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"Hold still, Renfri," Eldin sighed as Renfri flinched again. "You know you have to stay still."
"Well, it hurts!" Renfri complained.
"That's because I'm sticking you with a needle," Eldin replied.
"I wish you'd stick me with something else," Renfri grumbled.
Eldin paused, glancing at Aralyn, whose stiches were already done, but who hadn't gotten dressed yet, since they were in the privacy of a small clearing several hundred yards from Geralt and Ciri, and warmed by the three fires Eldin had built around them. After a moment, he resumed his work, finished quickly once Renfri managed to hold still long enough. He carefully bandaged the wound again, then sat back, allowing Renfri to push herself up to her knees.
"You really do want to join us, don't you?" Aralyn asked.
Renfri sighed, nodding. "I do. I'm not...in love with you. Either of you. But I'm happy with you, and I'm attracted to you both. You make me feel safe, and you saved me. Safe and happy is more than I've ever had, so it's enough for me."
Neither responded, watching each other in silence instead.
"Sorry," Renfri sighed. "I'm being stupid."
"Renfri," Aralyn said, cupping her cheek to make her look at her.
As soon as Renfri's head was turned toward Aralyn, Aralyn's lips met hers. Renfri let out a shuddering breath, her hands instinctively clinging to Aralyn as she leaned into the kiss, her tongue sweeping out to search for Aralyn's, which met hers instantly. Finally, after several long moments, Aralyn pulled away.
"Is this okay with you?" Aralyn asked Eldin.
Renfri turned to look at him, only for him to meet her with a heated kiss matching the one she'd shared with Aralyn. Renfri let out another shuddering breath, pressing closer to Eldin, but when she took his hand and pulled it toward her breast, he pulled away.
"I'm sorry!" she said hurriedly. "Too soon!"
"Renfri," Eldin smirked. "I'd gladly fuck you both right here and now, except for two problems. Firstly, it would pop your stitches, and then I'd have to do it all over again. Secondly, there's the problem of Ciri being headed this way."
Both girls swore, hurriedly getting dressed, finishing less than a second before Ciri entered the clearing.
"Geralt says it's time to move on," Ciri said. "Are you ready to travel?"
"As we'll ever be," Aralyn nodded, then winced as Eldin helped both to their feet and up onto the horse they were all still going to share until the two of them were healed.
They continued in silence and entered the mountains after a few hours. As they rode, the sun made a slow trek across the sky. Finally, as it was nearing sundown and beginning to grow dark, their destination finally came into view. A cold, stone fortress capped in snow set into a cold, stone cliff face among a cold, desolate mountain range. They rode through the gates in silence, and everyone but Geralt looked around silently. There was no majesty, no welcoming presence, no sign of life at all, save for a couple of fires burning under a tarp cover off to one side of a courtyard and a few other horses tied off at the hitching post where they guided their horses, betraying the presence of at least one other living occupant.
"Is it as nice as you were expecting?" Eldin asked Aralyn.
"Outaide is about what I expected," Aralyn nodded. "I'll wait on thw nice until we get inside out of the cold."
Eldin smiled, nodding, and helped her and Renfri off of their horse. He hitched the horses to thw post where there was room, Geralt hitching Roach as well, and all headed for the door.
"How many did you say there were?" Ciri asked Geralt.
"I didn't," Geralt said, then walked over once he'd finished securing Roach's reins. "Last I checked, there were twenty that came here, and we were all pretty sure Eldin the Unkillable, or more recently the Ragged Demon, was still alive. Now, we may be less."
"I prefer to think that Eldin the Unkillable and the Ragged Demon are separate," Eldin said. "No one wants to meet the Ragged Demon."
Geralt simply shrugged.
"You're sure we're safe here?" Ciri asked, eying a massive set of bones on one side."
"Safer than most places," Eldin said.
As they entered, the other surviving Witchers were scattered around, drinking and laughing, but as they entered, a bald one, Coen, jumped up.
"Well, whataya know!" He grinned. "The Ragged Demon is real after all!"
"Long time no see!" one with shoulder-length curly hair, Lambert, greeted Eldin, just as Geralt walked in. "Oh, here comes trouble."
As they walked forward, the ginger moved to meet them.
"Where the fuck have you been?" he asked. "We thought you got lost. Or killed."
"Not yet," Geralt smiled. "Sorry."
The man laughed, stepping forward to hug Geralt. "Brother!"
The others began to greet Geralt and Eldin, though while Geralt embraced their Witcher brothers, Eldin greeted them from a distance to remain near Aralyn and Renfri.
