.XXVIII. A Light Thread.
After days upon days spent in the desert, the arid planes and the green savannas that laid beyond...The Zerrikanians reached the hills at the foot of the Fhuil Mountains, that harbored among their peaks, the Elven City of Yolwelkairr. Where, within the hills, west, on the Naa'l's western shore, sat the home of the tribe Galodo owed a debt.
Amidst the lush hills that stood at the feet of the Fhuil Mountains, the great Naa'l carved it's way, creating a magnificent gorge, atop which stood the bridge that let to the zerrikanian village, and the elven city of Yolwelkair. The height of the gorge was so great that the water flow seemed a continuous white line of foam.
As the caravan stopped before the passing, near the cliffs at the edge of the gorge, Gerd was looking downwards at the foamy course of water.
'Scared of heights, witcher ?', Veya asked mockingly.
'Not as far as I know...'.
From behind them Tara approached, and remained silent as she watched them talk.
Veya took a couple of steps ahead of the witcher, while softly moving her head his way. 'Listen Gerd. Once we get to the village- you won't be allowed to wonder around as you wish...Is not that I don't trust you, is that the others won't. You are a foreigner, and my people grew weary of foreigners...', Veya began, staring at the green trees standing across the gorge. 'I know what you can do, witcher, and I appreciated the help you offered this far, and will continue to do so. And I can say I speak for everyone in this caravan...'. She paused, turning her gaze towards the elven bridge to her right, and sighed. 'Remember me to show you to your provisional home within the duration of your stay here, when we arrive. And we will have a- prolonged- talk regarding your stay...', she continued, looking at Gerd, then with a subtle smile, she turned and left towards Biua and Bált, who were arguing over something Veya told them to do.
After Veya stepped away toward Biua and Balt, Tara made a couple of steps towards the witcher. 'You'll like it here. Our people will get used to you, eventually...'.
'Is there a problem ?', asked Gerd, turning to face Tara.
'Not really something you ought to be concerned about.', she replied with the intent to withhold information. 'But, since you asked...', she continued with a pleasant smile. 'As you know, Veya is the head of our tribe. And she has been held responsible by The Elders for Galodo's deeds. If we were to not find him so he could be brought to face justice for his crimes, we would've risked a conflict between our tribe and two others. More political than military, in which case we would have the obligation to pay a certain sum. In gold, blood and warriors over a few years, decades or even generations...This was, and is, meant as a peace offering. We don't know what will happen with him once we get to the village. But he either is given a task that if he manages to complete is rewarded with freedom for his wife, or both could be sentenced to death...'.
'Thus, his death is a sure thing.', he replied, whilst looking amidst the zerrikanians making preparations for the final part of their journey, his eyes settled upon the mercenary. 'Executed...Like hanging or decapitation ?'.
'It is. For his most favorable outcome at the moment, is his wife's freedom.', she replied to Gerd previous statement, watching as the soft breeze swayed and rustled the branches of the trees across the gorge. Then proceeded to do the same to his recent inquiry. 'Aside those two, he could also be...Burned alive, beaten to death, forced to fight to death against a chosen champion or beast. Skinned alive. Imprisoned for months in a pitch dark cave, until either starvation or thirst gets him, or until he asks to be executed. Or just thrown off this very bridge with his legs and hands tied...He won't even survive the fall.'.
'Plenty of ways he could be killed. I'd prefer one in which I can get his head...', Gerd smirked, watching as Galodo was being taken to his cage by Maa and two other zerrikanians. He had his hands tied, wore no boots, and was dressed in his ragged beige shirt, with a slight smear of blood on his right sleeve, and near his right shoulder. His eyes met Gerd's rather quickly, yet their stare lasted but a few moments as Maa pushed the mercenary ahead.
Tara chuckled. 'I guess we'll see. You should go prepare your horse, it seems we'll leave soon.'.
'Right...', the witcher replied, heading towards the trees near which he left his horse, watching as the zerrikanian women, locked the door of Galodo's cage.
