.VII. The paths we walk.

The sky darkened as the sunlight began to decrease with each breath, each blink of the eye, everything became darker, it was the middle of the day, yet, it was darkness outside.

Was it Ragh nar Roog ? The Second Conjunction of the Spheres ? Will the White Frost follow ?

Nothing like this had been witnessed in the previous century...

Were the gods furious ?

Did they extinguished the sun ? Punish the whole known world ? Was it the end ?

The streets of the great cities on this side of the continent were filled with people, priests and guards, scholars and peasants, watching as the skies blackened and the sun became complete black, covered by a circular object, as only a ring of light was left on it's edges. Among those people was a tall, strange individual, wearing a black cloak, which was covering his head. Next to him two scholars, who were watching the phenomenon through some special lenses that they were holding in front of their eyes.

'This is spectacular, Ren, a full solar eclipse...', spoke one, with a wondrous tone.

'Yes- Yes it is. My, look...', responded the other, as his mouth was fully open.

'Incredible, to witness such a phenomenon...', spoke the first.

While from behind a young woman approached...

'An eclipse you say ?', asked the young woman.

'Yes, here look through these.', he said, handing the lens to the young woman.

Then she placed it in front of her left eye and looked through the lens, the scholar remained silent and watched her. Awaiting to see her reaction and what she would say after...

'Amazing, isn't it ?', the scholar asked, eager to hear a response from the beautiful young woman.

'Yes, it is beautiful...', responded the young woman, slowly smiling as she was looking through the lens.

'First time observing such event ?', asked the scholar.

'Yes.', she quickly answered, as she kept on looking at the astronomical event.

'What is your name ?', asked the scholar, a rather whisper.

'What ?', asked the young woman, as she slightly turned her head looking his way.

'Your name...? What is your name ?', he asked again, properly.

'Oh, sorry...Astrid.', she answered, as she stopped looking at the sky, taking a look at the one that asked her name, while with her left hand she pulled several locks of her hair that were standing in front of her eye and left side of the face, behind her ear.

The scholar remained speechless, lost in her emerald eyes, perhaps, as she then charmingly smiled.

'Are you alright ?', she asked.

'Y-Yes, of course, it is a beautiful name...', he responded.

She continued smiling. 'What is yours ?', she asked, looking at the scholar. Who at that moment was staring down. Admiring the cobblestone covered street, perhaps.

'Marcus...', he responded, as his head moved back up, his eyes meeting hers, again.

'Yours it's beautiful as well.', replied the young woman called Astrid, as she smiled looking at the scholar, who if not for the lack of light, probably blushed a bit.

Behind them was the strange individual. He wasn't observing the phenomenon, for he was awaiting someone, and shortly that someone arrived. It was a woman, wearing a shorter cloak, she stopped next to him and handed him a package...

'It is done.', she said. 'Meet us near the ruins of Fort Ayeen Shae.', she continued, then turned away and left. The mysterious man said no word, only nodded his head. As he then moved forward, towards the scholar, Marcus, who was talking with Astrid, still.

'Marcus.', spoke the tall man, with a thick voice.

'Yes, what is it ?', asked the scholar.

'I have to go, tell him it is done...', as he gave something from the package to the scholar, 'We'll speak about your problem when I return.'.

'Alright.', responded the scholar.

Then the man in the black cloak left the crowded market square. While the light of the sun began to reappear, as the eclipse was close to the end.

The port city of Baccalà, returned to be once again illuminated by the hot southern sun. Which was not as warm as it used to be in the summer, for now it grew weaker as the winter approached quickly, even so, it was still warm, hot if not some days.

In the City of the Golden Towers, inside the palace, the Nilfgaardian Emperor, Fergus var Emreis, was watching it as well, through some kind of a telescope, with his mage and advisors next to him.

'Did the witcher end the contract ?' asked the emperor, while he kept on observing the phenomenon.

'We didn't receive any confirmation, yet. It is expected to arrive soon, Your Imperial Majesty.', answered one of his advisors.

'Very well...' responded the Nilfgaardian Emperor, leaving the telescope, going towards his desk.

'Forgive my intrusion, Your Imperial Majesty, but, Is it safe to rely on a man such as he, on such an important matter...'. Asked one advisor, as the other three, seemed very curious about what will the head of the state say.

'He is expendable and a professional on such matters, and that is enough said, don't you agree ?' said Fergus var Emreis, as the eyes of the advisor that asked went down, fast, tensing his jaw muscles. While the Emperor sat straight, with his hands behind his back, near his desk, looking out the window, as the light of the sun returned to his great empire.