"Wolf, you're home," the oldest Witcher, the one who'd trained and raised them all, Vesemir, greeted Geralt. "Finally." He looked to Eldin. "And you...I'm so happy for you."
"How do you do that?" Eldin asked.
Vesemir chuckled. "You're still young. You'll learn."
"Sorry we're late," Geralt said. "I had to make a few stops." He glanced at Ciri, Vesemir nodding. "And I decided to bring Eldin home to visit."
Vesemir smiled, nodding, and everyone else began to greet Geralt and Eldin. A few that Eldin was closer to came over to introduce themselves to Aralyn and Renfri, as well as give their brother a hug, and Eldin introduced Aralyn and Renfri in return. Eventually, everyone began to return to drinking and swapping stories. Eldin got Aralyn and Renfri some stew and beer as well, and the three of them joined in to swap stories.
"So, you finally slayed a dragon!" Lambert grinned at Eldin, eyeing the armor peeking out from under his shirt.
"No," Eldin shook his head. "The dragon almost killed me. Melted my favorite sword. But Aralyn's father saved me to force me into a life debt. He used the debt to get me to save Aralyn from execution, then gave me his enchanted sword and my armor to do it."
"And that was when you slaughtered every soldier in a city and the king in his own castle, right?" Coen asked.
"That's right," Eldin nodded.
Both shook their heads. Eldin shared a few other stories before Lambert recounted one of hunting a Mora, only to find out the farmer who hired him had actually seen the farm hand fleeing his wife's room when he'd nearly caught them in an affair.
"That you're all here is cause enough for celebration," Vesemir spoke up.
"To another winter together," Coen toasted.
"Aye!" the others called.
"To the breath in our lungs!" a dark-skinned, thick-bearded Witcher, Bodwel, boomed in his deep voice.
"Here, here!" the others agreed.
"To the brothers," Geralt raised his cup.
"The brothers," Eldin said.
"To shitty ale and bad stories," Eldin joked.
"Says the one who's only interesting story was of almost dying to a dragon!" Lambert countered, the others laughing.
"To forgetting the fucking Path!" a voice shouted, just as the door groaned open. "For one fucking night!"
Geralt rushed to meet the last to arrive, Eskel. He and Geralt were old friends. Eskel was usually handsome with smooth, black hair, confident features, and a charming, joyous nature. Now, however, he looked pale, exhausted, and clammy. His oily hair looked thin and the bun messy and distressed, but his smile as he greeted Geralt was as friendly as ever.
"Who's that?" Aralyn asked.
"Eskel," Eldin said. "He looks like shit. Maybe his horse didn't make it up."
"He looks sick," Renfri said.
"Maybe," Eldin nodded. "Besides me and Geralt, he's probably the best company here."
"The bout lasted six hours," Eskel said as he passed Geralt to greet the others. "I'd have got the fucker, too, if I hadn't lost my elixirs. Took her hand, though."
He dropped what at first appeared as a bundle of sticks on the floor, and Eldin frowned.
"What is that?" Lambert asked, nudging it with his foot. "Is that a Leshy?"
"Walked like one," Eskel said. "Talked like one. Sort of."
"Sort of?" Bodwel asked.
"I haven't crossed a Leshy in a while," Geralt said.
"Not in Kaedwen," Lambert agreed.
"My last was about, what, eight years ago?" Eldin spoke, Aralyn nodding. "But that was nowhere near Kaedwen."
"Well count yourselves lucky," Eskel said. "Unless you're aching for the sting of one of their fucking roots." He pulled his shirt to shift it slightly, betraying a wound on the back of his right shoulder.
"Fire through the heart is the only thing that puts one down," Vesemir spoke up, then spoke to try and clear the tense air that had formed. "Six hours in, that didn't occur to you?"
Several people laughed, Aralyn merely smirking while Renfri snorted. However, Eskel had finally noticed the pair, along with Ciri, and he didn't look happy. He walked over to Ciri and bent down in her face.
"Who the hell are you?" Eskel asked.
Ciri finished her drink and swallowed uncomfortably. "Princess Cirilla of Cintra. Pleasure to meet you."
Eskel stared at her for a long moment before moving to get a drink and food without another word, though he also shot a brief glare at Aralyn and Renfri when he spotted them as he looked around again. However, he said nothing, on account of Eldin's hand resting on his scabbard, and instead sat quietly off to the side to drink. Things remained fairly quiet for a while before Eldin and Geralt excused themselves with their guests, Geralt going to train while Eldin led Aralyn, Renfri, and Ciri to find available rooms without holes in the wall. Eldin gave Ciri and Geralt one of the larger rooms, then led Aralyn and Renfri to his own room, which was left open for him, should he choose to return. As they dropped off their packs, Renfri closed the door.
