Faced with the temptation of such wild beauty, Victor could easily have finished his business before leaving.
Except when violence or personal revulsion was involved, succubi normally never refused a challenge. Anything a man could imagine, they could accomplish.
However, ganging up on a defenseless creature seemed excessively cruel. Victor did not want to betray his sense of sporting honor at such a young age, so he left the opportunity to Dandelion. As a witcher, he would probably encounter another succubus as beautiful as Miruna in the future.
Then again, there was probably no such thing as an unattractive succubus.
On the way back to the city, he passed two lemon trees beside the road. One was a lemon tree and, in a remarkable display of botanical variety, so was the other.
After entering the city and passing through Rhundurin Square, Victor spotted the long line in front of Felicia's stall and smiled radiantly.
The sign above it had already been changed to read:
"AFFORDABLE HAIRCUTS. PURCHASE A MEMBERSHIP AND RECEIVE A COMPLIMENTARY MIRACLE, AMULET, OR FISHING LURE."
With such revolutionary business practices, Miss Cori would probably graduate very soon.
Following the roadside bonfires back home, the witcher entered and immediately saw a food hamper on the table. The aroma of roast beef drifted from within, while the Dragonslayer reclined lazily on the sofa with a book.
Even during her leisure time, she continued wearing half-plate armor.
"Where did you go today? You came back rather late."
"A Scoia'tael contract. Several bodies were found outside Vergen, and they suspected a monster had killed them."
"I heard Mayor Cecil mention it. It has been a long time since such terrible crimes occurred here. What kind of monster was responsible?"
"The most terrifying monster in the eyes of the nobility, a member of the Scoia'tael."
Saskia snapped the book shut and sat upright. Her eyes shone sharply with heroic intensity.
"An elf!? Why would they do something like that?"
She had overcome fierce opposition to accept the Scoia'tael, yet one of them had apparently committed a series of murders only days after settling nearby. It was a serious challenge to the Dragonslayer's authority and could even affect the entire strategic situation.
She could not possibly treat it lightly.
Victor shook his head.
"Don't be alarmed. It was an isolated incident. An elf fell in love with the succubus living in the abandoned village and committed the murders out of jealousy."
The Virgin of Aedirn froze momentarily.
That answer was far better than she had expected, but mishandling the matter could still damage the fragile atmosphere of unity.
"How do you intend to deal with it?"
"Ele'yas belongs to the commando unit. Tomorrow, I'll speak with the Scoia'tael lieutenant, Lansi, and resolve the matter privately."
Understanding Saskia's concerns, the witcher placed particular emphasis on the word privately.
"...Thank you."
"There's no need. No one wanted something like this to happen. You must be hungry. Shall I make you some beef-and-dumpling soup?"
She relaxed and leaned back against the sofa.
"That would be wonderful."
Saskia watched Victor carry the food hamper into the kitchen, then reopened her book.
Their time together recently had become this natural.
She would bring some food so they could share dinner, after which the witcher would listen to her complaints. Most concerned obstructive nobles and a troublesome prince, and Victor always managed to brighten her mood.
The actual political maneuvering fell within Philippa Eilhart's area of responsibility. During every council meeting, the sorceress used her razor-sharp words to corner the nobles and undermine Prince Stennis's authority.
...
While they were talking that night, a ship slowly approached the northern bank of the Pontar.
More than twenty men disembarked. Their uniforms identified them as members of the Blue Stripes.
After watching the Scoia'tael depart Flotsam, Vernon Roche had spent several days restoring order and arranging transportation. Now the party pursuing the kingslayer had also arrived near Vergen.
Leading his men, Roche proceeded toward the military camp to visit King Henselt of Kaedwen.
One other person had accompanied the Blue Stripes.
He was the Sword of Destiny, Geralt of Rivia.
...
The following morning, Victor found the dreadlocked young woman, Lansi aep Easnillen, in the forest camp behind the hills.
Bright sunlight filtered through the leaves and scattered across the ground. Some elves were lighting fires and cooking, while others maintained their weapons.
Their vigor and morale had improved significantly now that they possessed plentiful supplies.
At the witcher's request for a private report, Lansi entered a tent with him and sat opposite him. Bread and meat broth rested between them.
Victor scooped up a spoonful of broth. It was slightly too salty, but otherwise acceptable.
"I'll get directly to the point. The monster hiding in the abandoned village is a succubus."
"A succubus!?"
Lansi stopped chewing her bread and stared at him in confusion.
Succubi were among the best-known monsters on the Continent, and few people were entirely ignorant of their habits. Although Lansi had never encountered one personally, even she had heard of their reputation.
They were nightmares for weak men and dreams for strong ones.
"Don't they only want to fool around with men? Why would one kill them? Did you kill her?"
