((Oh God. I'm still not sure if I want to take the path I'm opening up here. It diverges brutally from my 'if you did it, deal with it' policy. And yet, canon showed me the finger, it's hardly my fault (aside from the fact that if I weren't so damn slow, it would never have happened until it was far too late). Heck. What on earth. I'll see. No, I'm not trying to make sense. Ignore me.

This chapter heading is taken from the song Panzerhaus by ASP. The song title would translate into Tank House, the chapter into How do you fill your void?))

Chapter 23
Wie füllst du deine Leere aus?

'I want to make one thing very clear.' The Unknown's voice was low and drawn. Ilkar heard the exhaustion, saw it in his face. He hadn't slept a lot since their meeting with Jonas. It was understandable, of course, but seeing the big man so shaken was difficult to handle. 'A couple of things, in fact.

'One: We never set out to summarily execute the Preservers or even the leader. We are here to investigate the murder of one Trina Vesely. While the Preservers are more than a little likely to have something to do with it, I sincerely doubt that Jonas was already a part of them. This crime was committed a long time ago.

'Two: I am fully aware that the Preservers have done disgusting things and they will keep doing them unless something is done. What happened to Shani cannot remain unanswered. The murderer of Talan was already taken care of.

'Three: We cannot ignore the Preservers and stay here. What they would do to Erienne first, and to Ilkar and Jandyr later … or Thraun, if they get wind of him being a shape changer … we can guess and we cannot allow it. Even if Jonas were prepared to make concessions, it would be highly unjust to accept such an offer.

'Four … I am not very objective in this. I am appalled by what Jonas is doing. I am equally appalled by the thought of being my own son's enemy. I would like … I would like to help him see reason. Hirad, I'll need you for that.'

The barbarian looked at the rest of The Raven as if he expected to find someone else named Hirad. 'What?'

'You heard me. That mage killed Sha-Khan. Do you feel like taking it out on all other mages? Don't answer. I know. That's why you need to speak to him. Make him see sense.' He spread his arms. 'Well? I'm inviting opinions here. Because frankly, I'm lost.'

Ilkar smiled vaguely. 'You know us. You can probably tell what we'll all say. Or at least I can. Erienne will agree with you, because how could she not. Jandyr and I will tell you that we'll do whatever you think is best. Thraun will keep his mouth firmly shut until he has looked at the situation from every possible angle, has considered every possible outcome, and when he does speak, we'd better listen. Sirendor … Sirendor will tell you that we should avoid killing anyone, but have to be prepared to do so. You, most of us. Hirad will follow your lead as he always does, because he trusts you completely. And Will, Will is going to say that the only feasible solution is to do here what Varilia and her people did in Lan Exeter and get rid of the entire bunch once and for all. And the problem is, we'd all be right. There isn't only one answer, Unknown.'

Over the course of his speech, The Unknown's face had relaxed a little. 'I hear no contradiction from anyone. Succinct summary, Ilkar. How did we ever learn to cooperate, being so different?'

'Because at the end of the day, we're all too soft for our own good,' Sirendor said quietly. 'And that includes our wild little Begman here. Unknown, this isn't your average contract.' He leaned forwards. 'Let me be the cruel one, as Ilkar predicted. This can end in blood. And I will not stand idly by when it threatens to be our blood.'

'Threatens?' Erienne asked. 'It already is.' She was pale, almost white. Since Denser's death, she hadn't eaten enough and it was starting to show. 'You see, Ilkar, I understand The Unknown. But I don't agree. I want someone to pay for what happened.'

'The one who killed Denser's dead, Erienne,' Ilkar said. 'If we declare ourselves judges and executioners of all others, we're no better than them. We can't. And you know it.'

She looked away. 'I know. But I can hate it.'

The Unknown shook his head. 'Well. I want one thing. I want this next meeting, the one Sirendor arranged. I want to keep this civil as long as we can. There are a few questions that need answers.' He lowered his voice. 'Again, if our hands are forced we will react. I will not stand there and let anyone of us be slaughtered. But if we can simply answer Thaler's question, that would be preferable.'

'One more thing,' Sirendor said. 'I need to return. Jonas made that very clear, and I will try to convince him I'm loyal to them. You have to be very careful. He doesn't strike me as quite sane, to be honest.'

'Maybe Regis can help, then,' Erienne said quickly. 'He helped me, too.'

Ilkar waited for a few moments before he said what no-one else was going to. 'I think Regis has absolutely no wish to help him.'

'I don't blame him,' Thraun said quietly.

Hirad scowled at Sirendor across the table. 'I don't want you to go back. He'll use you as a hostage.'

Sirendor shrugged. 'So far, he seems to believe me. I've done the same thing in Lan Exeter, you know, and I'm still here.'

