Chapter 39

"19." I said idly as I cut down another coughing nekker wildly trying to push past it's fellows to get at some fresh air, literally climbing over the corpses of those that already died, before moving on to another who was currently stuck in a snare trap strong enough to hold it. "20."

Was it weird I was getting too into channeling Goblin Slayer right now? I'd never before counted my kills, though to be fair nekker nests have noticeably larger groups than I remember from games so I thought it would be good to know how many a large nest like this one might have.

It was after about 20-30 minutes of steady smoking that the first nekkers came running out and right into the newly made traps I made thanks to Cedric's diagrams. Nekkers being weak as they are were easily tripped up or even killed by said traps while my Yrden Signs slowed others, making it very easy for me and my oiled up sword to take them out easily. Nekkers were individually very weak with their true danger being numbers and when led well by a nekker warrior, but when you take that away and add other factors like them fighting to even breath it is almost pathetically easy to dispatch them.

This continued for roughly ten minutes with nekkers running out of the cave in bunches most of the time. At one point even a red-faced nekker warrior came out, batting aside smaller brethren to get out first only to end up losing his head.

Eventually the nekkers did stop coming, after a decent pile of them had collected in front of the cave, and good thing too since I was nearly out of wood!

"32. No doubt there are more inside and at least a few got away through whatever side tunnels they made." I muttered to myself as I doused the fire and downed some Cat and Killer Whale. I figured since I was going into a cave still full of smoke it was to my benefit to hold my breath for a while.

As I entered the cave, periodically blasting some Aard around to clear the smoke to limit the overpowering smell and burning in my eyes, I could see on the ground a couple of lifeless nekkers. Most look like they were trampled trying to get outside but I did see a few that looked like they just dropped down, most likely from smoke inhalation. I made sure to stab any bodies I found with my sword just to be on the safe side.

Going deeper in the cave system I also found evidence of nekkers possessing at least near-sentience. Organized piles of food and waste, some crude drawings on walls made of clay like what nekker warriors put on their faces, even rudimentary sleeping areas made out of gathered nesting material like grasses and leaves. Nekkers might not be smart, not even goblin smart, but they had a savage cunning to them that made them more than mere animals.

I also noticed lots of small narrow tunnels in the sides of the wall where there was more dirt than rock, likely made by the nekkers when they moved in and like how more than a few got out into the surrounding forest. At least they help ventilate the cave faster. The ones that escaped would come back later but it would be awhile before this nest was the same threat as before.

I cut off my musing as when I pulled myself over another ledge and finally caught sight of what I was looking for, a ladder and a trapdoor. Before I could pat myself on the back though the trapdoor suddenly opened, releasing lots of pent up smoke and causing a coughing fit for several people on the other end.

"Cough! Godsdamn! When the hell did the little freaks learn how to roast themselves? Cough! Cough!" I heard someone yell and I cursed under my breath.

Of course the trapdoor wouldn't be airtight and someone would investigate! I need to think quickly lest my plan goes out the window!

"Someone there? Didn't think there would be something like this in a nekker nest." I called out.

"Oi?! Who's that?! If you know what's good for ya you'll climb up the ladder nice and slow! Don't think about running or else me and my boys will hunt you down and do worse to ya!" came the authoritative voice.

"As long as you promise not to kill me as soon as I climb up. I'm the one that took care of your nekker problem for you after all." I said as I sheathed my sword and headed for the ladder, applying Quen beforehand to prevent just that as I was climbing up.

A quick climb up and I had a half dozen swords pointed in my face and a rather burly man in a Temerian surcoat glaring at me.

"I'm Lieutenant Owens, direct subordinate to the Commandant of Flotsam. So who the fuck are you and why the fuck shouldn't we gut you right now for trespassing on the Commandant's property?" he asked, sounding fully expecting what I had to say wouldn't matter. Joke's on him.

"I'm Markus of Kovir, Witcher. There was a contract for nekkers on the notice board and I heard from the townsfolk that the cave was infested with them, didn't know it was an escape tunnel." I said while I fished the notice out of my pocket and handed it to him.

Owens snatched it out of my and looked it over carefully. "Escape tunnel… that's right. Commandant needs a way to escape in case Flotsam was ever invaded. Fucking nekkers took it over years ago though so we locked it up. I guess I should thank you for clearing them out for us." Owens nodded to his end and they pulled their blades back. "Smart thinking smoking them out I suppose. We thought the bastards were cooking or some shit like that. Sorry about the blades, can't be too careful seeing as this is a military outpost and all."

"Completely. If I had known I would have given warning. Is there anything else or is it alright that I leave the way I came? I still need to carve out the nekker hearts to turn into the burgomaster to prove the job is done or else I don't get paid."

"Hmm, I guess that is no issue. I'll tell the Commandant the good news and I'm sure he will tell Louis to give you a bonus for a job well done. Gave us less work too! With the nekkers gone I don't have to post any louts to guard a locked door no more!" Owens laughed. I smiled as well, albeit for an entirely different reason.

Bidding farewell, I went back down the ladder and got to work carving up my prizes.

---

"With a total of 42 collected nekker hearts, along with thanks from the Commandant himself, forms H-12 and AR-12 are hereby completed and your payment rendered fully. You have an extra 20% due to the amount of nekkers killed and for clearing an important location for Flotsam's continued security. The Commandant does ask you to keep the escape tunnel a secret though, for security reasons of course." Louis Merse, royal burgomaster and Loredo's cousin, stated.

"But of course," I lied easily through my teeth as I collected the 180 orens.

