The Witcher's Apprentice
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Chapter 4: The Shrieker
Nearing the castle/fortress of Crow's Perch, Aegon listened to Geralt as the Witcher concluded his story. "But why?" the young knight asked in confusion. "Why did you lift the curse on Nivellen? He was a bandit who raped an innocent women and plundered villages and homes!"
Geralt gave a ghost of a smile and replied, "I wouldn't expect you to understand, but no-one deserves to be cursed no matter what their crimes are."
Aegon shook his head at this and said, "I'd have let the man suffer his curse." Geralt simply gave the young lad a look and said too him, "You mightn't say that when you might suffer a curse yourself one day."
"Perhaps," Aegon muttered blithely and changed the subject. "So, I'm to understand that these lands are in the grip of war?" he asked and the Witcher nodded. "Who are the major players in this war?"
"That would be the Northern Realms, chiefly Redenia ruled by King Radovid the Stern, and the Southern Empire of Nilfgaard ruled by Emhyr Var Emreis the White Flame Dancing on the Graves of his Foes," replied Geralt.
"A curious title. How did he come by such an auspicious moniker?"
"Emhyr and his family were originally ousted from Nilfgaard by one known as the Usurper, but after carefully planning for years, Emhyr took back his family's throne and had all of his dead political foes disinterred, their gravestones paving his ballroom, earning the second part of his moniker," Geralt said.
"And the White Flame?" Aegon questioned.
"Because nearly all of Nilfgaard believe that Emhyr will be the one to save them from the White Frost."
"White Frost? What is that?"
Geralt pursed his lips and explained. "It ties to Ciri and the Wild Hunt. The White Frost is said to be the end of the world, a great and terrible winter that will kill everyone and cover everything, leaving only a frozen wasteland," he said.
Aegon frowned in thought and said, "It sounds a lot like the Long Night."
"The Long Night?" Geralt repeated.
Aegon nodded. "Aye, ages past when the world was young, the land suffered a terrible decades long winter and the sun would not shine covering everything in an eternal night. The Long Night was said to be brought about by a race of ice demons known as the Others or White Walkers," he recounted. "The Others were only defeated by an alliance between the First Men of Westeros and the Children of the Forest led by a man known as the Last Hero wielding a sword of fire known as Lightbringer. Together, the Last Hero drove the others back to the Lands of Always Winter and Bran the Builder built the Wall hewn from ice and imbued with magic by the Children to prevent the Others from getting past."
"Hmm, sounds similar to the White Frost," Geralt mused as they crossed the bridge going over the moat into Crow's Perch.
"It's just a story. No-one has ever seen the White Walkers in living memory," Aegon said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"In my experience, there's a grain of truth to every legend. And given how you got to this world, I think you'd be a little more open to the possibility," Geralt remarked. Aegon opened his mouth to refute those words, but he stopped and slowly nodded, conceding that the Witcher perhaps had a point.
Going through the hamlet that lay in the shadow of the keep of Crow's Perch, the sound of peasants and soldiers filled the air as Aegon followed the White Wolf through the small village. Marching up the hill, the sounds of villagers dimmed and gave way to the sound of metal being smacked against metal. The scent of woodsmoke and hot steel reached Aegon's nose making it wrinkle slightly as he and Geralt came up to a somewhat ramshackle blacksmith's forge. Hammering at a piece of hot metal was a diminutive but stocky looking man, dwarf, with a long beard and working at a nearby bench was a young attractive woman with straw blonde hair tied in a braided ponytail.
"Fergus. Yoana," Geralt greeted the two. Fergus, the dwarf, looked up from he was doing and nodded at the Witcher.
"Aye, White Wolf, how may I assist?" the smith asked as he put the piece of hot metal he was hammering into a nearby trough of water which hissed and erupt into a small cloud of steam.
"Need some armour made. Witcher's armour," replied Geralt.
"What's wrong with what ya got on right now?" Fergus asked critically.
"It's not for me. It's for…" Geralt hesitated briefly saying, "My apprentice. Aegon. Meet Fergus and Yoana," he introduced Aegon to the two smiths.
"A pleasure to meet you both," Aegon said with a formal bow of his head. "I must say I've not encountered a dwarf smith nor a woman smith," he admitted.
Fergus and Yoana gave a queer look and the latter asked, "What? Don't think a woman can forge armour as well as a man can?"
"Forgive me, I am not of these lands," Aegon was quick to say. "I am a foreigner. I mean no disrespect," he said with an apologetic smile.