"Time to change our bandages," Renfri said.
Aralyn nodded and both shed their shirts, Eldin tearing a clean cloak into fresh bandages, starting with Aralyn.
"Is Eskel usually so unwelcoming?" Aralyn asked.
"No," Eldin frowned. "Normally, he's bright and cheerful. It's been a long time since I've seen him, but going by everyone else's reactions, that's still not normal for him."
"Maybe it's because Kaer Morhen is supposed to be secret?" Renfri asked. "Has anyone brought guests before?"
"No," Eldin considered. "Witchers tend to be alone, given public opinion of us and also the fact that we live far longer than humans. It's possible that's the problem, and if it is, he'll get over it." He finished with Aralyn's bandages and kissed her, then began to bandage Renfri. "Either way, I want you two to stick close to me. Eskel and I were never really friends, but he won't start a fight to bother you as long as you're with me."
Both nodded and remained silent until Eldin was finished. He kissed Renfri as well for a moment, then pulled away and glanced at the door, narrowing his eyes.
"What?" Aralyn asked.
"I'm going to need to find something to block the door with," Eldin said. "My door's lock never worked, and once you two are healed enough, I don't want anyone interrupting."
Both girls laughed, pulling their shirts on. Once they were dressed, they all left the room again, Eldin beginning to show them around and where everything was. However, just as they were nearing the courtyard where the Witchers all trained, a noise reached their ears that sounded almost like music. Eldin frowned.
"What's that?" Aralyn asked.
"I don't know," Eldin frowned. "Come on."
He led them through the fortress toward the sound, which was definitely music. Finally, they entered the main hall again, arriving at the same time as Geralt, and found a party in full swing, complete with beer, ale, whiskey, and whores, most of them already lacking clothing. Eldin's face curled into a scowl instantly. Guests in the form of lovers or a daughter were one thing, whores were another. Almost instantly, a few of the whores branched off to introduce themselves to Eldin and the others.
"Leave," Eldin said flatly. "We're not interested."
The whores scowled, but turned, returning to the main group. Eldin looked around at the other Witchers. Most were happy, a few excited. Vesemir was watching from off to the side.
"I'll be right back," Eldin said. "I'm going to talk to Vesemir."
Aralyn and Renfri nodded, and Eldin walked over to Vesemir, meeting up with Geralt on the way.
"What is this?" Geralt asked.
"Eskel found some friends down the mountain," Vesemir told them.
"They shouldn't be here," Geralt said.
"And Eskel should know better," Eldin said.
"He drank too much..." Vesemir stared past Eldin, and Eldin turned, seeing Eskel and one of the whores talking to Aralyn and Renfri.
Eldin growled in annoyance, storming toward them as Aralyn took an involuntary step away as Eskel leaned close to her, Eldin able to see her past bubbling below the surface of her cold, disinterested expression, informing him of exactly what Eskel was saying.
"...better night than you've ever had," Eskel was saying as Eldin reached him.
Eldin shoved him away from Aralyn roughly, and Eskel spun, murder on his face.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing!?" Eskel demanded.
"This is your only warning, Eskel," Eldin snarled. "Leave them both alone!"
"Or what?" Eskel scoffed. "You going to put on your mask and try to scare me?"
"Trust me, you don't want him putting on his mask," Aralyn said, calming down slowly. "Out of everyone he's ever met, only myself, Renfri, and Geralt have ever seen him put on the mask and live. If he puts on that mask, everyone in this room will die."
Eskel laughed. "You think I'm afraid of Eldin?"
"You should be," Geralt spoke up. "I only survived seeing him with the mask on because he had other priorities."
Eskel glanced between the two, then huffed. He began to turn away, only to turn back around, throwing a left-handed punch at Eldin, only for Eldin to knock the punch aside and grab his wrist then the back of his shoulder. Then, he slammed Eskel into a table, keeping pressure on his shoulder to hold him there as he leaned down to whisper.
"Eskel, you're drunk and making an ass of yourself," he informed his fellow Witcher. "Go to bed."
Then, he lifted him off the table and shoved him toward the door. The whore who'd been with Eskel caught him, then quickly guided him from the room, Eskel shooting Eldin one final glare before leaving. Eldin turned to Aralyn and pulled her into a hug, Aralyn shuddering as she forced her emotions under control.
"Thank you," Aralyn whispered.
"You're welcome," Eldin replied, kissing her for a second.
