he took a contract, which was about three men that disappeared in the sewer. Issued by a concerned citizen, a cook, Marco. After he and the cook discussed details, and settled on the reward. The witcher went inside the sewer to investigate. However, when he got out of the sewers, he was approached by two guards, who promptly invited him to join the wealthiest man in the city at his house for a supposed job proposal. Not something Gerd would refuse or could in the given situation, as the two guards didn't seem to take no for an answer.
'Beautiful as far as beasts go, don't you think ?', said the noble as he proudly presented his collection of hunting trophies. As among them was being showcased, the head of a young basilisk. The other individual did not answer back, nor did show any intention to.
'Hmm.', the noble murmured. 'Nevertheless, come this way. I might have something that will sure catch your eye.', said the gentleman, while the uninterested character nodded then proceeded to join the host.
On the way to whatever place the red-bearded noble and his guest were heading towards. 'I hear you have some business to take care of in the city.', the noble began, expecting his guest to chime in. Yet, contrary to the noble's expectation, the guest didn't. 'May I propose a bit of advice ?', the noble continued, while the guest seemed bored, if not speechless, as even the host might've began to question whether his guest was deaf as well. As he just set his eyes on the noble for a few moments than back ahead. Without any word from the strange fellow, the noble-man cleared his throat and resumed to his advice.
'This is a peaceful city. There is no need to carry swords inside the city, and I mean no offence to you. But, those swords of yours are scaring the populace within the city walls. If I may...', the noble paused trying to read his guest, but to no avail. As the noble believed he would have more success reading corpses. 'Could you leave them here ? Under the locked key. A key that I will give to you, and only to you...', the business-man paused a bit as he looked at his guest, who probably gave a literal shit about whatever he was babbling about, perhaps this certain individual was not even paying attention.
They then came out of a stair case, past the doorway into a great chamber. Certainly used by the noble for the fanciest of parties, perhaps orgies as well. As both advanced towards the furthest side of the chamber. The guest led by the host, stopped on the balcony that had a view across the whole city. From there you could see the port, which had its always busy sight, so that you could hear the sailors and dock workers as they were loading an unloading the ships. You'd also see the tall buildings around the market that stretched all the way to the bay, and the famous city walls that go around, towards the port, where they would scale down in height until they are level with the sea. Creating an artificial bay, were merchant ships and not only, from across Redania, Kovir, Nilfgaard, Cintra and Skillige, were anchored in the famous Baltazar Bay of Eskvon, a city north of Blaviken, on the Arc Coast of Redania.
After a few moments of silence after both the host and his guest stepped on the balcony, the noble attempted to add further clarification to his proposal. 'I assure you no one will-'.
'I won't.', said the guest, and walked a couple of steps away from the host, going near the balcony's balustrade, placing his left hand on it, looking towards the bay.
'But-', said the host before being interrupted by his impolite guest.
'I have a contract in the city. And I cannot apply my trade without my swords. Therefore, I won't leave them here.', said the guest while applying a sober tone to his already thick voice.
'A contract inside the city ?', the noble asked, almost scoffed. 'What kind of business could you have here ? There aren't any-', the host was interrupted again by his witcher guest.
'Drowners in the sewers.', the witcher added.
'In the sewers ?', the noble scoffed. 'How did they get into the sewers ? There are steel grates at the exits. Do you have any proof which supports your words ?'.
'The stench and blood present on my armor should be enough, but if that isn't enough...How about the corpses I've left down there ?', the witcher began, with a tone that the noble must've found rude, if not worthy of a good beating and a couple good days in the clink. 'And as far as how they got in there. Perhaps, a couple of bars were rusty, drowners chewed them off...'.
'Those foul beasts, always on the prowl !', the noble replied with a thoughtful gaze. 'Have there been any victims ?'.
'I found the remains of two men. One around thirty years old and the other, late forties. But, three had been reported as being missing. So, the third one, is still in the sewers.', said the guest.
'But what in the name of...', paused the noble, while rising his left hand to rub his forehead. 'What were they doing there ?'.
'Couldn't ask them, but there may be others. Those three had been reported missing by a cook that prepares meals for the homeless. But, for the reason they were in the sewers, they probably sleep there...'.
'Sleep ? In the sewers ? How could someone sleep there ?', inquired the noble, baffled that someone would choose living in such a place. Making Gerd suspect that he may be overreacting on purpose.
'Well, it is better then the streets, at least they have a roof to keep the cold away as well as the rain off their heads.', answered the witcher. Giving a cold stare to the noble. 'Surprising. How a man such as yourself isn't aware of that. Considering that these men, probably women and children too, are still citizens of this city...', continued Gerd while shifting his eyes away from the noble, looking again towards the bay.
'I don't take interest in vermin, witcher...', answered the noble slightly annoyed by the witcher's previous sentence, and with a smirk he resumed. 'Anyway...You shall not continue your investigation. There's no need.', the noble said calmly, approaching Gerd. 'Unless you have a death wish. And thus I have solved our problem. You, can stay in the city as long as you want. And there will be no need for your weapons anymore.', continued the noble man, quite happy about his resolve.
'You'll let innocent people die ? Because of their social position ?!', responded Gerd with a slightly, far fetched upset tone.
The noble scoffed. 'You don't fool me witcher. So, why are you trying to fool yourself ? You don't care about those men and women more than I do, nor do you care for their children. As you know that their born out of lousy seeds. This revered city doesn't need them nor will it raise a finger to help them. Further more, the world doesn't need them either. The sooner they expire the better. Besides, they have no such thing as a social position. They were not predestined to be poor. No, they had the same choices I had. But chose to be poor, to live off of other people's backs alike leeches. They, are worse than rats. Therefore, the more die, the better.', answered the noble, showing a slight smile followed by disgust. 'They are far from innocent too. They, my dear witcher, are those who steal, murder and destroy the image of this beautiful city. Thus, I won't mind, if-'
'What if their problem becomes yours ?', interrupted the witcher.