Gerd did as Tara advised, and prepared his steed for the ride towards the village, where he'd find out what will come of Galodo's life. Obviously, he'd prefer him to be executed right away. But, as it wasn't his decision, he could only wait and hope to be something that would fall in his favor.
Less than an hour later, the zerrikanians had formed a row behind Veya's horse, ready to cross the gorge, and eager to reach the other side, from where were but a few more miles to their homes in the village of tribe Thyr.
Veya walked near her mare, looked at the men a women behind her, then jumped in the saddle. 'Saddle up ! Our home and your families, are just beyond those hills. We've completed the task. Now, we regain our honor. For after we cross those hills...We are home !', she spoke in the Zerrkanian tongue, which to Gerd sounded as an off-shot elven dialect.
As head of the Thyr Tribe, Veya led the zerrikanian caravan across the bridge, then as she reached the other side she let out a roar and charged at gallop speed ahead, all the while being mirrored by those that followed behind her.
Yolwelkairr, the elven city that has acquired the nickname, City of The Golden Dragon. Constructed and ruled by an Elder Race, allowed the city to last millennia. Ruled by a council, occupied entirely by elves. That unlike their kind west, allowed entry to both humans and non-humans.
It is a shame, for the foreigners that come to these lands, rarely want to return west. A reason out of many other, why there are no mentions of this ancient Elven City. Another, is due to it's location. Built in the Fhuil Mountains, with the sole intention of it being hidden.
Zerrikanians, are described west as barbaric, disorganized and grouped in tribes. Thus, there are very few mentions of the cities that lay here, such as Yolwelkairr. Which for someone traveling east with no zerrikanians along them, cannot possibly find their way to it, or live long enough to reach it. Those that do usually know the infrequent merchant routes, which don't lack the dangers that could lead even the most experienced to death...
Outside Yolwelkairr and at the feet of the Fhuil Mountains, the rest of Zerrikania is separated into territories that belong to a rather large number of tribes. Not much different from the noble houses found west of the Blue Mountains, which, fortunately, lack the political influences found west. As Zerrikania is indeed a free, wild, untamed land, yet the people here aren't anywhere near the image western scholars and professors like to paint. Claiming that these people are barbarians, degenerates for there is nothing to differentiate them from common beasts, is a rather very concerning statement. Not for the zerrikanians, but for the men and women that live west of here. For all claim and state to want and desire freedom, yet, are surprised of what true freedom really is...
True, beasts live by no laws and rules, no lords or monarchs...Only by the will of nature. Yet, here, among what my colleagues west, so vehemently appoint as beasts, there is an equilibrium, that I cannot say one could find anywhere west. It is untrue to say they don't have laws, for I would be so bold to say that their laws are far more efficient than ours, or rather the way they impose those laws. Their justice system truly does not care of who you are, what 'respectable house' you were born in or whether you have a coin to your name, nor does it care in which gods you believe in. It is a sword that no title can stop. True justice. Given, by what my colleagues west would degree as 'Utter nonsense.', and out of spite, would proceed to ask, 'What would a bunch of cripples, high on mushrooms and goat feces know about laws and true justice ?'. Alike, in some regards to the witchers we have west, yet, lacking the mutations and sorcery, these people are similar in many ways to monks, though their faith is not in the divine but the perseverance of knowledge. Born with sickness of various natures, abandoned or orphaned. Once again similar to witchers, these men, and women, are taken in at an early age, no older than 10. They are, If possible, treated, sometimes healed, then their lives be it short or long are spent learning. Their new lives begin and end in a castle, or fortress, in the far north, said to be a place amidst a mountainous formation found there. The zerrikanians and the elves here call them, Elders, or in Elder Speech, Hen or Hŷn.
The Elders, decide which side or sides are at fault, and their decision is fair. For their lives are spent away from our world. Unencumbered, their minds are sharpened and molded for such matters. Their wisdom has been rarely needed in the last century, yet their importance to this land has remained crucial.