"And you think because I'm a dwarf I can't forge armour?" Fergus asked with an indignant look. Yoana gave a little snort.
"I've not encountered a dwarf smith before," replied Aegon.
"Really? Never seen a dwarf at all?" Fergus asked with a look of surprise.
"I've seen dwarf mummers, but not smiths," Aegon said with a shrug of his arms.
Geralt intervened. "My apprentice is from a land where there no-one of the Elder Races. There are dwarfs, but not of the Elder races," he explained to Fergus who looked genuinely surprised.
"Really? Where is it you come from?" the dwarf smith asked looking at the young knight who replied, "Westeros."
"Where's that?"
"West," Aegon said dryly.
"I see. Alright, well, let's get your measurements then," Fergus said as he brought out a measuring tape. A few moments later after getting Aegon's measurements, the dwarf smith added, "Can make ye some basic armour to start with, but it'll cost a bit."
"How much?" Geralt asked.
"A hundred and fifty crowns for the set, fifty for the labour," replied Fergus.
Aegon looked at Geralt and asked, "Do you have that much?" An apprehensive look was on the young knight's face as he spoke the words.
"Not right now, but if we take a look at the notice board, we can find a monster contract that could cover the cost of your armour," said Geralt.
"Alright, let's see if there is one," Aegon said with a smile as he followed Geralt to a nearby notice board which flyers and notices were pinned on. Geralt perused the notices and picked out two that interested him.
"Found two. One here in Crow's Perch and another in the village of Honorton not far from here," the Witcher informed his apprentice.
"Might we go for the one here? It's closer," Aegon said.
"Yeah, we'll go for this one here and then go for the one in Honorton," Geralt said stuffing the notices in his hip satchel. "C'mon, this'll be a trial by fire you," he told Aegon who nodded and they then set down for the village. It did not take long for Geralt to find the one who posted the contract, a man named Chet. Chet was a relatively tall man with swept back brown hair and a salt and pepper beard. He wore a blue tunic, dark grey trousers and brown shoes. A steel sword was sheathed by the man's side indicating that he might be a soldier or someone wealthy enough to afford such a weapon.
"You Chet?" Geralt asked the man who stood up from the bench he sat on and replied, "Aye. I'm Chet. Who are you?" His pale brown eyes looked at Geralt and Aegon warily.
"Geralt of Rivia, and this is my apprentice Aegon," Geralt made the introductions. "We're here about the notice you posted. Something about a 'Shrieker'," he listed.
Chet nodded in understanding and replied, "Aye, a terrible thing it were. Makes an awful loud racket. It snatches cows and goats mostly, but it won't turn away a man if it finds one. Borzoy, the huntsman under the old lord decided enough was enough and set out to kill it. He laid a trap in the bushes beyond the moat, but that were the last of him. After the shrieker left, we found Borzoy's body torn to pieces, spread over the trees like gossamer. Took half a day to gather all the pieces and give him a decent burial." A saddened look was on the man's face as he spoke.
"Has anyone seen this creature and lived to tell of it?" Aegon asked Chet who nodded.
"Aye, Symko. Borzoy's lad. He saw the beast, but he ain't telling much. Lad still mourns his father, I fear."
"Do you know where he is?" Geralt asked.
"Around the back with the goats. I took the lad in after his father passed," said Chet. "The mother passed long ago," he added.
Geralt nodded and then said, "Let's talk about the reward. What you're offering isn't enough, especially since we don't know what it is." Chet nodded and after a few minutes f haggling, he agreed to pay two hundred crowns for the beast's head.
"Aye, I can cough up a bit more, it's your necks on the line."
With a firm handshake, sealing the deal, Geralt and Aegon then went around the back of Chet's hut and found small boy tending to the goats. A sad disheartened look was in the boy's eyes as he looked up at the two silver haired warriors.
"Are you Symko?" Geralt asked softly as he knelt down to be at eye level with the boy.
"Leave me be," the boy said unhappily.
"We just want to-" Geralt tried saying when Symko cut him off with, "Go, I said!"
Aegon then knelt down to look the boy in the eye and said in his kindest softest voice, "Symko? Ser Geralt and I wish to avenge your father, but we don't know what it looks like. We were told you saw it, is that true?" Symko nodded in confirmation, tears almost welling up in his eyes.
"Symko. I swear on my sword that Geralt and I will avenge your father and let no-one else be claimed by this monster," Aegon said solemnly, placing his hand over his heart.
