Chapter 11 - Friend or Foe
*****
We took a couple of days to ourselves after what happened, or that was the plan to begin with. We needed to as we had barely stopped since entering Velen. Spending a night on the ale in Lindenvale was just what the doctor ordered, and once they learned Geralt was a witcher, we ended up spending another day as he sorted out a contract, always eager to make a little more coin.
I ended up talking to a mature woman, who regaled me with a story of losing her manor as it was infested with monsters. Figuring it was something else Geralt and I could sort out, I agreed to help her. Geralt wasn't exactly chuffed that I'd agree to a contract, but as the one he'd completed hadn't proven that difficult, we rode off the next morning for Reardon Manor.
The manor grounds were only a short ride away, but Geralt was immediately suspicious as we rode the path, and brought us to a halt on the outskirts. "Trap ahead," he muttered.
"There is?"
"Aye. Best continue on foot so I can eliminate the dangers." As we dismounted and walked forward, Geralt set about disarming the traps, and it was obvious there were no monsters, or if there had been, someone immensely talented had killed the monsters then set the traps. The only people who could set such elaborate traps, and kill monsters, was a fellow witcher. That left me scratching my head.
Searching the manor itself only revealed traps and what looked like a homestead that had been abandoned for some time. Geralt always enjoyed sniffing out a mystery, and he was convinced that something was in the barn. More traps lay inside, though no sign of who might have been there, until we found a ladder and climbed it.
I had my sword in hand immediately as Letho turned towards us. "Wolf. Dragonborn." His eyes went to my sword. "You're not planning on doing something stupid, are you?"
"Depends on you."
He turned and stood up. He was an imposing man, even bigger than myself, arms like tree trunks. "Ain't here to fight you, Ragnar. Bygones be bygones?"
"Part of me should say no. Still pissed off about everything."
He nodded. "Understood. Wolf?"
"I agree with my friend here about being pissed off, but enough time has passed. And since you're here, I assume in hiding..." Geralt glanced at me. "Considering all the traps, Ragnar, it would lead me to believe his situation has changed."
Letho nodded, looking at me. "I'm no use to them, the emperor, anymore. They want me dead. Perhaps more than you both do." He gestured for us to join him by the opening. "Was working with someone. Think he's decided to get rid of me like the emperor."
"Going out of your way to make a long list of enemies, Letho," I stated, injecting a little humour.
He gestured with his head as at least six to ten armed men appeared, gathering in the middle of the estate. "Friends of yours?" Geralt asked.
"Friends of someone I thought a friend. I think we should say hello, find out."
Before either of us could say a word, he dropped down to the ground below. Surprisingly silent. Geralt followed him immediately, muttering to myself as I headed back to the ladder. I wasn't fleet footed like a witcher, bound to roll an ankle or just straight break my leg. By the time I joined them, the fighting had already begun, so I just unsheathed and started swinging. The mercenaries were abjectly useless, the weapons they using of poor quality, and none wore armour worth the name.
Checking the bodies for information, Letho finally explained what this was all about. He had been working alongside someone called Louis. It was a long and complicated tale, but the fact it ended in backstabbing and betrayal wasn't a real surprise. It was the type of people Letho had generally found himself working with.
Mounting up, he continued to explain to Geralt, though I kept back slightly, just keeping an eye on our rear. He was leading us towards a camp, and considering the area was thick with bandits, I did think that perhaps the area was crawling with people who would be looking for someone like Letho. The two in front had keener senses, but sometimes they still needed someone to watch their backs, just in case.
Turning off the main road, we crested a rise and approached a campsite. Dismounting a little way back, there were sentries carefully watching our approach, but once they recognised Letho, they seemed to relax, though weapons remained in hand. Geralt stayed next to Letho as I stayed half a dozen paces back, making sure I could see all the mercenaries.
The conversation... did not go well. In fact, it went so badly that, within a few minutes, blood was being spilled. Despite there only being three of us against their ten, we made short work of them, much like the mercenaries we had dealt with at Reardon Manor. Letho purposely kept Louis alive as the rest were killed without mercy, Letho looming over the man as he started to ask him a series of questions.