Thus, my colleagues are simply fueled by ignorance, lack of perspective, and have a blind faith in a system that often serves anything but the people...
...
The tribes are led by women, great warriors, that since the moment they are born, live and die by the rules of their tribes. From these tribes emerge the ones bearing the titles of Free Warriors.
These tribes roam an untamed land of both beasts and monsters. Which represents the Eternal Struggle for Balance, of forces that press upon each other, self-regulating themselves, based on their needs.
The Thyr tribe, roam the lands near the Fhuil mountains and harbor among them the predecessors of Laleh of Thyr. The famed clan leader who united the tribes against the Haklanders many generations ago. After her victory, the tribes returned to their homelands and continued to communicate among themselves until her death.
Walt von Svarnst's Journal - Zerrikanian Spirit.
The road to the village was quite short, or it seemed that way, due to the faster pace they had after crossing the bridge over the Naa'l. However the road towards the village further displayed the magnificence of the Fhuil Mountains. As after they climbed the first hill, the road traversed a valley filled with the thickest patch of woods one could stumble through, as vast and as teemed with life as the Woods of Brokilon. Then as they climbed once again, the trees turned gradually to shrubbery and thickets, wild cherry trees, pin trees, and high grass, followed by rocks and abrupt slopes then a path through a mountain pass, where the ridges arose alike columns, blocking the silhouette of the sun, now slowly sliding west, toward noon.
Gerd was riding in the middle section of the group, a mere two wagons behind Galodo's. When from beyond the side of a hill covered in small trees and high grass, the home of the zerrikanians appeared in sight, as from behind, Tara approached. 'Here...', she said, handing Gerd a handful of cracked hazelnuts. 'Biua gave me a bag full of them...', she continued, presenting the aforementioned bag of nuts that was dangling near her hip.
The group slowed down, then stopped before entering the homestead of tribe Thyr. Which was the size of a small town one would see west, surrounded by a wall made of carved stones, dug out of the hill north of the town. From outside, only the roofs made of reed or straw could be seen, and beneath the ridge from where the rock used for the wall was obtained, stood a taller building, made from what seemed to be clay.
'What are we stopping for ?', asked Tara, seeing the riders and wagons ahead come to a halt, as Bált, who was among the first riders to follow close behind Veya while crossing the bridge. He awaited by the side of the road for the middle side of the group to catch up, mostly to inform the others about the earliest developments. Thus, after he joined the rest of the caravan, he slowed his pace, and was now riding alongside Tara.
'It seems we arrived at the same time the rest of the Norhians did.', Bált answered, as the rest of the group stopped.
'And The Elders ?', she asked trying to see what was happening ahead.
'They arrived yesterday...'.
'Veya ?'.
'She rode ahead with Maa and Biua, then both accompanied by Arva and one of her warriors, have entered the city at the request of The Elders.'.
'Did the Walahians arrive as well ?'.
'I heard no mention of them...'.
As the head of the group advanced through the gates, three Norhian riders approached the wagon transporting Galodo from the right side of the group.
'Come on...', Tara said observing the three Norhian riders approach, recognizing one of them. 'She might do something stupid...', she continued, then turned to Gerd. 'Take the left side.', she said shaking the reins and hurried toward the wagon, followed by Bált, and Gerd who advanced on the left side of the group.
Nerva, an archer of the Norhian tribe, arrived first at Galodo's wagon, quickly getting off her mare's saddle, leaving the others behind. . 'Sibh-', she said to one of the men standing near the wagon. 'Téigh !'. The man did as she ordered without any questions and took a couple steps from the wagon to her left side, while the Norhian riders arrived as well, one stopped in front of the wagon near the driver, and the other dismounted at the back.
Due to the digger's attack, Galodo's wagon has been reduced mostly to an iron cage covered with a yellow blanket that was tied around the base sides of the bars, which offered him some shade during the day. It was placed on the backside of the wagon, followed by the bench on which the driver sat, separated by a chest and a couple of planks.