Symko nodded and said, "It were like a rooster… but huge! With a lizard's tail! I heard Ruffler, me dog, barking in the woods. I went to see what it were about, and then… I saw Da! He were lying in the bushes with a hole in his chest! He were moaning! Screaming! I-I wanted to help. But how could I? How!?" Tears sprung up in the boy's eyes as he wept unhappily.
Aegon gently hugged the boy and whispered to him, "It's alright. You don't need to say anymore. Leave it to Ser Geralt and I." With a gentle pat on the back, Aegon released the boy and nodded at Geralt who nodded back. Leaving the weeping boy, the Witcher and his apprentice then prepared to head for the area where the Shrieker had been.
"Alright, the area beyond the moat. The creature should have a lair nearby, given that it snatches cows and goats on a regular basis," Geralt noted.
"And the description Symko gave us?" Aegon asked.
"I have a few ideas as to what it might be, but let's not jump to conclusions just yet," said the Witcher as they left Crow's Perch and circled around the moat to where the huntsman had met his end. "Alright, have a look around for any tracks or signs of blood," Geralt told his apprentice who nodded and began looking around.
Sifting through the bushes, Aegon soon smelt something decaying and found the body of a dog. "Geralt!" he called out. "I've found something!" The young knight kneeled by the dead canine as Geralt came over to see what his apprentice had discovered.
"A dog. This must be Ruffler," Geralt remarked.
"Poor creature. Must've died trying to defend his master," Aegon said softly.
"Didn't go without a fight. See the blood caking its muzzle?" Geralt asked indicating the drying blood on the dead dog's mouth.
"Brave beast, most dogs usually are when it comes to defending their owners," Aegon said knowingly.
Geralt's cat-like eyes focused and he soon the imprints of large almost bird-like tracks. "Monster was here, but it was staggering a bit," he observed and soon found some blood spatters. "It was wounded, heading back for its lair," he stated as he began to trace the trail of blood to its source with Aegon following him. The blood trail and claw marks gradually became deeper and clearer as the two monster hunters came to the burnt remains of a watchtower.
"Tracks indicate the Shrieker is a cockatrice, a fairly large one," Geralt stated as he examined the details of the tracks.
"A cockatrice? That's some kind of big monster rooster with the wings of a dragon and a serpent's tail? Can turn its victims to stone with a glance?" Aegon asked.
Geralt gave a ghost of a smile and replied, "Not quite. The gaze of a cockatrice is no more dangerous than that of an angry goose, but it's still quite deadly. It attacks with a razor sharp beak, talons and can whip its tail with deadly force. It's a flying creature which means it can be difficult to get it on the ground and its lifting power is enough to carry off a good sized cow or a human."
"So, we need to find a way to force it to ground then," Aegon said with a look of understanding.
"Got a few methods that'll work. Cockatrice's are aggressive fighters, so it won't run away very far," Geralt said. Digging through his hip pouch, the White Wolf pulled out a bottle of viscous green liquid.
"Poison?" Aegon guessed upon seeing the bottle in Geralt's hand. Geralt nodded. "Mhm. Draconid oil; applying to the blade of your sword will make wounds more devastating to cockatrices and other draconids. There are other blade oils fitting a similar function for other types of monster." Taking a rag out from his belt, Geralt uncorked the stopped from the bottle and poured a generous amount onto the rag before taking out his steel sword and began greasing the meteorite steel blade in a thin sheen of green coloured oil.
"Gimme your sword," Geralt then said to his apprentice once had he finished applying the poisonous oil to his sword. Trusting Geralt's words, Aegon unsheathed Blackfyre and handed the Valyrian blade to the Witcher who then applied the draconid oil to the dark spell-forged blade.
"Alright, that's done. Just a few more things, then we can go in and flush the cockatrice out," Geralt stated.
"Like what?" Aegon asked as he took his sword back from Geralt and looked at the thin sheen of oil coating the blade.
"Preparation is key when it comes to a monster hunt of any kind," Geralt said sternly. "Some things are not to be left to chance as it can mean your end if you don't take appropriate precautions," he added.
"So, what is it we need to do?" Aegon asked.
"I'll need to drink some potions first and prepare a few bombs," said Geralt. "I can show you how to prepare bombs, but given that you're human, you wouldn't be able to drink witcher potions," he added sardonically.
"Why not?" Aegon asked with a perplexed look on his face.
"Witcher potions are toxic to humans," Geralt said darkly. "You'd be considered lucky if even a watered down Swallow killed you outright," he added.