'I-', began the advisor, who planned to apologize, but, was cut short by one of the other advisors to his right. Who's hand quickly touched his shoulder, near his neck while shaking his head, with a somber look on his face. That might've told the advisor, 'Don't bother, just don't.'. He then took him out of the chamber.

'I never want to see him here again.', said the Emperor, while the other two that remained in the room, moved their heads in agreement.

The contract was given to a witcher from the School of the Viper, more exactly, Letho of Gulet, he brought in Ayanna of Liddertal and Gerd of Skellige. The contract was on a noble man, that at the moment of the eclipse was in the port city of Baccalà, he was a member of the conspirators and planned a move against Fergus var Emreis. Who considered that the House of Emreis and Fergus himself, were unworthy to lead the empire. This action will later have consequences for the emperor, as the one known for now as The Usurper, will murder and overthrow Fergus var Emreis in 1233. The Usurper will be executed later by Fergus's son, Emhyr var Emreis in 1257.

The whole cave contained one room, separated by bookshelves, books that presented lectures from philosophy to history to sixth century literature, even some about elven architecture and magical runes. Beyond it on the wall left from it, stood two cabinets, one contained cutlery and the other from mugs to bowls to glasses, next to them few kegs of wine probably. As further on the opposite wall from the bookshelves was placed a table, on which sat a several slices of boar meat, above which hanged from the ceiling on a string some spices, and to the wall on the right was the fire place, upon which was placed a pot, that contained stew.

On the same wall to the right were three beds, between the first and the second, Lona was laying. Attempting to stand up, while near the wall in the opposite direction was her husband Galodo, and Gerd. Who was with his left hand around the grip of his steel sword, attempting to take it out of it's scabbard.

Galodo was still dizzy. Haven't moved a bit, still leaning on the wall. His face showed no different expression, only one that gave the scent of a tired man, that either accepted his death or didn't care anymore, which to Gerd was pretty much the same.

A hideous figure had risen from among the fog clouds now standing upon the lands of Redania. The creature made a strange cry, that gave a couple of crows standing on a rotten tree the instinct to scramble and leave the haze filled swamp. Further from the figure another two appeared, his brethren. They were ready to hunt, ready to kill, already caught the scent of blood in the air. The mist upon the land started to shift and move as the three creatures of the dark raced within it, towards the main road. Through the mist, they smelled and felt the taste of blood on their tongues, ready to devour whatever caught their undivided attention. They were hunters...

The main path to the city of Novigrad had on each side woods, from among them the thick fog began to drain on the main road, it had many more miles until it would clear away from the forest and get on the barren hills and plains.

As the mist was flowing upon the road, not far, the sound of wooden wheels hitting the puddles of mud and water could be heard, grunts of a horse and soon after, a loud neighing. The carriage suddenly increased it's speed, now bolting quite fast across the road while the carriage driver tried but was unable to calm his horses down, then both took a hard left off the main road setting the carriage to turn and crash into a tree, as the horses ran into the thick fog that covered the forest. The man that was in the carriage was well, for he jumped right before the wooden cart hit the tree, rolling a few times through the muddy road. He stood up with a groan, accompanied by pain in his lower back, as he walked to what remained of his carriage. He stopped and watched the remains, with one hand on this forehead and another on his hip, in disbelief and dread of what happened. He didn't know what made his horses do what they just did. But, as he thought to look if he could salvage something, his eyes wondered in the direction his horses headed. As he approached the other side of the wrecked carriage, he crouched near it, checking for salvageable wares. Not long after, a shiver traveled his spine, as he bolted up. While from within the fog, deep into the woods, an ear scratching roar was heard, followed by a sharp neigh. As any other individual found in such a position, he nimbly tracked back towards the road, while looking in all directions as he swilled down some spit. Afterwards, quickly building up his steps to running. Hoping to reach the clearance before whatever got his horse would get him too. But, he didn't ran much. For one of the mist travelers already got his scent, and with a growl from within the woods the beast blasted out on to the muddy road, sliding from the left side to the right. Raising it's head up, staring down the fleeing man. Snarled once more, then began to sprint towards the human, soon expected to become it's pray.

As it chased the human, the beast released a snort, each time it plunged it's front legs into the muddy road. Blowing air through it's large nostrils, purling. As from it's sharp teeth, lines of saliva was were flowing down it's chin and neck, as the monstrous creature was running. All the while it got closer and closer to the human, then suddenly it let our a deep growl. While the driver, kept running as the creature was on his tail...