"Where is Arnout Vester?" Letho asked.
Louis looked from Letho to Geralt and to me, then back at Letho. He gulped. "Lindenvale. He's in Lindenvale with his men."
I thought Letho was going to kill him, but instead he stood up and walked back to his horse, Geralt following him without a word. I was tempted to just finish him off, but Geralt called out. "Leave him for the wolves."
I was ready to argue, but this wasn't my issue. So I left Louis to his fate, mounting up and following the other two, listening into the conversation between the witchers as Letho explained how he knew Vester and what to expect when we go there.
As we rode through the middle of the village, I glanced to see doors being shut, window shuttered pulled in, everyone getting off the road and out of sight. We rode to the other end of the village, where there were mounts that Letho recognised. Dismounting at the adjoining farm, the three of us approaching the farmstead.
The three of us stopped, looking at the building. "You two. Do not interfere, no matter what happens." He looked at Geralt first, who nodded, then at me. He shook his head at whatever question I may have asked. Geralt and I walked away though kept an eye on proceedings. Letho threw a bomb to attract attention, and soon at least ten men had emerged from the homestead. We couldn't hear the conversation, but after he took a crossbow bolt in the shoulder, he made short work of seven of the men. It was rather embarrassing, to be honest.
But someone got in a lucky strike, as he joined the rest on the ground. That's when we did make our move. Two of us, three of them remaining. Letho had told us not to get involved. Did I care he was dead? Not really, to be honest. But I wouldn't put up with disrespect, if that's what they had planned.
Vester noticed us coming and readied himself. "We have no quarrel with you," he stated.
"We know," Geralt replied.
"We don't want any trouble," I added, ensuring our hands stayed away from our weapons.
"Wise choice." He glanced at one of his surviving men. "Take his head and let's get out of here."
"No," Geralt stated, "Take his medallion. You don't need his head."
Vester looked ready to argue but did the sums. Two of us, three of them. And considering Letho had slaughtered seven of his men, with a crossbow bolt in his shoulder, led his mind to making the sensible decision. "Agreed. We will take his medallion and leave this shithole."
We stepped aside as they snapped the medallion of from around his neck. Mounting their horses, we watched them quickly disappear. Letho was a heavy bastard, and Geralt had a feeling not all was as it seemed. We dragged his body into the homestead and took a seat, waiting for whatever was to happen. I kept looking at Geralt, and he just told me to be patient.
The bastard woke up! Geralt seemed to understand what Letho told him, about the poison he had taken, but it had fooled everyone, which is just what he wanted. Needing somewhere to lay low, Geralt offered him the chance to go to Kaer Morhen. Letho wasn't convinced at first, but figuring it was safer than anywhere else on the Continent, he eventually agreed, Geralt finding paper and ink, writing a quick note he could pass to Vesemir, as the old man would be bound to freak out upon seeing him approach.
Finding Dolores in the tavern, I let her know that her manor was now clear of monsters and safe for her to return. She was delighted to hear the news, though as it was now late, she would start walking back the next morning. Geralt and I stayed at the inn, enjoying a few more tankards, agreeing to return to Crow's Perch the next morning to settle up matters before moving on.
"Novigrad?" I asked.
"We've investigated every rumour in Velen. So it makes sense to head to Novigrad. The idea was to find Triss anyway, so that'll make you happy."
"Missing Yen?"
He gave me a look. "Of course. Might need to pay a visit or two to a house of ill-repute while we are there. Particularly if you're going to be busy getting your end away with Triss. Shit, you'll be so busy doing that, I'll be doing all the work."
"I'll try and keep it in my pants some of the time."
He scoffed, took a swig of his tankard, then grinned. "You make her happy, Ragnar," he stated to my surprise.
"Well, I'm glad I do."
"I knew she nursed a little crush on me before you arrived. Once you did, I had no chance!"
"You had Yennefer."
"I did and I never forgot that. Plus, I've never looked at Triss as anything other than a friend. But once you appeared, you were the..." He trailed off.
"Were the what?"
"I was going to say distraction, but you were much more than that. She fell head over heels in love with you within days."