He sat down, with his legs crossed and his back against the back side of the cage, looking at the rays of light protruding through the canvas roof, when Nerva slid her hand over the bars. Her dark hair, was cut short, with a lock of hair falling down her cheekbones, and her heart shaped jaw. A necklace was dangling by her neck, made of braided animal hair, decorated with silver parts shaped alike teeth. Below, an olive nuanced cloth, covered her chest across which traversed the rope from her bow and the straps of her quiver. While lower she wore a black leather belt, from which hanged a knife, then a tulip-skirt of the same color, and sandals.
'Ceádmil, mús...', she began, as Galodo's eyes sluggishly fell upon her figure. 'Sibh- mire aen te treise ess céad, mús.', she continued mockingly, as her thin lips expressed an unpleasant smirk.
The mercenary replied with a subtle click of his tongue, then looking away, he whispered through his teeth. 'Varh'he...'.
In a blink of Galodo's eyes, Nerva reached through the bars and grabbed him by his ragged shirt and pulled him towards her. Then as soon as his face hit the bars, she grabbed the back of his neck, quite forcefully holding his mug against the bars.
At the same time, Tara, Gerd and Bált reached the wagon. 'Voe'rle Nerva !', Tara said, rushing to reach her. 'Nerva !', she called again, placing her right hand on Nerva's shoulder, slightly raising her voice. The Norhian warrior turned her head, looking at Tara and Bált.
'Neén !', Narva replied, taking her right hand from Galodo's neck to remove Tara's hand from her shoulder, while quickly grabbing him again with her left one. 'Aé cáemm aep mire. Aé miann aep mire aen sùi'lean. Aep mire an marw dh'oine.'.
Tara took a couple of steps away from her. 'Va fáill.', she continued, keen on avoiding a quarrel with her or the others. Insisting that Nerva and her riders have to leave, at once.
'Yeá...', Nerva replied, letting go of the grasp she had on Galodo's neck, looking at Gerd and Bált. 'Va fáill.'.
The Norhians returned to their horses and rode back to their camp, situated on the southeastern side of the town.
'I wasn't in need of your help.', Galodo said, as Tara approached his cage.
'Good, because you won't get any next time.', she replied, then left and mounted her steed and advanced towards the front side of the wagon.
The wagon proceeded toward the gate of the town, as Galodo resumed his staring at the light piercing through the canvas laid on top of the cage. Biua, who rode ahead to enter the town with Veya and the head of the Norhian tribe, Arva. Was awaiting by the gate to oversee the rest of her people enter the town, especially, she was awaiting for both Galodo and his wife's wagon, and to have a talk with Tara and Bált, who were behind Galodo's wagon, closely followed by Gerd.
She quickly jumped in the saddle, behind Tara. 'Quicken the pace a smidge.', Biua said with a low voice, as Tara passed the wagon. 'They decided to bring him in front of the Elders, today.', she continued with the same tone, after they passed by a few of the wagons ahead.
'Explains why Nerva was so anxious.'.
'Huh ?'.
'She came to see him earlier...'.
'Well...The Norhians are quite sure he's going to die today.', Biua replied, taking the water flask Tara had in the right pocket of her saddle and drank. 'I heard that as soon as they arrived, Nerva and Arva requested a meeting with The Elders, where they proposed that the proceedings of the trial have to be hastened. It seems that The Elders approved...'.
'They cannot request such a meeting, without all the Tribe leaders.'.
'Apparently, they invoked 'Special Conditions' be applied to this trial as well.'.
'What special conditions ?'.
'I do not know...'.
Tara puffed. 'I guess we'll find out soon enough.'.
'Witcher !', Biua called, turning. 'From what I heard, you might get his head today.'.
'I might ?'.
'Probably...'.
'What about those special conditions you mentioned. Won't they interfere with it ?'.