Within the woods, some of the mist moved on the road as the man advanced. And not a moment later another one like the beast behind him jumped from the woods in front of him, standing in the middle of the road, shivering and purling. With it's back arched in a monstrous position, so that it's spine vertebras were almost puncturing through the veiny, rotten like skin. Then it screamed so loud that the man instantly stopped running, with his fists slowly opening as he knew that there was no more hope for him, that he'll die in this forgotten forest, eaten by those two creatures.

The two monsters got closer to him, one behind and another in front of him. Confident that he had no escape, until his eyes sauntered to his left. With a gasp and thought he could climb in a tree, and the creature couldn't possibly climb too. So, he ran for the tree. Lighting fast, he believed, for that was his only power, belief.

It didn't last long, for the mist among the woods moved again towards him so fast that he had no time to react nor do anything. The human did nothing, for he couldn't do anything. Just as he blinked, another of those beasts struck him in the chest with it's head, sending him back in the middle of the road. He fell like a rock in the mud, on his back and as he opened his eyes he saw the creature that hit him was now above him, it's saliva leaking on his trousers, purling while slowly unclenching it's sharp teeth, ready to bite off his head.

At that moment the other two came closer, one of them howled, as if he congratulated his brethren.

From within the trees it came. Fast, with a silver tip shining as it left the darkness of the woods. It's tail made of steel. Traveling through the mist, piercing it, as then, with a whistle. It stopped in the monster's femur. Which responded with a high-pitched scream and backed away from the man standing in the middle of the road.

Then another arrow followed. This one, the beast escaped, then growled and jumped into the mist. A deep thump followed, as swift wind rushed out, making a hole into the mist and shook the nearby trees, as if something had blown up. Then, the beast flew out from between the woods on the other side of the road, hitting the trees hard, braking a few branches. Then, the other two went in and soon both got out, one of them hit and broke a small tree and stopped on the path scratching the muddy road with it's claws and the other ran out burning, as finally the one that send the arrow revealed himself. He was a witcher, holding a silver sword with magical runes on it, he drove the blade to the cranium of the burning creature. For then the one that got out first ran towards him, sliding it's claws along his sword then it was blown away by a spell of wind. After that with a pirouette the monster slayer cut the beast in two equal halves and then set his eyes on the only one left. The shivering shape of the creature charged towards him, as saliva was flowing out of it's mouth and as soon as it reached the witcher, it jumped trying to slash him across his chest. He escaped by rolling left and as the beast passed him, he quickly turned, with his sword in both hands and slashed the beast's belly open. It's guts slid out, as the beast fell on the ground, a horrible stench came from it's insides that were now laying on the road, clawing it's paws into the mud, groaning like.

'Damn ghouls...', said Gerd as he put his sword through it's skull, ending the beast.

Then the witcher went to check on the man, to see if he was injured.

'Are you alright ?', asked the witcher, helping the man stand up.

'I'm fine. But only due to you. Thank you.', responded the man.

'Where were you going ?', asked Gerd.

'Novigrad, I was to deliver what I had, and pick up a package and deliver it to Oxenfurt.'.

'I see...', began Gerd, 'Where to now ?'.

'Well. There's a village on the other side of this forest. So, I guess there.', responded the carriage driver.

'Good, I'm heading there too.', replied Gerd, as the man he just saved, nodded his head.

'I'm Gerard by the way...', said the man.

'Gerd, witcher.', he responded, while the two were heading out of the forest towards the nearest village.

The witcher's blade was now completely out of the scabbard, and Gerd slowly pointed it to the floor, as he went closer to Galodo.

As from behind...

'Leave him be !', screamed Lona, holding an axe, that she just swung past the witcher's shoulder, then she stopped in front of her husband, Galodo.

'He, should've leaved those people in Spalla...', said the witcher.

'He did what he had to do, for us. To protect his family. To protect me.', responded Lona, as Galodo's hand went to her shoulder.

'It's alright, Lona, leave...', whispered Galodo.

'No !' quickly replied Lona, as she looked her husband in the eyes, over her shoulder.

'He won't stop, he has a contract on my head.', continued Galodo.

'No...', she said again, then looked at Gerd, 'He did what he had to do...', as her voice started to break at the end of the sentence and her hands began to tremble.

'So do I...', said Gerd with a somber tone, as he clamped his fingers around the grip of his steel sword.