The Witcher: Black and White
Battle of the Pontar
Marvo and Yen stepped back through the portal into Kelama, a look of anger on Marvo's face while a look of equal confusion adorned Yen's. Marvo moved swiftly back to the inn while Yen struggled to keep up with the Witcher's movements.
"Marvo, what did you mean? You think Witchers killed them?" Yen asked as they reached the inn.
Marvo turned back to her coldly. "I do not know, but I intend to find out."
Marvo opened the door to the inn which was bustling with patrons and a gaggle of strumpets Dandelion had hired some time ago, they had offered their services to the tall, broad, and relatively handsome Witcher but he had turned them down each and every time. Zoltan appeared from the crowd of people with an uneasy look on his long face.
"Marvo, we got a wee bit of a problem." Zoltan said. "Follow me upstairs."
Marvo glanced at Yen who shrugged. Marvo followed the dwarf to an upstairs room which was smaller than the one in the Rosemary and Thyme but it'd have to do. Triss and Ciri were already waiting for them. They too didn't look to happy.
"So." Marvo said. "What's the problem?"
Triss sighed. "The Knights of Roshytta have gathered a substantial force a mile from the town. Led by a man called Longhill."
Zoltan stepped up. "Longhill was the one who attacked us at the Rosemary and Thyme."
Yen crossed her arms. "Might be a form of payback."
Marvo nodded. "We are grossly outnumbered."
"You were grossly outnumbered in Kaer Morhen." Ciri said with a smile.
Marvo raised a bushy brown eyebrow. "We had seven Witchers. Here, we only have one."
"And two sorceresses, a dwarf, an Elder Blood, and a bard." Triss said.
Marvo scoffed. "Not exactly the Army of Nilfgaard."
"We have no choice. We need to face Longhill before they reach Kelama. There's no telling what he'll do if we fail." Yen said.
Marvo sighed. "Let's get to work."
/
Sir Silas Longhill sat on his armored black stallion at the back of his force of well armored foot soldiers. In the distance, over a small ridge, he spied the fishing town. His strategic mind told him this would be an easy victory. A Redanian scout crested the ridge as he rode swiftly towards the line.
The scout reached the point on the hill where Longhill sat. "What is it?"
The scout grinned. "Five riders comin' our way, sir."
Longhill gave the scout suspension of disbelief. The nonhuman bastards were foolish if they believed five could beat one hundred. Sure enough, five riders came over the same hill the scout came over. They were lined up in a single file line. Cloaks and hoods draped over their shoulders and heads. The twin swords gave the Witcher away.
Longhill shouted to his men. "Form up! Shield wall!"
The men did as they were commanded. The first line raised their long shields and the second line of infantry pointed spears over their shoulders. Lines three and four drew broadswords and axes. Longhill and his group of light cavalry readied lances. It was a formidable force, indeed.
/
On Marvo's end, he gave his horse a wave of his hand. The creature's fear went away almost immediately. He'd need it fearless for his undeniably stupid plan. He watched as Longhill's force got ready in a shield wall formation, it wouldn't protect them.
Marvo didn't draw his sword but he still took off running towards the enemy line. He kicked at his horse's' haunches, urging the creature to run faster and it did. The distance quickly closed in between him and the wall and when he was mere meters from them, the horse leapt high into the air, over the shield wall and into the thick of panicking men.
Marvo took his feet out of the stirrups and stood up on his saddle. His acute sense of balance keeping him firmly anchored to the horse as it ran through the soldiers. From both hands, he casted endless streams of Igni, burning the soldiers alive as they gave the horse a wider and wider berth. Soon, the duo reached the group of light cavalry. Moments before the horse reached the points of their lances, Marvo leapt off his horse, unsheathed both swords at once and began cutting away at anyone close to him.
The cavalry's horses panicked and screamed in fear. They disobeyed their rider's commands and began to flee, prompting the knights to dismount and join the melee with the Witcher. By the time Ciri had joined the fight and great balls of fire came raining down upon the Roshytta soldiers several of them had already fallen, burnt to death or cut down by the dual-wielding Witcher.
Longhill's horse bucked him off and he fell to the rocky ground with a painful thud. Through the narrow slit of his helmet, he saw the Witcher standing over him. Longhill cursed and scrambled as fast as he could to his feet. The Witcher and the Scorched Knight stood staring at each other for half a second before engaging in one on one combat.
The two men clashed swords several times. At some point in the battle, Marvo had lost his steel sword and was limited to his silver, his cloak was shredded and stained with blood. Longhill's armor was splattered with blood and mud and the backside was covered in dents, making his mobility lack.
The two combatants forced each other to the side of the hill as the remainder of Longhill's forces retreated away from the fight, leaving the Scorched Knight to fend for himself. As the melee between the two reached a step incline which stretched all the way down into the Pontar, the heavily armored Longhill quickly lost his footing and tumbled down to the banks.
Marvo took off down the incline after him, his bloody sword in one hand. He reached the downed knight, who was lying on his back. The sounds of battle had quieted down as it became clear Longhill and the Knights had failed once again.
Marvo knelt beside Longhill, bloodied and beaten. His helmet had came loose during the fall and exposed his burned face. The dark cloudy eyes among the scars stared up at the Witcher menacingly.
"What are you waiting for, freak? Kill me." he said wearily.
Marvo stared back at the knight. "You could have retreated, why didn't you?"
Silas Longhill spat blood. "I wanted the chance to kill you, but it seems the gods wouldn't let me. Now, don't be a milksop, fucking end it!" he screamed.
Marvo sheathed his sword and placed a hand on Longhill's breastplate. "What are you doing?" he asked.
Marvo pushed down on his body, forcing the knight down into the murky depths of the Pontar. In moments, Longhill began to thrash in the water, trying to escape. Then he was still. Marvo let go of the knight and let the armor carry his corpse down to the river bottom.