"Then why do you drink such a dangerous brew?" Aegon asked with a look of horror.
Geralt gave another ghost of a smile and replied, "Witchers can withstand a lot of poisons and toxins, and the potions we imbibe can make us faster, stronger and better enhance our abilities for a time."
"That I have to see to believe," Aegon remarked.
"Oh, you're gonna see lot out here," Geralt said with a dark look. "But we can talk about another time." Kneeling to the ground, Geralt pulled out some small potion bottles and vials, each filled with different coloured liquids. Aegon watched curiously as one by one, Geralt imbibed the contents of each potion bottle he had brought out. With a pained groan, the Witcher's eyes turned an almost pitch black armour, the skin of his face becoming a ghostly pale white and veins bulged in his face turning dark as oil. Aegon looked quite alarmed at seeing the effects the potions had on Geralt who to his feet.
"Let's go."
Following Geralt into the cave, Aegon had to suppress the urge to gag as the scent of rot and decay hit his nose. And he heard the queerest sound coming up from a ledge above them in the cave. It sounded like a rooster clucking, but much deeper and fiercer.
"Up there," Aegon whispered to Geralt, pointing the ledge above them.
"Yeah," Geralt muttered as he pulled out a small spherical object. With a flick of his thumb, a small fuse was lit and the witcher tossed the object into the alcove above them. A loud boom followed by a flash of light was observed as the creature in the alcove gave a piercing shriek. Then there was a splintering smash of wood and stone being broken apart as the Shrieker escaped out another way.
"Shit! It's gone out another way!" Geralt cursed. "After it!" he urged his apprentice. The two monster hunters then ran out of the cave and Aegon then saw the cockatrice flying a distance from them. It was enormous, the young knight thought to himself, even at the distance he saw it. Its head was like that of a warp rooster and its wing span was large, easily propelling it through the air. Chasing after the creature, Aegon and Geralt then saw the beast circle around and began diving towards them.
"Move!" Geralt shouted at Aegon, shoving him out of the cockatrice's path. The cockatrice crowed angrily as it failed to grasp its prey in taloned claws. Geralt readied his sword and shouted to Aegon, "Flank it! It can't turn around on the spot quickly! And watch for its tail!"
Aegon drew his sword and felt his heart pound as he did as Geralt advised him to. The cockatrice looked at the two who threatened it. Deciding the young knight was the easiest prey, the cockatrice gave a cry like of a rooster and leapt towards its chosen prey. Hurling himself out of the path of the monster, Aegon tumbled to the ground and swung Blackfyre blindly and was rewarded with a sharp shriek. The cockatrice then scrambled after the young like chickens would over a stray worm. Aegon hurriedly backed away as fast as he could, thrusting his sword at the beast's face. Then a stream of fire hit the cockatrice, causing it to shriek as the flames began to burns its fathers and flesh.
Aegon looked up to see Geralt with his left hand outstretched, the fingers of his hand bent at odd angles and from said hand a stream of fire spewed forth. "Don't just sit there! Move!" Geralt shouted to his apprentice who quickly got out of the way as the monster focused its attention on the Witcher. Staggering to his feet, Aegon readied his sword as the cockatrice leapt towards Geralt. The witcher smoothly leapt forward under the leaping monster, swinging his sword at its exposed belly and was rewarded with a thin line of blood followed by a shriek of pain from the beast. The beast fell to the ground crying in pain as it staggered to its feet and looked between the two hunters with baleful eyes.
"Keep it confused," Geralt told Aegon who nodded as he circled the monster, waiting for the opportunity to strike. The cockatrice reared up on its legs, spreading its wings out and gave a deafening cry. Gritting his teeth in discomfort from the deafening sound, Aegon charged forward and slashed at the monster's exposed body. The spell-forged blade of Blackfyre cut deep into the beast's side. The monster screamed and swiped its wing at the young knight who barely avoided the sweeping attack and Geralt moved in and dealt a decisive strike at the creature's neck. The meteorite steel blade hit a vein, and dark red blood spurted out and the draconid oil coating Geralt's sword ensured the wound bled more profusely.
With a surge of desperate strength, the cockatrice whipped its tail at Geralt who smoothly leapt out of reach. With the beast distracted, Aegon gripped the hilt of his sword in both hands and thrust the blade deep into where he hoped the monster's heart would. With a rattling cry of agony, the cockatrice fell forward on top of the young knight.
