Something Wild (Child of the Winter Moon Book 1)

3: The White Demon

"I'm sure he would have wanted his daughter to have this," Angelo said, placing the bag of gold into Vesemir's hand. "He earned it." James' body had been placed on a travois, his hands folded over his chest.

"Do you have any idea what happened?"

Angelo shook his head. "Went after a striga. Opted to kill it instead of trying to lift the curse. Got him pretty bad. The wounds were pretty deep. To be honest, I didn't think Witchers could be killed."

"It takes a lot to kill us." Vesemir turned to Angelo. "Thank you, Angelo."

Angelo nodded as a little girl took his hand. "Papa, you promised to listen to me practice."

"Of course, babycakes." He looked back at Vesemir. "Give my sympathies to Juray, Master Witcher."

"I shall." Vesemir turned and mounted his horse, taking the reins of James' and left.

~~~

"A striga did this?" Rennes asked.

"That's what he was hunting," Vesemir said. "Decided to kill it instead of cure it. You know they're stronger the second time around."

"I know." Rennes turned around, rubbing his forehead. Several of the teachers and students had gathered around and a part of him was glad Juray wasn't one of them. "Prepare his body for the funeral. And I need to tell Juray her mentor is dead."

"I'll do it." The students parted to see who had volunteered as Geralt stepped forward. "I'll tell her."

"Geralt, you need to be preparing for your final trial. Leave Juray to me."

"I'm as prepared as I'm going to be. Juray would rather hear it from a friend."

"Geralt's right," Vesemir agreed. "It's no secret you were against her training as one of us. She won't believe it coming from you."

"Fine."

~~~

Juray stepped out of her quarters to find Geralt sitting on the railing of the walkway.

"Geralt?"

The teenager looked up and hopped off the railing. "How you feeling, Juray?"

"A bit like shit." She looked around "Where's James?"

"James was requested for a Contract. A striga."

"When is he supposed to be back?"

"He didn't make it."

Juray looked at him, concern on her face. "What do you mean?"

Geralt moved away from the railing. "He killed the striga, but he didn't survive the fight. I'm sorry, Juray, but James is dead."

Juray just looked at Geralt, searching his face that this was a prank. But she could see it in his cat-like eyes that he spoke the truth. Juray just shook her head. "No."

"I saw the body myself."

"No. You're lying, Geralt! He's a Witcher! Nothing can kill a Witcher! Right?" The last was said with such a vulnerable tone that Geralt felt bad about volunteering to break the news to her.