Something Wild (Child of the Winter Moon Book 1)

2: The Contract

Juray danced around James as they sparred, her mentor shouting pointers as they did so. Instead of Vesemir, it had been James Juray had gone to to express her desire to become a Witcher and walk the Path. The two had discussed it at length and when James saw how determined she was to join their ranks, he agreed to convince Rennes, who was the head of the school. James had several Unexpected Children over the years, but Juray seemed to be the only one that he'd bonded with like this. He treated the girl as if she were his own flesh and blood daughter, the words her true father had uttered the day James claimed her making him want to show her what family was truly like. Juray, in turn, saw him as her father, even calling him papa, much to Vesemir's amusement. Juray was currently going through the Choice, the change in her diet and the rigorous training not seeming to phase her. James pushed her, determined to prove that she could handle it and prove Rennes wrong. She was resilient and stubborn, pushing herself harder when several of the boys around her were failing the trial.

After several blows that she successfully blocked and countered, James finally held his hand up. "Alright, enough," he said. Juray stepped back. "Go take a break."

"Afraid I'll kick your arse?" she asked with a grin.

James gave a laugh. "I need a break. I'm not as young as I look." He then shook his head as she went over to train with Geralt.

In the three years she'd been here, several of the older boys had taken her under their wing, Geralt, Eskel, and Berenger acting as older brothers. The three even had to break up a fight between Juray and Lambert. All three were certain that Juray was winning when they pulled her off him. Lambert had been particularly nasty towards Juray from the moment she started training, growing worst when she started the Choice. James sighed as he watched Juray dance around Geralt. She was at the age where she could go through her next trial. The Trial of the Grasses would be what made or broke her, would prove she had what it took to become a Witcher and he hoped resilience went along with her stubbornness and determination. The mages would be overseeing the next round of the trial next week and Juray had been on their list.

"Your girl is impressive, James."

The Witcher looked over his shoulder at Vesemir. "I don't think I've seen anyone catch on more quickly."

"She might be the only one here not pissed that they're having to become Witchers."

"She fits in here. Mostly." James looked over at his mentor. "She seems to have taken up with your boys pretty well."

While Geralt was Vesemir's ward, he'd taken over Eskel when his mentor found himself caught in the middle of a political dispute while on a Contract and wrongly executed for crimes he hadn't even been in the area to commit.

"Well, Geralt is the only other child she's met with white hair."

"Good point."

"I saw she's going through the Trial of the Grasses in a few days."

"Yeah."

Vesemir placed his hand on James' shoulder. "She's resilient, my friend. She'll survive it."

"I only hope you are right."

~~~

Juray held her head up as she walked into the mages' laboratory with nine boys. The mages explained that this trial would test their resilience and resistance to mutagens they would find in the field, warning that it would be painful and they would be changed afterward. Each child, ranging from ages 8 to 10, was then directed to pick a table and lay on it. They were then tied down to the table. Juray's heart beat harder at the feel of the ropes but was determined to pass the trial.