171 Toussaint (Part 10)

"Crab soup here is just the right thing to uplift the mood after what we saw. I must say, it was like a legend came true. Never saw anything like that." - Fresnes sat down in the corner table of the little inn on the bridge.

"You came at the right moment, sir Fresnes. We just prepared another caldron."

"Good, good... we need some hot food. One each. Ah, don't worry, witchers, I'll pay for the meal."

Ciri lifted her head with a gleam of light in her eyes. She was called a witcher!

"Fine. But I need your help, Fresnes. Can you tell me everything you know about Morivaldi?"

"Naturally, but why?"

"You see, the creature I need to hunt down is very strong. It is neither a wraith nor a physical being like ghouls, rather... it is something in-between, a powerful cursed being. It should be a person, that came back for revenge after dying. Clearly, one of the targets was baron Morivaldi."

"Can't be. Victor was a good man, a knight true to the five virtues. I don't believe he could have done something that can bring such menace here. By the heron, I believe you are wrong!"

"Are you helping or not?"

Alan looked at the knight with severe eyes. He had seen too much depravity from the people to believe that there is an infallible person.

"Fine, fine... but I don't know, really don't know! Maybe the case of his wife... she died and her child too. Oh no, are you saying it is her?"

"Unlikely. A person has to suffer unjust death to come back like that. Was her death unjust? Perhaps... anything can be. It can be her or someone else who died. Do you know where Victor went after his wife died?"

"Naturally, I was in his mansion back then. How can I not comfort a friend? But I didn't go with him. He forbid it. Ah, don't think too much, Alan. Victor is... was a good man and wanted to let some steam out. He liked hunting. As far as I remember he took several other knights from his former brigade and they left for the northern forests. Duchess presented part of the forest territory to Victor Morivaldi after his splendid service. He was one of the rare people in Toussaint, that had permission to hunt there and even had a small house in the woods."

"You need a royal permission to hunt there?"

"To hunt? Yes, of course! To visit? Only if you are not a noble or a knight or not escorted by one. Ah, crab soup is outstanding today, as always. Try it. It is a local delicacy. It will warm your hearts and ease your minds! By the heron, it is absolutely splendid!"

"Who was with Victor on that day?"

"Three good knights from well known noble families of the Nilfgaard. Grigor de Reschile, Aleb de Corvin and my friend Peneresyl de Gothran, with whom we fought together to rid the lands from the gangs."

Alan nodded.

"Do you know where to find them?"

"It is easy. But meeting them now will be hard. They are preparing for the upcoming knight tournament. But they will participate in annual games in the Royal Gardens in two days. You can find them there."

"Games in Royal Gardens?" - Ciri removed her full attention from the soup for the first time. She liked it a lot.

"Oh, it is a grand event. This time the games will be very intriguing. It is a test of bravery, wisdom and knowledge. Three tasks. It is said that our honorable duchess really went all out this time. It is her first proper celebration after the death of her husband, the duke Raymund."

"I don't think she grieved that much." - shrugged Alan. - "Anyway, I'm not interested in games, but the three friends of the baron. If I'm right about the creature, it won't stop until it hunts them all down."

"What is this creature exactly?"

"Oh, it is a r..."

Suddenly the door opened in a fast manner, so unwelcomed here, and a boy of ten ran inside.

"Alan Violergos, the witcher!" - he screamed at top of his lungs.

"He is here, boy!" - waved his hand Fresnes.

Errand boy jumped in great spirits, nearly tripped over a shield of the nearby knight who placed it by the side of the table, avoided a servant with a tray of wine glasses full of red liquid and froze in front of Alan. His bright gaze locked on the witchers eyes in burning curiosity.

"Alan Violergos?"

"That's me."

The boy unfolded a parchment and read its statements one by one.

"Seems like so. Scar on the left eye... wow, so long, but my father has scars too. He fights for the people! Two swords... wow, so sharp, but my father has a sword too. He is a wandering knight! Medallion in the wolf's head shape... wow!" - the boy thought hard. - "My father doesn't have one, but mom made him a bracelet with a family crest! It is cool too!"

Ciri looked at the boy with interest.

"Why are you here?" - asked Alan evenly. His eyes found a bag full of letters long ago.

"Oh yes. Seems like you are indeed Alan Violergos, the witcher. Unfriendly attitude... checked!" - smiled the boy broadly while Alan rolled his eyes. Someone really tried to portray him from inside out.

'Unfriendly attitude. Fine, let's see who you are and I will show my real unfriendly attitude.'

"Here, this letter is for you."

Alan took it and saw no stamp or signature.

"Who has sent this?"

The boy turned to the side and whistled, while his small fingers rubbed each other in a worldwide gesture of a true merchant. The gesture said that the additional services requires additional payment.

Alan threw a couple of coins with an amused smirk. Although they were one of the last in his possession, he still gave them away without a second thought.

Boy smiled broadly.

"He was a very polite man."

"Tell me more." - Alan rolled his eyes at the crafty boy.

"His face was pale, and he wore a strange bag and leather coat. He said you met him once..."

Alan immediately became tense. There were two of the... entities he knew that can be described like that. And both are not someone he would like to meet right now. They can bring a hell of a trouble.

One even more than that.

"Oh, I have another one for you. Wow, you must be a very rich person." - boy narrowed his eyes.

"I'm not. So, what is the second one?"

"Invitation for the audience from Her Highness, our honorable duchess!" - the boy proclaimed with gusto and pose. A true messenger with overflowing love for the country.

Alan sighed and took it, giving the boy another coin.

"He-he... nice working with you." - screamed the boy and disappeared like the wind, avoiding knights and a servant who walked out with a tray of soup.

"Stop running around in my place, you little rogue!" - screamed the innkeeper at his back.

"I'm out already, old thing!" - echoed from the outside.

"Tch... running here and there..."

The man nearly gave chase, but eventually waved his hand in anger and went back to the kitchen.

"Audience..." - Ciri narrowed her eyes. - "Wasn't you there just a day ago? Hmm... she is suspicious."

"I bet she already knows about the Morivaldi estate. Such a big thing is hard to hide."

"Or she was going to ask about another case." - said Fresnes mysteriously, but his mouth twitched for a moment. It almost seems like he was personally involved in the matter.

Alan didn't ask further and bid farewell to the knight, dragging Ciri away.

"Stop looking, we can come any other day. And you ate three plates, isn't it enough?"

"Nope! It is so good! I terribly love it, Alan. Hmph, I want more."

They walked the night streets of Beauclair. Alan bought her some sugared donuts. Ciri forgot about the soup right away, buying several more, and happily nibbled at them while walking and gazing around.

Beauclair is a city that never sleeps.

"What a beautiful city..." - Ciri sighed and leaned on Alan's shoulder, while they took a seat on one of the benches in the harbor. But her energy again spiked with newfound power and the girl sat by the side, placing her legs across his.

Her little nimble hands went for his hair again, making a braid unhurriedly.

"So... what is this monster?" - she asked.

Alan gazed at her and said.