'How so ?', the noble asked, clueless of how could such a thing even happen.
'You think the drowners will stay in the same place ? What if they get out on the streets ?'.
'Then...You will take care of them.', quickly answered the noble, pointing at Gerd. 'However, until then.', the noble resumed. Providing Gerd with the impression that he was weighing such a consequence to a counterweight similar in nature with unicorns and fairies. 'The beasts would've taken care of those worthless inhabitants in the sewers. And, when the time comes, you will end your contract and I will pay you good coin. I'll arrange that my men along with the guards, see that all entrances to the sewer around the city be nailed shut. So that no men nor drowner can get out or get in. As well as, make sure no other contract is posted. Problem solved.', continued the noble, while pouring himself a glass of wine. 'Wine, witcher ?'
'No thanks.', answered Gerd.
'Don't be irritated, my friend. I shall not let you leave the city without a good pouch of gold. For, what you just brought to my attention, is good information that has to be rewarded. Won't you agree ?', the noble said, then drank from his gold dressed cup, filled with aged wine. 'Of course you do. Easy coin, isn't it ?', said the noble while taking another sip from his wine.
The witcher still, unimpressed by the host, kept looking towards the bay.
'Come on, witcher. I just saved you from a whole day in the sewers. You, should be grateful, not judgmental towards me. I am your only friend here...', the host paused as he looked at his guest. 'I'd rather not cross swords with you, witcher. For I've heard rumors of how efficient you can be. Meaning you're more useful to me alive than dead.', the noble continued, then sighed. 'I will even pay you in advancement. How does eight-hundred and fifty crowns sound ?'. Seeing as his guest resorted back to being a mute, the host proceeded to elaborate. 'I tell you how they sound...Far better then what you would get from that contract of yours. What do you say to that deal ?', said the noble, placing his elbows on the balcony's balustrade.
'Huh.', muttered the witcher. 'You nobles, have a grim sense of humor.'.
'Well, I am flattered that you noticed, but what-do-you-say ?' asked the noble once again, looking at Gerd.
'Deal...', Gerd murmured.
'Hah !', shouted the noble. 'I knew you'd see sense !'. he continued with joy, patting Gerd on the back and handing him a cup of wine as well , a Toussaint favorite, Erveluce. 'A toast to our collaboration. May it last long and bear the finest of fruit !', the noble continued.
Two peasants, gossiping while working the land near a village, south of Blaviken:
'Did you hear ?', asked a peasant another peasant.
'What is there to hear ?', answered the other peasant.
'A witcher's in town...A famous one at that.'.
'And who is that ?', asked the other, straightening up and placing his hands on the hips, stretching his back.
'Vesemir of Kaer Morhen.'
'Hmm...Doesn't ring a bell.', responded the other scratching the temple of his head and grabbing his spud.
'You know...The one that came around here a few years ago, when we had that water hag at the river.'
'Nah...Don't remember.', responded the other.
'Whatever...'
It was probably the darkest night yet, this spring. One in which almost no stars could be seen on the dark, clouded sky as the moon was barely poking out on the edge of one black cloud. Slowly consuming the image of the moon on the night sky. Great flashes of light could be seen coming from the west. A storm was coming. Heading inland, with great fury. As the flashes of lighting were slashing the sky, and thunders shook the ground...
A flash cut through the thick darkness.
Then, a thunder shivered the plains, woods, hills and mountains.
It was once again, the season of storms.
Suddenly, the witcher Gerd opened his eyes, looking like he just woke up from a bad dream. As he drew his hand over his face, he saw, the giant flash of light tearing through the night sky, then heard the loud thunder. It was so loud that it spook his mare, which he calmed with the sign of Axii.
He then took his swords and jumped on his horse, heading towards Novigrad. Where he planned to find and take a ship, to the Skellige Isles.
'Down !', shouted one sailor. 'Get down !' he shouted once again. While all those around him, were holding tooth and nail to whatever they could, as the big waves were balancing the boat, with all the cargo set tumbling and stumbling across the lower deck of the ship. As did the men, as waves took them, from one side to another, from port to starboard, up and down, overboard, and so on. The thunderstorm was fierce, lighting was traveling the sky tireless, the thunders were so loud that even the seas trembled and shook. Heavens were lighting up all over. As fierce waves were hitting the bow of the ship and the sides, setting barrels and crates rolling and sliding on the upper-deck, some falling overboard. Then, there were the sails, which barely withstood the strong winds, that moved them in all the possible directions, shattering a few of them, as the captain of the ship was holding onto the wheel, soaked. Moved left and right around it, by the violent waves. Quickly blinking his eyes as he was constantly hit by the waves that smashed and broke on the sides of the ship, as he was steering it through the rising seas.
It was simply put, as one hell of a storm. Sailors were lost to the rabid sea. Some died drowned. Others squashed by the barrels and crates that broke free of their chains and ropes during that chaos and only a lucky handful of them managed to not get thrown overboard.
But one ship, of merchants and tailors from Cidaris got wrecked near the coast of Redania, a few miles from Oxenfurt, on the southern shore of the Pontar.
While the morning sun was rising once more upon the lands of Redania, Gerd was traveling at full gallop, towards the city of Novigrad...
As the witcher had followed Galodo's tracks for some time now, he noticed a second set of horse shoe tracks. Indicating that someone awaited him. The place where he noticed the tracks was ahead of a portion of road that was made of stone, so he couldn't find any foot prints, due to the rocky ground.
Both were heading southeast, only a couple of hours ahead of him...