"Should you come across anymore nekkers or wish to take up other contracts to kill local monsters please return and you will be handsomely rewarded. Flotsam's status as a frontier town sadly makes it so there is no shortage of monsters that need culling."

"I'll keep that in mind. Witchers are always up for work if it pays well after all." I say to him in parting as I leave his office/house and make my way over to the docks to find Ivar.

I find him and Dogmeat sitting at the end of one staring intently over the water.

"No luck so far?" I asked the scholar who only signed in disappointment.

"None. I had hoped that I would be lucky and the kayran would show itself while you were busy but it seems not. Did I miss anything interesting about the nekker nest?" Ivar asked hopefully.

Don't tell him about nekker near-sentience! My mind screamed at me.

"...No?" I lied terribly. It has always been a weakness that I could never lie to people I liked.

"I knew it! What firsthand discoveries did I miss?! Can we go back?! Please tell me everything?!" Ivar shouted a little madly as he shot up to his feet and started shaking me wildly.

I needed a way to break him out of this before he- wait!

"Ivar, look! The kayran!" I pointed behind him. Ivar's body snapped around so fast I was a little worried he had dislocated something.

"Where?!" Ivar yelled excited at… nothing.

I liked to think my use of Gal to teleport a dozen feet away followed by an application of Axii to calm him down was very much the right decision.

"Ivar, look. The nekker cave is still likely full of enough smoke to kill you in minutes and due to unforeseen events Loredo's people are now aware I cleared it out and would not appreciate people in there very much. I still have stuff to do so how about you stay here as long as you want till dinner. I'll let you know if anything else comes up. I promise to make it up to you another time since there are plenty of nekker nests in the world, alright? I asked the grumbling scholar as he sat back down on the docks.

"I suppose… but I still want you to tell me what you saw yourself later."

"Deal. Dogmeat, stay with Ivar and look over him, okay?"

Dogmeat barked happily in agreement.

"Good, to hear." I said as I turned away from the docks and headed back to the inn, or more specifically the brothel that was located in the basement to talk with a madam that was the definition of a cougar.

---

I honestly never got all the red that brothels liked to use in decorating their place of business. I would prefer a soft blue or something along those lines.

Walking down the stairs and into the main 'selection area' felt a little weird as several of the ladies winked at me or gave me flirtatious looks. I politely ignored them and went straight over to the madam herself who was currently receiving payment from a satisfied-looking man.

"Be sure to come back again, sweetheart. My girls will take care of ya." Margot said with a wink as the man walked off and noticed me. "Oh, a Witcher! Don't see your kind often. So, any of my girls fit your fancy at all?"

"Actually, I would prefer a private meeting with you, my lady."

"Aww, ain't you sweet. I don't work the floor anymore myself though. Someone needs to keep an eye on things out here after all and not get distracted by handsome men. I'm sure any of the other girls would be happy to spend time with you though." She turned me down.

Hmmm, I needed to get her in a private setting but I didn't want to risk saying anything aloud that could expose her or cause her to freak out. I didn't like doing this on people I don't consider enemies, baring Ivar when he is getting a bit crazy, but…

"I really do need to talk privately with you." I said as I subtly used the Axii Sign.

I watch as Margot's eyes glazed over a little as the charm took effect. "Well I suppose just a talk for a short bit won't hurt. Let's head to me office."

I nodded and followed her to her office/room and closed the door behind me.

"So, what did you want to talk about, Master Witcher?" Margot asks me.

"First off, let me say that I am not working for Loredo at all and in fact I'm working on killing the whoreson killed. Second, I know you are supplying information to Iorveth and the local Scoia'tael, if not the details why or how an arrangement came to pass. Third, I have vital information that Iorveth can use to kill off Loredo and most of his men, giving Flotsam a chance to have at least a non-human neutral leader take over the reins, but only if he acts soon. That is why I need you to contact him and tell him where to meet me if he seriously wants to know. Can you do that?" I said all at once to make sure that Margot didn't have a chance to interrupt.

Judging by the way her eyes were bulging from all the information I just dropped on her and how she was struggling to respond I consider that something of success.

"You don't have to answer. Just tell him or whoever you pass information to to meet me on the shore on the other side of the cliffs west of town near dusk. I promise to come alone." I finished before making my way out of her office before she could say anything to possibly deny or question me.

Now, I had to prepare to meet with an understandably salty freedom fighter and convince him I was the guy handing him what he wanted for free. Yeah… I might have to work on my delivery a bit.

---

I decided to meditate at the same spot where Geralt and company land in Flotsam during the game, hours going by what was once the morning sun that greeted me when I arrived in town gave way to dusk. I was still mentally trying to prepare myself on how to talk to Iorveth since while I knew that past his prickly exterior he was a guy with good reasons for why he fought and could even have optimistic dreams he did not trust easily. Me showing up out of nowhere and contacting what should be a secret informant will make him nervous.

And a nervous Iorveth was an angry and dangerous one.

Before I could explore my thoughts any more than that a sound suddenly pierced the silence of the darkening forest. The sounds of a recorder.

At the sound I slowly got up and turned around to see the elf in question sitting on a rather large tree root over me, just like in the game, playing his instrument, seemingly not even noticing me.

However, as the song came to its end he pulled the recorder away and glared down at me with his one working eye.

"A little bird told me that a cocky vatt'gern wanted a private meeting with the big, bad Iorveth. Well, here I am." He sprang to his feet and gave me a sarcastic half-bow. "Now, tell me why I should listen to anything you might have to say and not have my archers strike you down where you stand?"

Huh. Not dead yet, progress!