The Unknown ran a hand over his skull. 'Just be careful. I don't want to lose anyone else.' He balled his hand into a fist. 'But Hirad's right. You'll be a hostage. Which means … whatever happens, we cannot retaliate. Don't argue, Sirendor. We won't let him harm you.'

Ϡ

Sirendor returned to Jonas the moment they had decided to go back to the barrow. He felt something brushing his shoulder and drew his sword and silver dagger simultaneously, entering a fighting stance, both blades before him. A low chuckle sounded in his left ear. He spun and nearly hit Varilia in the same motion. 'You would have hit me,' she said simply. 'Good.'

Heart pounding, he sheathed both weapons. 'Only because you knew I'd stop and didn't try to get away. I saw you in action. I couldn't hit you in my wildest dreams.'

She smiled. 'Well. If I were a drowner, then. Maybe not me.'

Sirendor shook his head. 'What are you doing here? This place is mad.'

'I've come to say a proper farewell to you, my friend. There is a chance we will never see each other again.'

'That a threat?'

Slowly Varilia shook her head. 'People saw me in Lan Exeter. What I did. So far, they think they were hallucinating. But if a witcher should hear of it …'

'Can they be a threat to you? Kill you?'

This time, her smile was every bit as enigmatic as Regis's. 'Well. Yes and no. But not the point. I intend … or I have to reveal myself one more time. And that means that I'd better leave Kovir and Poviss. Novigrad has always been a good place to be, but … something is brewing there. Not yet quite as bad as here, but I'm telling you … there is going to be blood. In the south most of all. If The Raven could make this country as safe a refuge as it used to be … Ah, but for me, it doesn't matter.'

'I don't understand a word you say, you know.'

Varilia shook her head. 'Maybe Toussaint is a place to be, huh? Nice and warm, and the people are stuffed to bursting with honour … so gullible.' She walked around him, looking him up and down. 'I would prefer if you kept that plan to yourself.'

Sirendor swallowed. He felt very much as if a predator was eyeing him. 'You know, this is the first time I wonder if I should be scared of you.'

'No need. I trust you.' She halted, looked away. 'Every once in a while, I need to relocate as it is. You see, I do not age perceptibly to a human. Thus … well, I suppose you understand. Another place, another name. The second time I make a mess and have to flee.'

'Do you? Have to flee?'

'I will, Sirendor Larn. I want you to know that I appreciate all you have done. Never do think otherwise. If we meet again, I know it will be as true friends. Do come to Toussaint. It is beautiful there. You cannot look for me since I will be known by another name, but put word out that you are there … and I will find you. I will not go into hiding like our mutual friend Regis does when things go wrong. All I do is … relocate. A long way.'

'I don't understand. Still.'

She extended her arms. 'Ah. You will in time. Come here, my friend. Thank you, and good luck to you and your friends. Tell Regis where I go. Maybe he wants to visit.' Sirendor let her embrace him. 'One more thing,' she whispered. 'Have The Raven or Regis ask for a woman called Svitlana. She knows all that happens. And no. She is not a vampire. She can help in more ways than one.'

Varilia released him, leaving nothing behind but fog. Confused, he continued the rest of the way to the Preservers' meeting place. When he found Varilia standing with her head down in front of Jonas, he froze in place. He seemed to have walked in on an argument, because Jonas looked furious and Varilia defeated.

When he came in, she turned and faced him. For a moment, when their eyes met, he thought she winked, but then her expression changed.

Her entire face did. Before him, there was no longer a rather beautiful woman but a true monster. 'Traitor,' she hissed at him before rushing him and slamming him into the door that had closed behind him. 'You were supposed to help me, mortal.' Jonas hadn't watched idly. She yelled as his blade slammed into her back, although Sirendor strongly suspected that the wail she gave was exaggerated. A lot. The steel sword wouldn't do much to her.

He decided to play along. 'You're the traitor of the two of us. And you'll pay, bitch.' He kicked out at her and hurtled her off her feet. Before lunging, he drew his silver dagger. At the sight of it, she screeched, spit flying from her grotesquely distorted mouth. She rushed him, a powerful hand closing on his chin, and all went dark.

When Sirendor came to, Jonas was grinning down at him. 'Well, she doesn't like you, I daresay.'

Groaning, he sat up and gingerly touched the back of his head. She must have lifted him and smashed him back into the door. And she hadn't been gentle. But at the end of the day, she had protected him. Any lesser attack would have made him suspicious. 'I feel about her just as she does about me,' he said. 'I actually came to convey a message from The Raven. They want to meet you, as you suggested.'

Jonas nodded. 'Good. You will remain here, in the meantime. I have a task for you. Another message, to a certain innkeep.'

Ϡ

This time, Ilkar saw clearly that Jonas was coming alone. He hoped it was a good sign, but somehow he didn't truly believe it.

The Unknown watched him approach with a somewhat taut expression. 'Were I the suspicious kind, I'd think trap.'

