Chapter 6

Old Debts

Hirad nudged Thaler. 'You're just letting her go?' Thaler blinked at the warrior.

'Why wouldn't I? This is no place for her.' Hirad shrugged. 'Are you worried about Will? That he still needs her?'

'No.' He smiled. 'If she says so, I assume Will's fine. I'm slightly worried the cold here's going to threaten Ilkar. Where he comes from, it's very warm. If it gets any colder … You wouldn't know if there are elven survivors from Balaia, would you?'

Thaler raised his eyebrows. 'No idea. I'm not from Kovir, and most of your people live here.' Thaler leaned forwards. 'Let me ask you a question. What sort of people are you? A higgledy-piggledy group, all men except for one woman. Two elves. All completely different personalities but very close. What's your story?'

Hirad grinned. 'A long one. The short version is, we're mercenaries.'

Thaler nodded. 'Figures. What sort of jobs do you take?'

Hirad leaned back in his chair. 'Everything that requires a sword for hire, but we're not contract killers. That's the one exception.' He shrugged. 'We've done other things as well, though not always by choice. We've recovered things and people. Protected children and mages. Fought demons and worse. Opened a gate for our people and made sure they could travel … well, here.'

At this last sentence, Thaler's mouth fell open. 'Hang on. Are you saying you're the legendary mercenaries who brought the Balaians?'

Hirad smiled smugly. 'Indeed. We had help, though.'

Thaler fought the urge to start pacing, remaining firmly on his seat. His eyes bored into Hirad's. 'I've heard that a group of mercenaries were responsible for the flight from Balaia, but they died in the process.'

'And spent all the time between Balaia and … what do you call it? Kovir.'

Thaler massaged the bridge of his nose. 'I've heard about things coming from different worlds. I've heard about people coming back from the dead, plough it all, I even met someone who has allegedly died and come alive again. Why shouldn't both be possible? I'm sure Geralt would have some explanation.'

'Geralt?'

Thaler shook his head. 'A friend. I'd currently seriously consider sacrificing my right hand for his help.' He blinked, coming out of his reverie. 'I don't care if you've been chewed, eaten, and shat by a Kikimore. I need … I'll need protection, I'll need swords, but brainless muscle won't do. I need someone brilliant and experienced.'

Hirad folded his arms. He looked Thaler up and down. 'No.'

Thaler's eyebrows shot up. 'What do you mean, no?'

Hirad leaned forwards and glared at him. 'I mean that you are hiding something. Sirendor died in my arms because Denser thought we didn't have to know the full score. So, no, this isn't going to happen.' He rose to his feet. 'I'll leave you two to say goodbye now. Don't get this wrong, Thaler, I'll be eternally grateful to Shani for her aid, and to you because without your help Will would have refused it. But we're not taking risks like that.'

Thaler watched him go, then looked at Shani. She had wrapped herself into her cloak, a bundle at her feet. 'Can you believe him?' Thaler asked.

Shani smiled. 'I don't know, since I didn't understand a word.'

He shrugged. 'They're mercenaries. You'd think they'd say yes if you tell them you need them. But no, not him.'

Shani frowned. 'What do you need a mercenary for?'

Thaler shrugged. 'Old habits die hard. Investigation into an old crime. Personal matter, really. And it's still happening.'

Shani shrugged out of her cloak and sat down next to him. 'Sounds like a longer story.'

He sighed. 'Indeed. But if you have to be on your way …'

The medic folded her hands and rested her chin on them. 'That can wait a little bit longer.'

Ϡ

It was evening by the time Thaler and Shani made their appearance at the table the Raven occupied every evening. 'My name,' Thaler began, 'is Bernard Dukat, but no-one ever calls me that. I am … I was the head of Temerian intelligence. That service ended, apparently, when my king was assassinated. I was attacked, and Shani here saved my life. That's why we both had to run. Kovir is independent, so I should be safe here. Shani will be safe anywhere but Vizima, I should think. Happy now?'

They all looked confused, except Hirad. 'More than before,' he answered. All eyes were on him. 'Oh, he asked if he could hire us. I said no.'

The Unknown looked sceptical. 'Can he even pay?'

Thaler's mouth curled into a crooked grin. 'He can teach you the language. And he will keep doing so. I suggest a trade of goods rather than coin.' His eyes narrowed. 'Not everywhere in Kovir is Stonewash. You'll need some knowledge of the language.' He looked at Shani and spoke in their own language. 'Sorry, I know this is awkward.'