"Let's get a drink," Renfri suggested. "Since we're here anyway, we might as well."
Eldin sighed, nodding, and they all got themselves a drink before starting back toward their room. Just as they'd reached the door, however, Eldin stopped, his medallion warming and vibrating inside of his shirt, tugging on its chain. He drained his drink and tossed the mug aside, looking around as he drew his sword.
"Get to Ciri," Eldin ordered them.
Both nodded, drawing their weapons and rushing from the room as Eldin went the other way, his free hand holding his medallion. As he roamed, he judged his proximity to the creature by the insistence of its vibrations. Finally, after nearly five minutes, he could tell he was close. He narrowed his eyes, his sword arm tensing, and focused on his hearing. He could hear someone walking around the corner, heard the sound of a pendant shifting on a chain, alerting of it being a Witcher. He walked forward to meet them just in time to hear Geralt shout in pain. He darted forward, meeting Vesemir at a door where a Leshy had Geralt restrained. Vesemir hurled an axe he was holding, sending it stabbing into the Leshy's chest. It roared in pain and retreated into the shadows of the room. As it did, Eldina nd Vesemir hurried forward, cutting Geralt free.
"What is this?" Vesemir asked.
"It's Eskel," Geralt said. "The Leshy's infected him."
"Then he has to die," Eldin said, raising his sword. "Before he infects us. And on that note..."
He made the sign for Igni, flames springing to life in his palm before he pressed it to Geralt's wounded shoulder. Geralt shouted in pain but didn't stop Eldin from cauterizing the wound and burning out any potential infection by Eskel. Once he was finished, the three Witchers readied their swords.
"That's not possible," Vesemir said.
Just then, large, tangled roots began to swipe and stab at them, the three of them retreating into the center of the room as they slashed off the roots, defending each other as they fought. Suddenly, the Leshy, one that looked more like a ball of roots than an actual tree, made for the door, only for Eldin's arm to snap up. The door shone as Eldin's Yrden barrier filled it, and Vesemir hurled a hook, which stabbed into it, making it shout in pain before Geralt began to pull the chain, hauling it away from the door. As Geralt tied the chain off, Eldin and Vesemir added two more huge hooks and dragged the Leshy into the light before securing the chains, restraining the monster.
"Eskel," Vesemir said, staring at the contorted, wooden face of their fellow Witcher. "We need time. We can save you!"
A root slammed into Vesemir, yanking him away and smashing him through a set of wooden shelves before more roots joined the first, binding Vesemir, only for Eldin to slash them all off, freeing him. Eldin turned on Eskel again and drew his hand along the flat of his blade, channeling Igni along it. Then, he moved to strike, only for Eskel's roots to knock his sword away and wrap around him and Vesemir both.
"Geralt!" Eldin shouted. "Do it!"
Finally, Geralt was forced into motion, and also channeled Igni along his blade before driving it into Eskel's side, into his heart. As he ripped it out, Eskel's roots went slack, dropping their prey, before Eskel fell still. Eldin sighed, retrieving his sword as Vesemir ripped Eskel's medallion off.
"You did what you had to do," Vesemir said to Geralt.
Geralt left without a word, and Eldin walked over to Vesemir, staring at Eskel for a moment before turning and walking away. He returned first, to the room he'd led Ciri to, where his girls met him with hugs, then to the main hall where Vesemir was just breaking the news to everyone. They all set their blades on the table and got cups, and Vesemir walked down the line with a jug, pouring beer into their cups. Then, Vesemir moved to the great tree at the head of the main hall with Eskel's medallion.
"Eskel," Vesemir said.
"Eskel," the others chanted.
"To the brothers," Eldin said.
Vesemir added Eskel's medallion to the dozens of others handing from the tree's branches, then got his own drink and they all drained half, then poured the other half out. Then, they collected their blades again and scattered.
"That's it?" Renfri asked quietly as they headed for the courtyard. "That's a Witcher's funeral?"
"It's usually performed in a bar, then you just add the medallion whenever you get back to Kaer Morhen for the winter, if you can find the medallion at all," Eldin explained. "Witchers typically work alone, so when you find out they're dead, it's usually either a story passed around until the exact location is unknown, or it's been so long you won't be able to identify the bones even if you could find them."
Both of the girls nodded, and they stepped out into the courtyard to find Ciri training with a wooden sword, Geralt watching her to inspect her form. Eldin smiled, seeing Geralt had decided to train her after all, then turned walked over to join him, as did Aralyn and Renfri. Together, they helped Ciri with her footing, stance, balance, and positioning as she worked through the same three strikes over and over again.
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