Biua smiled. 'Your kind's hearing is impressive. They could, yes.'.
'Then I might not have his head in a bag today as well.', Gerd replied, now riding alongside them.
'We'll see...Make haste.', Biua said, slapping Tara's thigh, as they quickened their pace towards the northern side of the town.
Thus Gerd stepped onto the first paved streets he saw since he left toward the pass through the Blue Mountains. The first town he saw since, the first markets, the first community of both humans and non-humans, the first taverns and inns.
'What's it called ?', asked Gerd, looking around.
'What do you mean ?', Biua replied.
'The town.'.
Tara chuckled. 'Aeldúrr.'.
Biua smiled seeing the witcher lay his eyes on a tavern. 'Thirsty ? Don't bother for now. But, once the trial is done, you'll have plenty to drink.', she said, then cupped Tara's left breast. '...And fuck.', she resumed, laughing.
Aeldúrr, was shaped alike a triangle, with its tips pointing toward northwest, southwest and east.
Beyond the southern walls, the town expanded north and east, more than what one could've imagined when first laying eyes on it. Thus, through the southwestern gate, this side of the town was mostly populated by non-humans, most businesses found in this area were of dwarven blacksmiths and elven armorers, tailors and taverns. Most of them owned by elves, half-elves, halflings and dwarves, or even humans. The town was separated in three districts. The south-western district, or Ddŵr District, as a mountain spring separated it from the rest. Besides the residences of the folk living there, it was occupied by businesses and markets. The northern district, Hedyn District, for it is where the seeds of the Thyr tribe were first seated, as it was were the leader of the tribe had her residence. It was the towns oldest side, for the first settlers built their homes in the northern hills and spread east, then south. While to the east, stretching towards the northwestern side of the Naa'l, Gwawr District, or just Eastern District, mostly occupied by the residences of the warriors and town-guards, and stables near the eastern gate, beyond which, in the last five decades, farmers began to build a small settlement and work the lands found there, west of the Naa'l.
Not long, Biua, Tara, Balt and Gerd, have arrived in the Northern district, at the leader's residence. Where the Walahian and Norhian tribes, awaited for their arrival. As the trial of Galodo was to begin shortly.
The trial took place outside, in front of the leader's home. The home itself was made of wood, built on a skeleton of thick wooden beams, and was entirely shaped alike a roof, sitting in a circle paved with cubic stone, from which a seven steps of stairs led down to the front yard. The Elders were to be seated at a table with three chairs, as the tribe leaders stood up, on the left and right side of the table, within the circle. While Galodo was to stand in front of The Elders and the tribe leaders, near the steps.
Thus, after everyone took their positions, The Elders stepped out of the leader's home, and proceeded towards their seats at the table, near which stood on the right, Veya and on the left Arva and to her left, Kayr, the leader of the Walahian tribe. The Elders were represented by two old men and a younger woman. The eldest sat in the middle, and the youngest, which was the woman, to his left, and on the right the second oldest of the three. There was nothing placed on the table and none of the people present at the trial had been allowed to bare weapons, as all of those present were warriors of the tribes.
While Gerd, stood on the second row, behind Bált, Biua, Maa and Tara.
All three of them were dressed in grey cloaks. The two men had their heads shaven, while the woman had her hair cut short.
'Ceádmil.', the eldest began, addressing the leaders and their people present at the trial in Elder Speech. 'Bring forth the accused.', he continued with a raspy voice.
And so Galodo was brought forth, in front of The Elders, to answer for the crimes he was accused off by the Norhian and Walahian tribes.
The woman left of the eldest of the Hŷn, whispered a few words in his ear. She was his assistant, or as most would put it, his eyes. For at such old age, his sight began to dwindle. Therefore, she would tell him what she saw, in the face expressions and body language of the leaders, the accused and of those present.