"No. I spoke with her." Victor shrugged. "She claims that an elf who arrived recently, Ele'yas, is responsible for the series of deaths."
Lansi abruptly lost her appetite. She put down the bread and ran her right hand over her dreadlocks.
"Please continue."
"According to the succubus, he was one of her lovers, but he couldn't accept Miruna's nature. He committed the murders out of jealousy and attempted to frame her."
Lansi folded her arms.
"...Vic, she is still a monster. How much credibility do you believe this Miruna deserves? Forgive me, I'm not questioning your professional judgment, but is there any evidence? Ele'yas is one of our finest warriors.
"Could the monster be shifting the blame? Or perhaps she seduced Ele'yas and convinced him to do it?"
Both her words and body language made it clear that the lieutenant was reluctant to accept the results of his investigation.
Although she phrased everything tactfully, her meaning remained unmistakable.
Really? I don't believe it.
She stopped just short of suggesting that the succubus had bribed the witcher with her body.
Naturally, such a reaction was understandable. Many criminals' parents would insist that their child had always behaved perfectly and must have been led astray by someone else.
"The succubus has lived outside Vergen for at least half a year. Isn't it remarkably convenient that she only began murdering people after the Scoia'tael arrived?"
Victor smiled at the lieutenant's grim expression, then took out a small fragment of metal and handed it to her.
"Do you remember this? It's the blade fragment we found embedded in the corpse yesterday. Compare it with Ele'yas's sword."
"I'll find him and confirm the evidence."
Lansi accepted the metal fragment, then hesitated.
"Could I trouble you to..."
Victor yawned.
"I'll keep it secret. Everyone who knows is a friend. Handle the matter properly, and it can be as though it never happened."
Lansi leaned forward in gratitude, then abruptly rose and left the tent. Her dreadlocks flew wildly behind her.
...
Victor slowly finished the bread by dipping it in the broth.
As he departed the camp, he encountered Iorveth, who was heading into the city with several subordinates to attend a war council.
Victor had not seen him for several days. Iorveth's clothing had become noticeably more formal, and his expression had softened slightly.
He had previously covered the scars on half his face with a bandanna, but now displayed them openly.
The two walked side by side.
"What brings you to the hills so early in the morning?"
"The fresh air. You know that I've always enjoyed morning runs."
"Tch. How I envy your leisurely life."
"You hold meetings every day. How are the battle preparations progressing? Do you believe you can stop Henselt's army?"
Iorveth narrowed his eyes slightly, then waved for his subordinates to fall several steps behind.
He answered quietly.
"No."
"...Wait. Did I hear you correctly? You mean you can't stop them?"
"Based on my observations, probably not. The fortifications and all the contraptions built by the dwarves remain insufficient against the Kaedweni forces. Henselt simply has too many soldiers."
"You know victory is unlikely, yet you intend to continue fighting? That doesn't sound like you."
"We cannot defeat them yet. The spectral mist stands between us, and time is on our side. Sooner or later, circumstances will change.
"Besides, the kingslayers are still waiting on the other side of the mist. Perhaps they will successfully assassinate Henselt. That would be a decisive move capable of changing everything.
"Whatever happens, I will honor my promise and support Saskia's ideals. Ultimately, we will be victorious!"
Victor rubbed his nose.
By the end, the elf's argument had begun to sound suspiciously like blind confidence mixed with romantic idealism, but the witcher naturally had no intention of discouraging him.
They continued walking beneath the trees, accompanied by the faint murmur of a nearby stream.
"So the kingslayers still intend to murder Henselt!? Perhaps this is a good time for you to explain exactly what kind of alliance you had with Letho."
Iorveth tapped his shoulder.
"Since you wish to know, Victor, I will conceal nothing.
"The truth is that I don't know who they are or whom they serve. Letho found me two months ago after evading the Aedirnian forces pursuing him. He brought Demavend's severed head as proof of his abilities and proposed that we help each other.
"He asked us to conceal him in the forest in exchange for the heads of Foltest and Henselt. His motives were questionable, and we knew nothing about many of his sources of information or support. However, the cost to us was insignificant, so I agreed to cooperate.
"In the end, Foltest's head proved that Letho was worth every bit of the investment.
"Letho's two associates, Serrit and Auckes, planned to kill Henselt with assistance from the Scoia'tael in the Pontar Valley. As you already know, after Letho attempted to murder me, our alliance ended.
"They slaughtered every Scoia'tael in a camp on the other side of the mist. Even now, I have no idea what they truly seek."
Iorveth's answer did not surprise Victor.
Assassinating Foltest was not something an irregular organization like the Scoia'tael could accomplish alone. Although countless complicated accidents had occurred that day, the assassins would at least have needed to know the locations of Anais and Boussy before they could prepare such a precise ambush in the monastery tower.
