Blood is Wine?

At the walls of Ichor a man riding a horse is stopped as he approaches the gates, the Prospects on the half-built walls watching him intently.

"I carry a letter from the Duchess of Toussaint, Anna Henrietta... The recipient... Dandelion?"

The Prospect on the wall looks to his friend, "The bard?"

"Seems like it..."

"Hand the letter over, we will personally deliver it to the Bard Dandelion." they state, though the messenger shakes his head.

"I refuse to part with my delivery until I find the recipient!"

...

...

The Prospect sighs, "Fine, but you will not leave our sight." they say, leaving the rest of the guards to escort the messenger to Dandelion.

Eventually the letter finally finds itself in Dandelions hands, him seeing who it's from and the lipstick mark left on it has him almost tearing it open. Luckily for him, Priscilla is off performing in the town square...

The letter reads, "Dandelion my flower... It has been so long since we've spoken, but this simply letter will have to suffice. I am unfortunately lacking in time for us to reacquaint, but perhaps after the issue has been resolved we could meet?

The issue I am referring to is some kind of beast tearing apart Knights and Nobility in Toussaint, I have hired many to try solve the problem, even implored the Emperor himself, but to no avail... Thus, am I forced to go to you my love, and ask for the aid of your close friend Geralt of Rivia. I fear none but him could save the innocent from being murdered but whatever is prowling the streets.

As recompense for his service he would receive an vineyard in Toussaint, one I picked out myself for someone of such high standing, regardless of the populace opinions on his kind.

One last thing I more request from you... Please, do not come to Toussaint until the creature has been slain, I fear for your safety... And even with your many stories of combat and courage, I do not wish to take the risk.

Your weasel, Anna Henrietta."

...

Dandelion rubs his face with his hand as he rereads it, it was clearly from Henrietta, but something felt wrong about it... Regardless, he couldn't very well ignore a damsel in distress and immediately left to find Geralt.

Geralt was surprised to hear he was being summoned to Toussaint by the Duchess, big contracts by rulers usually being quite rare... This "Beast of Beauclair" must be quite some threat.

Reima sits with his legs dangling on the balcony and his back facing Geralt, "So, you want to take Ciri and go fulfill this contract?" he asks, vaguely remembering something about a DLC, though, through the years the specifics have begun to evade him.

Geralt nods, "Yeah, want to use the time to finish her training as a Witcher, figured a big contract like this would be good for her." he says with crossed arms.

Reima "Have you asked her yet?" he wonders.

Geralt "No, but I can't really see her refusing."

Reima nods and tosses him a necklace, "You'll be going into Nilfgaard territory, if you see anything amiss, channel magic into it and I'll be there in a flash. Ciri's already got one, but keep this just in-case." he says.

Geralt catches it and clips it the rune inscribed titanate next to his Wolf's head medallion, "Thanks. And don't worry, I doubt she'll go running off with any of those pompous Toussaint knights." he says sarcastically.

Reima chuckles, "I doubt any of them would be able to handle her."

Elsewhere :

Yennefer had finally translated some rather frightening information from Avallac'hs journal, she'd immediately summoned Ciri who teleported in as soo as she heard the news.

Yennefer "Ciri, there's good news and... Really, really bad news. Which do you want to hear first?" she asks, her face paler than usual.

Ciri gives her a weird look, "The good news?"

Yennefer gestures towards the book in her hand, "I've finally translated it..."

...

Ciri "Is that it?"

Yennefer nods, "Unfortunately, it is... The bad news is, the only way Avallac'h knew to stop the White Frost was to use a tower in Skellige called Tor Gvalch'ca-"

Ciri "What!?! Lets go then!"

Yennefer "Let me finish... You need to perform a ritual within Tor Gvalch'ca during a conjunction of the spheres..."

Ciri "I don't suppose Avallac'h knew when one would happen?"

Yennefer slowly nods, "He did... One happened during our fight against the Nilfgaardian fleet..."

Ciri "And the next?"

Yennefer bites her lip and looks Ciri dead in the eye, "Two thousand years."

...

Ciri "So... We're all dead?" she mutters, shocked.

Yennefer shakes her head, "No... Have you forgotten all the impossible things we've achieved thus far, I'm sure with you and Reima we could solve any problem that presents itself... We have many, many years until the White Frost starts affecting this world." she says to try and reassure Ciri.

Ciri had been quite confident before this that the answers to her problems would be within Avallac'h's journal, it was a surprise that they'd missed the deadline though... She looks up at Yennefer, "How long will it be til you can summon Avallac'h's spirit?" she asks.

Yennefer "Keira has gone to collect the last ingredient... The ritual should be ready in a couple weeks at most..."

Ciri "Good... We need more information, and I don't care if we even have to torture his spirit to get it." she says, determined to succeed.

*Creeak*

The door slowly opens revealing Geralt, "Hmm, I assume you won't be travelling with me then?" he asks.

...

Ciri "Were you spying on us?"

Geralt shakes his head, "No... A little... I was going to ask if you wanted to come to Toussaint with me to complete a Witcher Contract." he says.

Ciri looks back and forth between Yennefer and Geralt before finally answering, "Can you wait a week?" she asks.

Geralt shrugs, "Yeah... Don't know how urgent this summon is though, maybe we'll ride one of those Thestrals to get there on time." he says.

Ciri "Then, we'll leave in a week... I-I need to be here to see if Avallac'h has any information." she states, worry clear in her tone.