“Art, stop!” Eveline massaged her temples, but that didn’t cheer her up at all.

Ferroz was trying to catch him, but Art kept dodging him. Still thinking he had wings, he ran around the caravan like a wild rooster, flapping his arms, hunching his back, craning his neck, lifting his butt. The boy ran ahead like a falcon, trying to fly, but he couldn’t.

He babbled as he flapped his arms, trying to speak, but his tongue kept getting twisted, much to Eveline’s worry. She wondered if he’d bite it off. “He’s cheeky.”

Everyone else watched with great interest. They were both sad and amused, since Art reminded them of Alan’s death, but at the same time, Art brought some life to the troupe.

“That’s better than being depressed.” Roy was glad Art was cheeky. “Keep Alan’s death a secret until they’re older.”

“Arri’s even more troublesome.” 

Roy was reminded of a hilarious scene in the carriage. Arri thought she was still an owl, so she wanted to perch on the wooden club, but since she turned back into a human, she fell face first into the ground and got a bruise. Arri kept crying, but then she seemed to remember her missing father and stopped making any sounds altogether.

But the biggest problem was the children having a limited vocabulary. They couldn’t talk in any human tongue either, and they were psychologically worse off than their peers. They were only sensitive to friendliness and mockery. I hope they get better soon.

***

They arrived in a city in Ellander’s vicinity one week after that. The sky was overcast. Then they went west, eventually reaching the city of Ellander. The great city was situated south of the Valley of Pontar, which was on Mahakam’s west. The Valley of Pontar was also the intersection point of Temeria, Redania, Aedirn, and Kaedwen, the four biggest kingdoms in the north. It was one of the most important military strips in the north.

As the people would say, ‘He who controls the Valley of Pontar controls the north.’ That was how important the valley was. Thanks to it being on the way to the valley, Ellander enjoyed prosperity. Not only was it a military base, it was also a business hub. Of course, Novigrad remained the biggest city, housing thirty thousand citizens, but Ellander boasted ten thousand residents in its city.

Thanks to that, business opportunities bloomed. Ellander’s merchants set up a merchant’s association in the city, taking their unique merchandise to sell in the city. Because of that, organizations like the architect’s association and blacksmith’s association opened shop in Ellander, and their business boomed. On top of that, Vizima, the capital of Temeria, was not that far away either, making transport convenient.

There was a long line in front of the gates since it was rush hour, but even so, the guards, who were armed to the teeth, checked everyone diligently.

Roy told Eveline to meet up at an inn later before leaving with Letho. “It’s been a while since your last trip to Ellander, right?” Roy explained, “From what I know, they don’t take well to witchers now.”

It was early 1261 at the moment. Roy remembered Geralt getting screwed over seven years ago in the year 1254, right after he was dubbed the Butcher of Blaviken. The Order of the White Rose insulted him, calling him worthless, and then he was forced to enter a battle where he was prohibited from fighting back.

Geralt had managed to stay alive in the end, but that angered the Order of the White Rose, and by extension, Hereward, the noble who took pride in the knight order. Even the Temerian Royal Council had complaints about him. Roy thought Geralt’s actions would cause trouble for Letho if someone found out he was a witcher.

Letho shrugged dismissively. “Been twenty years, but I never heard any kingdoms banning witchers from passing through. Every city has its own share of monster issues. Where there are monsters, there are requests. They won’t say no to us.” Letho was calm but firm. “And we have to replenish our alchemy stock.”

“I see. Let’s see if we can get in without getting checked.” Roy looked ahead and saw the Temple of Melitele. It was near the mountain outside the city. He’d go right there once they settled in the city.

***

The duo didn’t disguise themselves too much. Roy covered his hair and ears with a white towel, while Letho wore some shabby clothes instead of his witcher attire. He didn’t even show his school’s emblem, his sword, or his potions. If Roy didn’t know better, he’d think Letho was just a brawny farmer trying to get into a city.

But things didn’t go well for them. Roy managed to slip past the guards, but the guard said coldly, “Raise your head.”

Roy froze up for a moment before looking back, but he realized the guard was glaring at Letho. He was holding his sword, ready to strike at any time.

The guards at the entrance surrounded them, watching with great interest. The air turned heavy, and a deafening silence surrounded them. Even the travelers stopped to see what the fuss was all about.

“Yeah, I’m talking to you, big guy. Raise your head!”

Letho’s lips curled into a cruel smile, but only for a moment. He loosened his fists and sighed ever so audibly before looking up. Roy felt sad for him. No matter how powerful a witcher was, they had to bow before overwhelming numbers.

“Oh, we got a witcher here!” The guard holding a spear opened his face armor, smirking at Letho. “Never seen one so shabby before. Thought you could change the color of your eyes just because you’re in peasant attire? Did your brain get fried during your mutation, freak?” He looked at his colleagues before bursting out in laughter.

The guards were smaller in size compared to Letho, but they laughed at him as if he were nothing more than a beggar. Letho took their insults until they were done laughing. “Right, back to business. Trying to slip in, weren’t you?”

“Slip in?” Letho frowned. “You guys screened me, didn’t you? What? Ellander not welcoming witchers?”

“No, but someone is interested in you. You’ll have to see him first.”

“Is this Ellander’s law? Does everyone have to see him before they can enter?”

“No, this is an order. Bors, take the witcher to the waiting room. Don, call Tylers over here. Tell the knight the one he’s obsessed about is here.”

“Wait.” Roy came to Letho’s side, much to the guards’ surprise. Then he took a deep breath. “I’m with him.”

“I knew it! I knew something was up.” The guard gave Letho a mocking look. “Witchers doing what they do best — kidnapping children.”

“No. I’m his disciple, and I’ll be a witcher too sometime in the future.”