I

...

Annalise of Kovir, witcher of the School of the Griffin, most magically talented of her class, and slayer of the Cyclopes of Kaer Gleanna, felt like shit. Well, "shit" was an understatement. She actually felt as though she'd been swimming in the sewers of Tretegor for a week straight, eating only boot leather, and washing said boot leather down with drowner piss. She struggled to keep her eyes open as the rhythm of her stallion's walking threatened to lull her to the horrible embrace of sleep. No, she thought through the haze, You haven't taken me in four days, you won't take me now. Deciding that spite was as good enough reason as any to forge on, she kept the beast of her own bodily functions at bay.

She looked above the tree canopy to decern the time of day only to realize it was the dead of night. Not that it mattered to her anymore. Days and nights were starting to blur together into a miasmic soup of sun and moonlight. Besides, she, like all witchers, could see perfectly well in darkness. The moon, which mockingly hung as it always had in the middle of the star-studded sky, was full tonight. She then got a piercing pain in her temples. She cursed herself for forgetting that looking up caused her already sizable headache to spike and kept her eyes on the road.

After all, there was no point in looking into the underbrush or occasional glade anymore. The scenery had been the same for the whole day anyway. Some large battle had been fought here recently. The last remnants of the Cintrian army making a brave final stand against the Nilfgaardian invaders. From the look and smell of it, it had been a massacre. Bodies and regalia littered the open meadows. Arrows and javelins rose like miniature spires above the ground. The smoldering remains of funeral pyres and mass graves, infested with rotfiends and ghouls, ensured that Anna would stay on the road no matter what. There was no sense in killing monsters she wasn't going to get paid for, especially in her current state.

After what felt like another billion years of gentle swaying in her saddle, she eventually saw some pinpricks of light ahead. Torches. They were probably just refugees whose homes had been burned down by one passing army or another, but it didn't hurt to hope. As she approached, however, she groaned in dismay as the shining black armor of the Nilfgaardian army was made more clear. Great, just what I need! She thought. A checkpoint. She, nonetheless, straightened herself in her saddle and went over what she remembered of her Nilfgaardian lessons at Kaer Seren. She refused to let the pain those memories brought show on her face.

"Halt!" Said one of the sentries in Common when he saw her. "Present your letter of safe conduct!"

His accent was so thick she could barely understand him. That phrase was probably the only thing he knew in Common anyway. She stopped her horse and gave him a pat on the neck. Poor boy had been going for a long time, he deserved a rest.

"Greetings, gentlemen," she said in Nilfgaardian, "I'm afraid I don't have a letter of safe conduct. Could you direct me to someone who could give me one."

"My my, so there are civilized people this far north," said the other sentry in Nilfgaardian, "Sorry lass, no letter of safe conduct, no passage. You'll have to turn around and go back where you came from."

"Like I said, where can I get a letter of safe conduct? I would like to be on my way as soon as possible."

The first sentry, who had taken off his gauntlet to pick his nose, raised his torch and inspected her more closely. He narrowed his eyes. "Why've you got two swords on your back like a witcher, wench?"

The other sentry raised his own torch to look at her, but his attention was not on her swords, but on her figure. Ugh.

"I wear two swords because I am a witcher." She leaned down in her saddle so her face could be seen in the torchlight. "And I know how to use them too. So stop leering at me like I'm some dockside whore and maybe you can keep your fingers."

Anna took some pleasure at seeing how red the second sentry's face turned before he reached for his sword. "I don't care if you're the advisor to the Emperor himself, slut. You'll pay for that!"

She had gotten used to men like this during her time wandering the roads alone. Usually, a few well placed threats got the job done. Before that, the presence of Henri would... No. No she couldn't think of him. Not now. Just when she had decided she was far too tired for this shit, a voice came from beyond the checkpoint. "Melitile's tits! What is all that ruckus!"

A third soldier in an officer's uniform came around the corner of the palicade looking incredibly annoyed at having been disturbed. The first sentry, who'd been watching the altercation with some amusement, straightened to attention. The second was too focused on her to notice. "Jerrit! Stand at attention, damn you, and tell me what's going on!"

The second sentry, Jerrit apparently, turned and visibly paled at the sight of his commanding officer, before saluting and standing at attention. "Sir, this witcheress," he spat, "Was attempting to cross the checkpoint without a letter of safe conduct. I-"

The officer put a hand up to silence Jerrit and said, "A female witcher? Jerrit, you'll believe any old drivel these peasants will say. Just because some woman has two swords on her back doesn't mean she's a witcher. Besides, female witchers don't exist."

Anna leaned over in her saddle again and pointed at her bright green cat eyes. The officer's eyes widened. Seeing the looks on peoples faces when they realized that she was, in fact, a witcher, had always brought her some small satisfaction. "As you can see, those rumors are false. If you could tell me where I could get a letter of safe conduct, I will stop harassing your fine soldiers," she said, casting a venomous look at Jerrit, who sneered back at her.

The officer coughed into his hand, "I could give you a letter of safe conduct, uh, mistress witcher."

"Excellent."

He put up a hand, "If you solve a problem for us."

She groaned internally. Of course. Can't just go on my way, can I? Externally, she gave her most magnanimous smile and said, "It would be my pleasure, mister...?"

"Lieutenant Eiric var Hess. We will discuss the matter more in my tent. Reiner, if you would take the lady's horse to the stables?"

Annalise dismounted and handed her reins to the first sentry, Reiner, who'd continued picking his nose behind the lieutenant's back. He put his gauntlet back on and saluted before taking her horse away. The lieutenant motioned for her to follow.