'Good thing we're all optimists,' Erienne muttered. 'I'd have thought Sirendor would be with him.'

'I'm glad he isn't,' Hirad said. 'If he were here, we'd have to be cautious.'

'We're still going to be cautious,' Thraun said. 'We don't know where he is. He might be safe. He might not.'

The Unknown nodded. 'True. As always.' He stepped forwards, breaking the line they had formed automatically. 'Well. That pretty much means we won't have to fight.'

'Yet,' Will muttered.

The Unknown looked back at him for a few seconds. 'Maybe.' He forced his tone to get lighter as Jonas reached them. 'Good evening, son.'

'And to you. I see you have arrived in full strength, again. I had hoped we would have time to catch up.'

'We can. But at this point, I believe we're meeting on business and that involves all of us.' The Unknown sat on a rock near their small fire. 'Any reason for your fondness of this place?'

'Ah. The view is very special.'

Jandyr snorted. 'It's night. The view is mainly dark. And I'm an elf.'

'Is all the city guard controlled by you? The rulers of this land, whoever they are?'

Jonas seemed genuinely astonished by the question. 'I do not control the guard. We … pay tribute to some of them to make sure our agents are safe.'

'You mean you bribe them,' Hirad said. 'Let's call things as they are, kid.'

Jonas clearly didn't like being called that. 'As I see it, you're younger than I am.'

'Doesn't make us less experienced.' Even though the barbarian, too, had sat down, and even though he spoke quietly, the threat in his voice was only thinly veiled. 'You don't want to fight us, trust me.'

Jonas smiled. 'Whoever wants to fight?' He leaned forwards. 'You don't know about the local royalty, do you?'

'We know the ruling family is House Thyssen,' Ilkar said. 'We know that your ideology has no place here.'

'If that's so, then why are we allowed to do our work here?'

Ilkar looked at him. 'I don't think you'd like the answer.'

'Oh?'

Hirad gave something close to a growl. 'Well I'll say it then. You're too small to notice. You're bothersome. If you ever become more, you'll be dealt with.'

Jonas chuckled. 'Either that, or we are not only ignored but welcome.'

'That is a possibility,' Ilkar said before Hirad could answer. 'But this isn't why we are here. We are here because one of our friends was hurt. Badly and permanently.'

Jonas's smile vanished, giving way to a sombre expression. 'Indeed. Shani, I believe, is her name? Talan's doing. Although his motivation eludes me. Delia solved the matter and sent me a message about it. I expected her to come with you. Where is she?'

Ilkar found himself lost for words. He saw Hirad's mind work, saw the anger rise in him, and leaned over. 'Don't,' he said in an undertone.

The Unknown licked his lips. 'Well. I wonder when she found the time to notify you of anything. She's been taken care of. Also permanently.'

'You killed her?' The surprise in Jonas's voice was real. The only thing that was. 'Why?'

'We didn't do anything,' Ilkar said. 'I don't recommend trying to avenge her. You might bite off more than you can chew.'

'That mysterious fellow that's been paying for you? I tried to find out about him, but he seems to be a dark horse. Maybe you shouldn't trust him. He might be a mage.'

'He's not.' The Unknown's voice was final.

'So you believe. Well. I had known of Delia's fate, but I didn't suspect that you had a part in it. Shame – she did, in the end, remain loyal to me. And speaking of loyalty, I need you to realise that Sirendor is working for me. If you want to keep in contact with your friend, you need to work with me.'

'And what, pray do tell, will happen to me?' Erienne asked.

'You … I am afraid you will have to leave.'

'We have to discuss this,' The Unknown said quietly. 'You will get your answer.'

'I need it in three days. Either that, or you have to leave as well. All of you.'

'There's something else.' The Unknown swallowed. 'If you help us, it would make the decision easier for us. We didn't come here by accident or in order to go after your people, we are investigating a crime committed a long time ago. The murder of a young woman named Trina Vesely. So far, we haven't learned much, but I assume you can help us.'

'Why would I know anything about her?'

'Our only suspect – or suspects – are the predecessors of your Preservers. She wasn't a mage, but she married someone considered undesirable, apparently. She wasn't the only victim either. Back then, friends of mages and non-humans were killed rather than the … ah, undesirables themselves.'

'That was before my time, I am afraid. But perhaps I can learn something.'

The Unknown stood. 'Something else. We will not abandon Erienne. We know you have mages in your service. She can either enter with us, or not at all.'

'What makes you think that I employ her kind?'

'We found evidence to that end in Lan Exeter.'

'Ah. Yes. The megascope.' Ilkar saw the blank looks on his friends' faces and suspected his wasn't much better. Jonas sighed. 'The metal device. In the catacombs you robbed. I had a mage in my service there, true. For a short time. But I am sure we'll come to an agreement. As I said. Three days, here again. I will require a decision by that time. Until then.'