She shook her head. 'No problem. Can I ask you something, Thaler?'

He shrugged. 'Any time.'

'I wonder … what you're planning sounds rather dangerous.'

He raised his arms in defiance. 'Of course it will be dangerous. Chasing murderers usually is.'

'Someone's going to get hurt. And will need healing. And the mages from Balaia are useless here.'

Thaler made a step closer to her, invading her personal space. He realised that, but he also noticed she didn't retreat. 'Are you saying what I think you're saying?' She merely smiled. 'You'll stay out of trouble. I won't let you get hurt. And I … Shani, you wanted to go to Oxenfurt.'

'That isn't going anywhere.'

A slightly sceptical expression stole onto Thaler's face. 'Why the hell would you do this? If I manage to lay my hands on the killer, he's dead, and you will not stop me.' He found something in her eyes that looked a lot like pity.

'These people, and I'm sure it's more than one, have to be brought to justice. But you're very likely to harm yourself on the way. I want to stop that from happening.'

'And why would you care?'

Shani sighed. 'I just … It's what I do, Thaler. I care.'

Thaler offered her a rare smile. 'Well, in that case, thank you.' He addressed the Raven again. 'And we have the help of a medic. For free, if I know her at all.'

'Isn't she leaving?' Will asked.

Thaler looked at her again, at the determination on her face. 'Apparently not.'

The Unknown looked him up and down. 'My problem with the situation is that we need coin to pay for food. But we cannot get coin if we take your job. We cannot earn any without the language. You see the dilemma?'

'I see it, and we're facing the same problem. I left all my belongings behind, including a considerable amount of money. The way it seems, we'll have to earn money as well.'

'And how do you suggest we do that?'

Thaler grinned. 'Well, there are a few professions that never lack work. Sadly, none of us are ideal monster slayers. That would be a mage or a witcher.' He folded his arms. 'There are other people, humans, ordinary as they come, who slay monsters, too. Now I don't have any experience with that sort of thing, but you seem to. If you want hard currency, you can certainly help me get my property back. You succeed in this, I'll pay you very well and make up for any previous trouble.'

'How well exactly?' Hirad asked.

Thaler huffed. 'Seeing how you have no clue how much the Temerian Oren is worth, an answer wouldn't help you overly much. I was thinking something along the lines of 10000 for the recovery alone. We can discuss if that is acceptable when you have some knowledge about the economy.'

Ϡ

They had retreated to a separate room in the inn, where they were served food and wine while being undisturbed by the people outside. Shani was there with them, although Hirad had no idea why. She didn't understand a word. Still, she sat there, listening closely, always looking watchful. The only explanation he had was that she didn't trust Thaler to keep this conversation civil and wanted to be there to intervene if she had to.

'So,' Thaler said at last, when chicken bones littered the table and the first keg was empty. 'How do you prefer to do this? Do you want the gist of what I ask of you, or do you need reasons?'

The Unknown smiled, for the first time not looking forbidding. 'First the gist, then the story if we're unconvinced of your motivation.'

'Fair enough. Well, seeing how you're not exactly familiar with recent history, I'll let you in on our perspective. Us being the people native to the Northern Kingdoms, of course.

'You have to imagine how it was. Thirty years ago - and being Temerian I didn't have the fortune to witness this myself - thirty years ago, a hole is torn into the sky, and out comes a mass of people. Humans and elves. They land on an island a short way into the sea, and no one sees them do it. But within as short a time as you can imagine they build ships, murdering every damn tree on the island, and come over to Kovir. The elves, or many of them, slink into the forests never to be seen again. The humans stay, and some elves as well. People of all ages, all sorts of professions. Kovir's a large country, seeing how Poviss is part of the same kingdom, and it's a small amount of people, if you consider they represent an entire world, two continents of it at least.

'These people are traumatised, and it becomes apparent that they are the sole survivors of their own world. All others have perished in wars with humans and monsters of various kinds. There are some mages, a few die trying too hard to cast spells, a few turn insane for that reason, others lose it because they cannot cope with the loss. Some get over it and bury themselves in studies, emerging as scholars. Some are said to be able to cast, but there's never been any proof of that as far as I know.

