Chapter 17: Kaer Morhen
Kaer Morhen was built up the side of a mountain. It was a large fortress, build high of stone which overlook the valleys and forests below. They were up so high that the clouds touched the walls, casting a light mist over the towers in the warm morning sunlight. Tall mountains rose high behind the castle, blocking out the horizon by their vast height. Snow layered everything in a blanket of white, adding to the beautiful scenery.
Jaskier whistled. "This is where you learned your Witchering?" he gawked, as they stood on the entry way bridge facing the large entry doors. Ciri's stomach was still churning from the portal entrance, but she took deep breaths trying to ease the tenseness. "Looks more like a vacation home to me."
Geralt rolled his eyes as he ignored the bard's words, leading their small party forwards towards the castle doors, where an old man stood waiting for them.
The man was very tall, almost the same height as Geralt, and had white hair which dusted his shoulders, though the receding hairline was obvious. His nose was rather large, sitting on top of bushy grey moustache and stubbly beard. Amber eyes looked at them with interest, and his Witcher emblem hung proudly on his chest. This was surely Vesemir. He was dressed in long black robes, which brushed the ground as he walked forward and placed a hand on Geralt's shoulder.
"It's good to see you Geralt," Vesemir proclaimed in a gravelly voice, hinting at his old age. "I see you have indeed found the Child of Surprise. She is a beauty."
Ciri blushed darkly, looking away from the man's penetrating gaze as he analyzed her. "She has great magic," the old Witcher continued. "Far greater than even that of the Mage behind you."
"Really?" Yennefer asked with open curiosity. She did not sound upset about that, but rather… almost eager. Her purple eyes darted to Ciri. "That's remarkable."
Jaskier patted Ciri on the back. "Look at you princess," he chuckled. "Gonna be stronger than even the crazy Mage one day. Perhaps you can take Geralt on for me and teach him some manners."
Ciri cringed at the idea, still nursing the dark purple bruising from all their sparring lessons. She knew she had powerful magic, but the idea that she could take on either Yen or Geralt seemed more farfetched than her sprouting wings and flying.
"Had to bring the Bard, eh?" Vesemir grinned, his eyes dancing over Jaskier's shocked expression to look at the baby in Yennefer's arms. "Oh? Who is this lad? Is he yours?" His question was directed to the Mage.
"He's as good as," Yennefer stated, as she looked down at Bran with love in her eyes. "Cirilla saved him, and I am his new caregiver. We have called him Bran."
"A strong name, for a child with great potential," Vesemir said cryptically. "Come, let's get you settled and then we shall show our guests around."
They followed Vesemir to the castle doors, which he thrust open wide with magic. The large doors creaked and groaned but still flew open so they could enter the mighty fortress. The place was less grand than Yennefers', and far older. The walls, made of old stone, showed its years in the cracks and dust layered in the seams. Emblems of the Witchers hung hanging from the walls, on banners and on rugs, clearly showing the pride in the mutant-race. Torches blazed with a blue flame, lighting the halls and grand entryway up in a cerulean glow.
Maps of their world and others beyond hung on the walls, with shelves of books and trinkets and preserved body parts of dead monsters. Weapons of all types hung on the walls; swords and shields, bows and arrows, axes and hammers, and whips of chain. Then there were paintings, all of Witchers lining the walls. They seemed to be of old teachers and founders.
They went up a flight of stone stairs and down a long dimly lit hallway. "The bedrooms for you are here. There are four, so one for each. The babe I assume will rest with you?" Vesemir turned to Yennefer.
She nodded. "Yes, thank you."
Yennefer went into the room closest them on the right, while Jaskier disappeared into the one across from hers. Ciri moved to take the room next to Yen's but realized that Geralt might continue to frequent the mage's bedchambers here and decided to claim the room beside Jaskier. That way she might not hear what they were doing. She could hear Geralt speaking quietly with Vesemir as she entered her room.
The room was modest, smaller than the one she had at Yennefer's castle, but still beautiful. There was a comfortable looking bed sitting under a large window, and a fireplace over in the corner with a bookshelf off to the side. There was no bath, but that was a luxury she never even had in Cintra. Cintra's baths were in a specific wing of the castle, as she assumed, they were here in Kaer Morhen. A wardrobe stood by the door, and she began unpacking her back and placing her belongings inside.