The eldest, smiled softly. 'Be kind and remove his shackles. He, is to take part in a fair trial, 'till it is concluded, he's still considered a free man. One doesn't need good eyes to be aware of the tension found here. Thus, I understand the strong desire for this man, to face justice, but it must be done in a just fashion. True, he is accused with murder, thievery and fleeing from justice. Yet, of all those three, we all have done murder, be it in defense, out of spite, for gold or as an order. I too, as a young man, have committed murder, and I too, chose to flee. Until one day, when hungry, thirsty and tired, I found myself standing at a crossroad. Where I had to choose, and I chose right. Were I to choose left, I would've died of hunger and thirst. However, as I chose right, that path led me here today. Thus, we all must choose the right path, even if the right path isn't the easiest path. For to come to the realizations of your own actions, isn't and easy process, it is encumbered with denial and selfishness. But in the end, we all have to face the consequences of our actions, in one way or another...'.
After the eldest finished talking, the second oldest, sitting to his right cleared his throat, and stood up. 'Present your evidence against the accused.', then sat back down. While Arva, stepped forward.
She pulled out of a satchel a handful of necklaces, such as the one she wore. 'Those were worn by my warriors.', she said, placing them on the table. 'Warriors I have lost because of him.', she continued, returning to her previous position on the left side of The Elders.
Then, Kayr stepped forward, and one of her warriors handed her a chest armor, an arrow, and a crossbow. 'This is the armor my brother wore. This is the arrow that pierced his chest, and ended his life. And this is a crossbow the accused left behind while fleeing.', then after placing the evidence on the table, she stepped back as well, leaving the Elders to glance over the evidence presented against Galodo.
'Do you acknowledge to have committed the crimes of which you are accused ?', spoke the one on the right. 'And, do you acknowledge that this crossbow was once your property ?'.
After a few moments of silence, Galodo responded. 'No.'.
The eldest chuckled as the woman to his left, whispered in his ear. 'I sense certainty in your words. Yet, I also sense, deceit.', he said, then sighed. 'I understand you have a family, is that right ?'.
'It is.'.
'Then, think of them. I've been informed that your wife is present at this trial.'.
'She is.'.
'Think of her, as well. I understand she was, alike your men, an accomplice to your crimes. Therefore, your wife's trial is connected to this one. Yet, partially, her wellbeing is in the grasp of your hands. The mother of your children...'.
'She took no lives nor did steal valuables. She just followed after me.', Galodo said, prepared to plead for the safety of his wife.
'I understand.', the eldest said, after the woman whispered in his ear.
Then the man sitting to his right cleared his throat. 'Galodo Frock. Do you acknowledge to have committed the crimes of which you are accused of ? And, that this crossbow was once your property ?'.
Galodo looked at The Elders, then attempted to reply. 'I-'.
'I have a question for the accused.', Arva interrupted, making a couple of steps toward him.
'Approved, ask away...', replied the eldest.
Therefore, Arva, cleared her throat and proceeded to ask her question. 'In the night of your carriage robbery...', she began, viciously staring Galodo down. 'On the road to Walachia, south of the village of Jeva. Once my warriors had been killed, the drivers neck slashed, and the horses cut loose. What did you do, when you realized that it didn't transport even a pinch of gold ?'.
Galodo didn't reply, nor did he look at Arva. He just stared at a crack in the stairs leading to the place she, The Elders and the other tribe leaders stood.
'Did you kill the passengers ?', she asked, stopping near the stairs. 'Or were they dead when you looked insi-'.
'I didn't kill the child !', he responded. quickly approaching the stairs. 'The child escaped in the woods with a woman...'.
'You are lying- If he and the-'.
'Why would I lie about killing a child !?', Galodo replied, shaken by her inquiry.
'There were no tracks leading off the road into the woods. If you-'.
'I did not ! Nor did my men as I told them to not give chase. We watched them escape into the woods-', Galodo interrupted her, before being cut off himself.
'Enough !', the one on the right said, then placed his right hand on the eldest's left shoulder.
'He didn't kill the child, Arva. And we believe him.', the eldest continued after a few moments.
