16 Chapter 15:

Life lives on life. This is the sense of the symbol of the Ouroboros, the serpent biting its tail. Everything that lives lives on the death of something else. Your own body will be food for something else. Anyone who denies this, anyone who holds back, is out of order. Death is an act of giving. - Joseph Campbell

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A Few Moments Later:

Current Year: 1259

I had just stepped out of the many tubs that the castle had in the bathing area. I had made sure to scrub myself clean, the amount of grime that came off me was...Unpleasant, to say the least. I never knew someone could get that dirty. Staying inside a cave in squalor will do that to you.

I quickly clothed myself in a simple pair of black pants and accompanying grey tunic, then I set off towards Fringilla's room. If this is to be my last night on earth, then I would not mind having a drink in her presence. I walked quickly through the many dark hallways of the castle and after a few moments I arrived at Fringilla's quarters.

I knocked a few times at the door to let her know of my arrival. *Knock Knock Knock*

"Come in!" She replied from within.

I pulled the iron door handle and let myself inside. Fringilla was waiting at a table with two comfortable looking fluffy chairs. The bottle of champagne I had seen earlier was sitting atop the table accompanied by two ornate glasses.

"Getting all fancy for me now, are we?" I said in a rather sarcastic tone.

"My standards are rather high." She replied with just as much satire.

Fringilla seated herself and motioned for me to join her. I acquiesced and walked over to my seat and plopped myself down.

"It seems you've acquired a new mark from your journey, it's a shame. I thought that you were quite handsome before." Fringilla said playfully while gesturing at my scar.

"Please." I said with exaggeration. "I know that you just adore a man with scars, do you not?"

We both let out a chuckle at the wise remarks we shared. Fringilla then took the champagne from it's resting place and began pouring both of us a glass. After she was finished, I took the cup to my nose and smelled the aroma. I then lowered it to my lips and took a small sip of the sparkling liquid. It was good, not the best I've ever had in my previous life, but pretty good.

"So? How is your first drink? Careful not to get addicted in the future, I wouldn't want you to become the town drunk." Fringilla said with a smile.

"It's quite good, but this is not the first time I've ever drank." I said while ignoring her last remark.

"Is it not? Interesting. I'm learning more about you already. Why don't you share your story with me? You might interest me, but I still know next to nothing about you. Try as I might, I haven't managed to dig up anything on who you are." Fringilla said with a bit of eagerness. I suppose I would feel the same. I am quite an enigma.

"Hmm? Did research on me, did you? Well, it's not surprising you couldn't find anything on me. I am a nobody." I said while taking another sip of my drink.

"I find that hard to believe." Fringilla replied quickly. "You knew from the second you saw me that I was a spy for Nilfgaard, that alone makes you somebody. You also knew about the brotherhood, despite your age."

"It's true, I do know much about the brotherhood." I said with a smile. "I also know a couple of things about you as well, although, not as much as I'd like to."

"If you know about the brotherhood, then you know about Aretuza. So, why are you trying to pursue me? I'm an over one hundred year old sorceress." Fringilla asked with intensity. She truly was curious.

"Well, Fringilla, you also could just reject my advances anytime you want. Why don't you do so? Unless, you were open to the idea?" I said with a smirk.

"God." Fringilla said while rubbing her temples. "Perhaps when you're a bit older, I'll think about it. A kid like you probably doesn't even know what he really wants."

"On the contrary, Fringilla," I said with deadly seriousness. "I know exactly what I want."

"And what would that be?" Fringilla asked disbelieving.

"Oh, I want so many things, Fringilla." I said while making sure to stare directly into Fringilla's green eyes. "Gold, authority, magic, power and maybe even something like love. I've decided for myself to pursue you. You have lots of qualities that I find pleasant, we will see what happens in the future."

"That's quite a few things you desire. However, you haven't even gone through puberty yet. How can you know that you like me that much?" Fringilla asked with a disbelieving tone.

"Well… Let's just say I have experience and leave it at that. I'd much rather talk about you, Fringilla. Tell me, what was it like growing up? Anna Henrietta is your cousin right? Tell me what it's like to be related to the Duchess." I said with a moderate and curious tone.

Fringilla sighed and then we continued to talk. She told me several interesting stories about her childhood and we shared several laughs. She brought up the time she first realized she had the potential to be a sorceress, it was quite the achievement for her. She continued on and told the story of how she joined Aretuza, the magical academy for girls. In exchange, I told her about my rivalry with Vivienne and Ulf. I also told her of the many times we had tried to kill each other, only to fail each time. It was nice, we both enjoyed each other's company while we drank.

"So." Fringilla said while pausing for a moment. "How did you find out about me and the brotherhood? I know you don't have a spy network or anything like that. You're too young to have built that many important connections while also training to be a witcher."

"Hmm?" I said, humming with sarcasm. "Is this you talking, or one of your superiors? Perhaps, Phillipa? Did they order you to try and find out where the leak was sprung?"

"You know of her? She is indeed quite powerful." Fringilla said astonished. She then quickly continued. "However, the answer is no. I know the fate that would await me if I told the brotherhood about you. As soon as we stepped foot into the palace to report to Emhyr, I contacted several high level alchemists and healers to check if my condition could be reversed. That poison you made was quite strong, none of them could fix it." Fringilla quickly explained.

"Well, I expected you to do so. Nobody wants to stay poisoned if they can help it." I said with understanding. I paused for a moment before continuing. "Regarding my knowledge of you and the brotherhood...Let's just say that I have been blessed with understanding."

"Are you saying that you're some sort of seer? That's quite impressive! Some of the Aen Seidhe do possess this gift." Fringilla said with a happy tone.

"Well...I suppose from a certain point of a view I could be considered a 'seer'. However, Fringilla, you're wrong about one thing." I replied.

"What's that?" Fringilla questioned.

"I am not part of the Aen Seidhe." I said with certainty.

Fringilla looked at me strangely for a moment, not knowing exactly what I was talking about. It's understandable, almost no one in this world would know.

"What do you mean by that? You are clearly a half-elf. How can you not be part of the Aen Seidhe?" Fringilla, desperate for an answer, replied.

"Despite the fact that I'm a half-elf, I'm not an Aen Seidhe. From what I understand, including the little information that my mother told me, I am part of the Aen Elle." I spoke with a bit of a sad tone. The exact circumstances regarding my birth isn't pleasant. In order for me to be born, my mother had to go through something pretty traumatic.

"The Aen Elle? What is that?" Fringilla asked softly, she had noticed my sad tone.

"Well… How much do you know about the Wild Hunt, Fringilla?" I said ominously.

The mere mention of the Wild Hunt made Fringilla's body straighten in her seat. I told her all about the Aen Elle and how they were actually Elves from a different world. I told her about the Wild Hunt's true purpose, how it was created to capture people from our world to be used as slaves and workers.

'So...You're telling me that your father is… one of the red riders? A member of the Wild Hunt?" She asked me with an astonished tone of voice.

I nodded at her question.

"From what my mother told me, it does seem like that is the case." I told her with the ghost of a smile.

My mother didn't exactly tell me who my father was, but when she told me the story of the attack by the Wild Hunt nine months before my birth...I got the gist of it.

"What are you going to do? Are you going to fight them one day? Or… Are you going to join them?" Fringilla said while gazing at me seriously.

"Well," I said while looking out the window of Fringilla's room for a moment and staring at the moon in the starry night sky. "That is something I'll keep to myself for now. However…"

I paused for a moment, considering my response.

"The rider… The man who might be my father…" I said while contemplating my next few words. "I can say with certainty….that he won't live long enough to see what decision I'll make."