Victor remembered Letho saying that many people had been willing to assist their assassinations.
There must have been traitors supplying information from within both Temeria and La Valette Castle. Only a few major powers were capable of organizing intelligence operations on such a scale.
The witchers carrying out the assassinations were probably intended to be silenced afterward.
What a difficult situation...
These Viper School witchers appeared determined to get themselves killed. Would Victor ever see them again?
He shook away the heavy thoughts and changed the subject.
"Considering how much time has passed, Toruviel should have reached home by now. Iorveth, have you ever visited Dol Blathanna?"
"Dol Blathanna... It is merely a vassal state of the Nilfgaardian emperor. They call themselves a free elven nation, yet refuse to welcome members of the Scoia'tael."
"I believe that refusal is only for appearances. Francesca would surely accept those who quietly returned to her. I told Toruviel several years ago that, considering the size of the elven population, raising families and recovering your numbers would be the wisest course."
"Raising families!?" Iorveth's expression became sorrowful and despondent. "That has become extremely difficult. After the Peace of Cintra, Francesca established the duchy of Dol Blathanna, and more than twenty thousand elves settled there.
"Five years have passed. Do you know how many children they have produced? Fewer than a hundred.
"It is no longer the Valley of Flowers. It is a valley of barren elders. Our people are marching toward extinction!"
Victor was deeply shocked by the number.
Even using the most conservative calculations imaginable, it was far too low.
"Why? Is it truly that difficult for elves to conceive?"
The elf smiled bitterly.
"Dana Méadbh, or Melitele, preserve us! So even the brilliant Vic encounters things he doesn't know?
"Although our lives are long, our fertile years are extremely brief, only between the ages of twenty and forty. Conception is already difficult for us, so our birthrate is very low.
"We once still had a chance to replenish our population. But two hundred years ago, during the Second Elven War, Redania treacherously violated its peace treaty and massacred the elven city of Loc Muinne.
"Aelirenn, the White Rose of Shaerrawedd, inspired an entire generation of young elves to rise in resistance. In the end, the human armies slaughtered them all.
"She undoubtedly fought for freedom, but her passion destroyed our final hope with her own hands. The Aen Seidhe never recovered. We were forced to retreat into the forests or live as second-class citizens in the ghettos of human cities."
Finally, Iorveth calmly stated his conclusion.
"We may fight like wolves, but we cannot defeat a race that breeds like rabbits."
How tragic...
This was even heavier than their discussion of the kingslayers.
Victor had no answer.
...
They remained silent until entering the city, where they parted ways.
Iorveth took his men to the meeting, while a melancholy Victor wandered along the stone-paved avenue.
He felt that humanity's actions had been profoundly dishonorable, yet there was little he could meaningfully condemn at this point.
His conflicted walk ended when the owner of a roadside stall stepped in front of him.
She was a female elf.
Summer truly was dangerous. Her blue-green, open-fronted garment extended down to her abdomen, although it was considered perfectly ordinary clothing.
The blonde vendor smiled sweetly.
"Hello, Witcher Victor. I'm delighted to see you again!"
Victor politely responded to the beautiful elf.
"Again... Have we met before?"
"In Flotsam, at that bastard Loredo's estate. Another woman was the one who released me, but I will never forget your face."
She shook her head.
"Oh, how awful. Merely thinking about that place ruins my mood. In any case, I'm profoundly grateful to you."
She was one of the women they had rescued at the time.
Victor smiled and nodded.
"Hmm... I'm sorry for making you remember what happened there."
"You don't need to apologize. You saved my life. In fact, I believe I owe you a reward.
"As you can see, I've reopened my business here. It always helps restore one's confidence. Is there anything I can use to tempt you?"
After speaking, she thrust out her chest and gave it a gentle shake.
It was summer, and she wore a green robe that was almost entirely open at the front.
Victor grew somewhat dizzy from the expanse of pale skin swaying before him.
"Forgive me, my lady... Do you mean what I think you mean?"
"Only if you desire it as well. By elven moral standards, you saved my life, so sharing a little pleasure with you would hardly be excessive.
"Besides, I think you're rather charming... and very strong."
"...As it happens, I have certain needs of my own. I accept your challenge."
"You'll have to try me and find out!"
The female elf smiled seductively, boldly took the witcher's hand, and led him into the cave dwelling behind her stall.
In the year 1271, the Third Elven War erupted in Vergen.
Representing humanity, Victor once again achieved total victory. With an octuple bogey, eight strokes over par, he left the elven shopkeeper completely routed.
His previously gloomy mood vanished without a trace.
//Check out my P@tre0n for 30 extra chapters //[email protected]/Razeil0810