'He is-', Arva spoke before being stopped by the one sitting to the eldest's right.
'Silence.'.
'He speaks no falsehood. We heard in his voice and seen in his gestures and movements, that he regrets this deed. He did not kill the child. But he did murder the others. Your warriors...And your brother. Therefore, based on witnesses that validate that this crossbow was indeed, the accused's property. As well as the statements given by his men, captured while fleeing, regarding the planning of the crimes, and the unfolding of his plan. The accused is found guilty, of murder, attempted thievery, and fleeing from justice, and is sentenced, to death.', the eldest spoke.
From among those present, the sighs and cries of a woman cut through the silence. She was quickly picked from the ground and taken away by two men.
'However...', the eldest resumed, while Galodo's eyes were still clinched, at the sound of his wife's cries. 'Due to the 'Special Conditions' of this trial. We feel obliged, to request that the accused has to find the child. And return him to his home, north, in the city of Apoka, where after his return, his death sentence will be executed.'.
He quickly opened his eyes and was quite astonished by the request. 'How am I supposed to find a boy that disappeared years ago ?! I'm no tracker-', Galodo replied, clueless of how could he locate the child.
'True, you are not. But, among us there is an individual that is. Hailed from the western lands, beyond the Blue Mountains. A trained tracker and monster-slayer, a witcher.', spoke the eldest.
Gerd sitting behind Tara, Maa, Biua and Bált, made sense of a few of the words The Elder spoke. However he did understand the mention of his trade, and the western lands.
The one on the right, addressed Veya, then looked to the left side of the crowd. 'Witcher. Step forth.', he said in the common tongue.
So, Gerd stepped forth from among the crowd, advancing towards the stairs.
'Ceádmil, vatt'ghern.', the second oldest of the three replied in Elder Speech. 'We are honored to meet you, witcher.', he began, in the common tongue.
'Most of us, only read in books about your kind, and very few got to see one in person. Your kind is a rather, rare sight in those parts...', the eldest chuckled. 'Do I understand right ? That, you are uneducated in Elder Speech ?'.
'Not entirely. I understand some of it... And I understood that you want me to help him find the child.'.
The eldest softly smiled. 'I'm glad you put your youth's Elder Speech lessons to use.'.
'Indeed, we desire you to aid us, in finding the child. As we know the phrase, 'No witcher has ever worked for free.', we intend to properly respect your trade.'.
'Also, we understand you have a contract on this man's head. We, need to ensure that he'll complete this task. And if he diverts from his mission or attempts to flee once more, you are to stop him no matter the cost.', the eldest continued.
'Therefore...', began the one on the right. 'Would you accept this contract ?'.
Gerd looked at the Elders, the tribe leaders and then at Galodo. 'I do.', he finally replied.
The elder on the right, bowed his head in gratitude, then sat down, while the eldest raised from his chair. 'Now, the other matter at hand. Regarding the wife's involvement in the crimes committed by the husband. We have decided that she mustn't be punished for the crimes he and his men committed. As in our eyes, she stood by her husband, as any loving wife would do. And we cannot punish someone, for love. Therefore she's been found not guilty. Thus, she's free to return west.', the Elder spoke in Elder Speech, then the other two raised from their chairs and stepped away from the table. 'This trial has been concluded.', he continued, leaving the table. 'Va fáill.'.
As the men and women left the front yard of the leader's residence, The Elders proceeded towards Gerd, near which was Tara and Maa.
'Vatt'ghern.', said the eldest approaching. 'We, and the leaders would like to discuss details of your contract inside. Would you be so kind, to join us ?'.
While Gerd joined The Elders, Arva and Kayrr inside Veya's home, Biua and Nerva escorted Galodo inside. They all sat at a table in the main chamber, while Maa, and Nerva along with the Walahian warriors, stood up, behind their respective tribe leader. As Gerd and Galodo, stood up, near the door, at the end of the table...