A look of alarm spread across the witcher's face as he ran forward and hauled the beast's off his apprentice. "Aegon? Aegon!?" Rolling the now dead monster onto its back, Geralt gave a small sigh of relief as he saw his apprentice alive albeit winded, his sword stuck deep into the cockatrice' body, killing it.
"Did… did we win?" Aegon gasped out for breath.
"We did," Geralt replied as he held out a hand for Aegon to take. Taking the offered hand, the young knight was lifted to his feet and saw the now dead cockatrice. "Nice work," Geralt complimented him. "Don't do it again," he was quick to add dryly.
Aegon nodded as he hobbled over and pulled his sword free from the monster's carcass. "Now what?" the young knight asked between huffs as he got his breath back.
"Now to collect a trophy as proof of the kill," Geralt told him as he sheathed his sword and pulled out an iron bladed hunting knife from his belt. With quick precise cuts, the witcher severed the cockatrice's head from its neck. Then with a piercing whistle from his lips, Geralt called for his horse who to the surprise of Aegon came trotting up expectantly.
"Wasn't Roach at Crow's Perch?" the young knight asked in confusion.
"She was," Geralt confirmed as he tied to the head of the cockatrice to Roach's saddle.
"Did she follow us out here and not let us see her?" Aegon wondered.
"I've learnt not to question it to be honest," Geralt said wryly. "Let's check the cockatrice's lair. Might be some things we can use," he added.
"Like what?" Aegon asked with a puzzled look as he followed the witcher to the cockatrice's lair.
"You never know," came Geralt's dry response.
And to Aegon's surprise, there was a small stash of treasure in the Shrieker's nest. Some gold coins that Geralt told him were Nilfgaardian florens, some small gemstones and even an axe that Geralt identified as dwarven make.
"Are you sure that cockatrice wasn't a dragon of some kind?" Aegon questioned the Geralt as they examined the baubles they had found in the Cockatrice's nest. "Dragons are said to have treasure in their lairs," he pointed out.
"Another thing I've learnt not to question too much," Geralt replied. "Besides, it's better in our hands than anyone else's," he said.
"Spoils of war," Aegon remarked with some sarcasm.
"Well, in any case, we've killed the monster. Time to collect the reward," Geralt stated as they took what they could carry from the cockatrice's nest and then headed back to Crow's Perch. The triumphant hunters then found Chet sitting with Symko out the front of their hut.
"Job's done. The shrieker's dead. You don't have to worry about it any more," Geralt said to the man and his now adopted son, showing them the head of the beast.
"Thank ye, kind sirs," Chet said with a grateful look on his bearded face, pulling out a pouch which looked heavy with coin. "Honest pay for honest work," he declared handing the purse to Geralt who nodded in thanks.
"Any problems, send for us," Geralt said to Chet who nodded. Symko then stopped Geralt and Aegon.
"Thank you, for avenging Da," the boy said to them with a grateful if tearful smile.
"You're welcome," Aegon said to the boy with a kind smile. Symko smiled back and headed into the hut.
Chet smiled and said to Aegon, "I think Symko can sleep easier now his father's been avenged." Aegon nodded at this before giving his farewell.
As they left Chet and Symko behind, Aegon then spoke with Geralt, "So, are all monster hunts like this?"
"I wish they were," Geralt said with a tired look in his eyes. "I've learnt that in my years of being a witcher, there are things worse than the monsters I hunt," he added with a sombre look.
"What things?" Aegon asked curiously.
Geralt shook his head and said, "I'll tell you some other time. Let's just get you your armour made and move on to the next job." Aegon wanted to press Geralt on what he meant by things worse than monsters, but decided to hold his tongue for the moment and followed the witcher to Fergus and Yoana's forge.
TO BE CONTINUED…
A/N: Chapter 4 is done and dusted. I hope you all enjoyed it and that we got a first look at Aegon's first monster contract. Now, he's not going to be tackling things like cockatrice's griffins and big monsters, at least not by himself, instead he'll be starting off small, ghouls, drowners and the like, for some of the bigger monsters, he'll need some help with, which is where Geralt comes is and maybe some others who have experience with monsters like Triss or Zoltan, or perhaps some other witchers like Eskel or Lambert.
The next chapter we'll see Aegon and Geralt tackle the beast of Honorton contract, but for those who have played the game will know that there's a different kind of monster there altogether, one whose reasons may or may not be justified.
And that's all I have right now, so I'll see you all next time.
Be kind to one another,
Angry lil' elf.