Chapter 310: A Rich Man's Promises
The country tavern was a ruin. The fire was out, but black smoke still billowed into the sky. The perpetrators had not fled; on the contrary, they stood brazenly on the open ground in front of the tavern.
"Still nothing to say?"
Charimier sat on a chair he'd brought out from the tavern, his legs crossed, a dagger glinting in his hand. Before him, the tavern owner was held pinned to the ground by two heavily armored soldiers. But Charimier could see the man's defiance and rage in his eyes. He didn't care. Who would care about the feelings of an ant?
"Look at this mess. Was all this really necessary? It makes us look like a bunch of brigands and thugs. All you had to do was honestly give us what you know, and we'd be on our way."
"We'd have paid you for the drinks and even given you a reward. The Duchess of the Duchy of the Arcane Coast is always fair and just, and her knights are no different."
"But you've brought this upon yourself. You have only yourself to blame, not our supposed brutality."
"So, I'll ask you one more time: Where did that insolent wretch go? The witcher known as Gerd, the one who insulted the Duchess, conspired with a usurper, and committed other harmful acts?"
"Tell us, and you live. Refuse, and anyone who shelters him will be treated as an accomplice."
Before he could finish, Charimier quickly tilted his head, dodging a bloody glob of spit that shot up from below. The tavern owner, held fast, glared at Charimier with hatred. He roared, "This is the Skellige Isles, not the Duchy of the Arcane Coast! Bastard, serving a bitch! If you have the guts, just kill me! Don't expect an islander to sell out a friend!"
Charimier's eyes went cold. He gave a silent gesture. "I gave you your chance."
The two armored soldiers yanked the tavern owner to his feet, dragging him like a dog behind the scorched remains of the tavern. A moment later, a scream echoed through the air.
Shortly after, the two soldiers returned, their armor stained with blood. One of them held out his hand, clutching two pieces of parchment.
"Sir Knight, we found these on the islander."
"Hmm?"
Charimier took the parchments. One was a blueprint for a steel sword. Charimier was no smith. Though he could see the intricate design, this wasn't why they had traveled all the way to Skellige. He glanced at it dismissively before setting it aside.
He immediately looked at the other parchment. His eyes widened, and his face lit up with a look of pure delight.
"Sir Knight?"
The two armored soldiers were confused. Could the other parchment reveal the mutant's location? Why else would Charimier look so pleased?
"See for yourselves."
Charimier offered no explanation, instead handing the parchment back to them. The two soldiers, who hadn't looked at the documents when they searched the man, now huddled together. They saw that it was a promissory note:
—"I, Gerd, a witcher of the School of the Bear, hereby certify that on the night of the twenty-fifth of April, I owe the tavern owner one hundred ducats from a Gwent match (Note: The kind tavern owner was gracious enough to round down). As I do not have enough coin on me at present, I have used a blueprint for a School of the Bear steel sword as collateral. I will redeem the blueprint with my reward money upon my return from Aethenir Castle."
...
"Go get the guide."
A moment later, a shifty-looking Skellige man was shoved in front of Charimier.
"You called for me, my lord?"
"Do you know where Aethenir Castle is?"
"That's a castle belonging to a branch of the Tursach clan on Ard Skellig. I heard it was abandoned after monsters showed up." As he spoke, the guide's face filled with sudden terror. "My lord, you don't intend to go to that castle, do you? You can't! Even the Tursach clan couldn't deal with the monsters in there. We'd be walking to our deaths."
Charimier scowled, his voice a harsh reprimand. "Silence! Who said we were doing a job for some Skellige clan?"
Then, he spoke more to himself than to the guide. "Since that parchment mentioned the wretch is going to Aethenir Castle, that means the lord of the Tursach branch hired that mutant to clear out the monsters for his family."
"Which means if we get to Aethenir Castle first, we can corner that freak and ensure he doesn't escape."
Meanwhile.
Linn and Gerd had just arrived at Kaer Trolde Harbor on Ard Skellig. They were now eating and drinking in a tavern by the docks.
"The Tursach clan are the rulers of Spikeroog, aren't they? So why do they have a castle on Ard Skellig?" Linn had wanted to ask this for a long time, but only now had the chance.
Gerd, his hands wrapped around a large piece of meat on the bone, ate with grease smeared all over his face. "Because the Tursach clan has a main family and a branch family. Spikeroog was originally the main family's territory. The branch family's territory was always on Ard Skellig."
"But later, due to an attack by harpies, the branch family was forced to abandon their castle and lands. They had to seek refuge with the main family on Ard Skellig."
"Count Torgier is likely hiring me to clear out Aethenir Castle because he wants to return to his ancestral home."
So that's how it was. Linn nodded in understanding, taking a long swig of his ale. He could understand it. After all, they were a branch family. Returning to the main family was essentially living under another's roof. Even if the main family didn't mind, it would be difficult to thrive on their territory. To ensure the family continued to grow, they had to reclaim their own lands. If they did nothing, in a few years, they might just become vassals to the main family. That's why Count Torgier would entrust Gerd with the contract to clear out his family's castle.
Thinking this, Linn made a small joke. "It seems the Count relies on you a lot. After we clear out Aethenir Castle and its lands, he might even grant you a village or two and make you a lord. Then you wouldn't have to live a life of poverty anymore."
"Just don't forget your old friend when you get rich."
However, what Gerd said next left Linn stunned.
(End of Chapter)
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