'There's also a group of people who hate their own mages, hate their own elves, and project that hatred to ours. They happily include our dwarves, gnomes, and what not into that hatred. They find sympathy here, of course, and are accepted by the humans. Racism is obviously a typical human trait, no matter what world you come from.'

'How about you?' Hirad cut across him. 'If hating elves is a thing here, we're not working for you.'

Thaler tutted. 'I don't care how long anyone's ears, legs, or other body parts are. I dislike extremes. I despise the Order, or at least many of its representatives, and I despise the Scoia'tael. But we'll get to the slurry that is our own politics in due time.' He took a deep breath. 'Anyway, a short time after these Balaians, as they call themselves, arrive, people start to disappear. Don't get me wrong, people always disappear. They stray into a swamp and get eaten by a Kikimore, some get murdered by very ordinary criminals and hidden away somewhere only scavengers find them. Others just decide to ditch their lives in the cities to live in the forest and eat berries.

'But this one's different. It seems random, at first glance. Never someone from Balaia, not even elves or mages. Always people from Kovir or, very rarely, some unfortunate visitor. If you look deeper, however, you'll find this isn't exactly true. The people who disappeared were almost exclusively related to, friends with, or otherwise in some closer contact with someone in some way unwanted. Sorceresses, witchers, non-humans mostly.' Thaler leaned closer and lowered his voice. 'Now the thing is, the people don't just vanish. They all turn up again, brutally slaughtered, right before the doors to their families houses. I'm dead certain there's an organisation behind this insanity, but no one seems overly bothered to catch them. Perhaps apart from some collateral damage, the country thinks they're good riddance. Now I want them hanged. Every single one of them. And if that isn't possible, I'll cut them down myself.'

Hirad exchanged a glance with Sirendor, who suddenly chuckled. 'Look here, there's the motivation behind the façade.' Sirendor grinned at Thaler. 'Good to know. A few questions, if you don't mind.'

Thaler spread his arms. 'Go ahead.'

'Temeria is a country, I take it.' Thaler nodded. 'So it's not part of Kovir. Why would the head of Temerian intelligence bother with this?'

Thaler wore a look of utter disgust. 'I was that. Now I'm nothing. Temeria is falling apart, I doubt there is such a thing as an active secret service right now. I'm not working on behalf of Temeria.'

Hirad nodded. 'Whose behalf are you working on, then? You seem pretty eager.'

'I work on behalf of Trina Vesely.'

'A-ha. Why? Is she paying you?'

'Dead people don't pay well,' Thaler said drily.

'A lover?'

'A sister, married to a man from Kovir. She was placed at my doorstep in the Trade Quarter in Vizima, which indicates someone who knew exactly who I am was involved in this.'

'Which part did you not understand when I told you we're not hitmen?' Hirad asked. He understood the man. Very well, in fact, but that didn't change anything.

'You don't get it. I don't want you to dirty your hands on these people. I want you to help me solve a crime no one is bothered to look into. If I have to, I'll gut them myself, but that'll be my own conscience I'll have to deal with.'

Ilkar caught Thaler's eye. 'What does Shani say to this?' Thaler's glance flickered to his companion. 'Does she know?'

'She does. And I think that's why she's really here, to stay my hand in the end.'

Hirad studied the young woman's face. 'You've got some nerve, Thaler.'

'Excuse me?'

Hirad shook his head and kept looking at Shani, whose complexion was turning redder and redder under his stare. 'Telling me we're a higgledy-piggledy group, while you are so different. She's one of the softest people I've ever met, while you're hard and bitter. She's driven by pure kindness, saving your skin even though you say yourself she doesn't even like you. You're driven here by hatred disguised as loss, and she's poised to stop you from causing more pain.' Finally, Hirad's eyes moved to meet Thaler's.

The Temerian's lips had tightened, his eyes narrowed. 'Don't you dare and analyse me. You don't know the first thing about me. The loss itself has been eased by time, but I swore to Trina that who did this would pay. And if you mistake Shani's good heart for softness, you're a fool.' Shani placed a gentle hand on his arm, leaned close, and whispered something incomprehensible. He looked as though he would argue, but then he deflated visibly and nodded. 'I'm not asking for your love. I ask for your service in exchange for mine. Will you agree?'

'We need to discuss this. Alone, if you don't mind.'

Thaler nodded curtly. 'All right. Discuss away.' Again, Shani talked to Thaler in their own language. He blinked, snorted, and replied in the same gibberish. Shani burst into laughter. 'We await your answer.'