A knock sounded on her door once she finished unpacking, startling her slightly. It was Geralt. "Vesemir is here to show you around the castle," he rumbled. Ciri blushed lightly under his stare and moved to follow him out to the hall where everyone was waiting. Yennefer even had Bran, who was awake and watching everybody with interest.
They followed Vesemir through the castle, listening to him tell his tales of how the fortress was formed and how the Witcher's first came to be. The stories of intense training and introducing mutagens into young kids made Ciri queasy and clearly Jaskier as well, who looked rather upset by the whole ordeal. Countless kids had died here, unable to withstand the trials. "This sounds like a torture chamber rather than a school," the bard commented sourly.
"It was in some ways," Vesemir replied, though he didn't sound upset with that idea. Ciri got a strange vibe from the man, but still felt that he had no ill intentions. "Witchers are very important in keeping the monster races at bay, and unfortunately the only way to create them was with the trials. Very few had what it took to become one. I am sure Geralt here still remembers his days completing the trials and undergoing all the vigorous training."
"I shall never forget," Geralt replied, his expression almost pained for a moment, before returning to his normal somber look.
"You do not expect Ciri to undergo these trials, do you?" Yennefer snapped, looking between the two men with almost anger.
"Of course not," Geralt snapped.
"The Witcher trials are no more," said Vesemir sadly. "No woman has ever become a Witcher. None survived the trials. Even if she could survive, the teachers who knew how to mutate the kids are long dead. There is no one left alive who knows how to create Witchers. I simply teach combat and magic."
"Thank the Gods for that," Jaskier cringed, looking at Ciri with relief and pity.
Ciri did not fell comforted, as she knew her training here was going to be intense. A part of her wanted to refuse the training, to not participate, but she knew that giving up would mean her death if Nilfgaard ever found her. She kept quiet as they continued on, being shown the dining hall, kitchens, servants' area, library, training rooms, and various other locations within Kaer Morhen. The place was old, and smelled of stale old leather, but Ciri guessed it would have to do for now. It was safe, and warm and she got to remain with her companions. That was all she required.
When they went back to their rooms after the long walk, Yennefer gently grabbed Ciri's arm to stop her from going to her room. "Why don't we go down to the baths and clean up before dinner?" Yennefer asked.
"Ok," Ciri nodded. Yennefer passed Bran off to Jaskier to watch, before they headed down the halls to the baths, which was actually an underground hot spring in the belly of the castle.
The steam rose from the large pools, the scent of herbs and spices in the water beckoning them to get in. The large pool took up almost the whole cavern floor, and Ciri admired that this was a natural phenomenon that lay beneath the fortress. It was probably why the castle floor felt so warm, unlike traditional cold stone. Turning away from each other, they stripped and stepped into the hot water, which was deep enough that Ciri couldn't go to the middle, or else the water would be over her head.
Yennefer grinned as the water kissed her chin. "This is so nice… this is what I need back in my castle," the mage mused as she leaned her head back to get her hair wet.
Ciri agreed that the hot spring was a nice touch, as she dunked her head under the water for a moment before resurfacing. The water was almost green from the different herbs and magic placed upon the pool. It felt so refreshing and Ciri felt like even her soul was being cleansed as she relaxed in the hot water.
"What do you think of Vesemir?" Ciri asked quietly.
Yennefer sighed. "He has good intentions. Misguided ones in the past it seems, but I do not believe he is a danger to any of us. Geralt has high regard for him, despite knowing that Vesemir was involved in the making of Witchers, and the demise of so many human children. The old man thought he was doing what was right, and still seems to think that way."
Nodding, Ciri looked down at the water. "I am scared for my training."
"You have no reason to be," Yennefer smiled gently. "Geralt would never see you in danger. A few bruises perhaps and some exhaustion, but you will come through it unharmed and stronger than ever. I truly believe that."
"Thanks Yen," Ciri said, feeling somewhat reassured, though not completely. They washed themselves, talking about simpler things, like Bran and Jaskier's latest song, trying to keep the young girl's mind off what tomorrow's training would bring.