Shifting Shadows

Arrival at Kaer Morhen

*My train of thought was cut short when Eskel chirped up with glee, "Ah, Kaer Morhen, good to be back"

We had arrived...*

The cart came to a light stop bouncing over the last few pebbles of the entrance. Soon enough light flooded the cart as the door that was cast in front of me finally opened. It took a brief few seconds to get my eyes to adjust to the blinding light when for most of the journey here the cart had been shrouded in darkness, with only a few odd rays of light coming from the small window in the door. In front of the door stood two men. The white haired witcher that hunted me down in the woods outside the town; his face in a sour frown as our eyes locked for a brief moment. The other man with long wrapping scars covering the left portion of his face, disfiguring it terribly- 'I wonder what happened to him?'. I shook my head getting the intrusive thoughts out, his face was softer, much more content... much more inviting almost. My gaze fixed on the background, almost totally ignoring the two witchers stading but a pace away from me. The background was truly breathtaking, the building's white bricks standing out with the lush greenery which surrounded it. My daydream was however cut short as two unfamiliar voices filled the cart.

"What do we have here boys?" an upbeat and joyful tone rung out followed by a much slower, older almost wiser,

"Eskel, Geralt. What did you drag along here this time" a hint of annoyance could be sensed from the words. It was probably not the first time the witchers dragged something back here clearly. An awkward silence arose as neither dared speak. Soon enough a throat was cleared as a reply was given:

"A passive werewolf" the words circled around in my head before it was cut off "They didnt try to attack us- they ran instead" a frown spread across my face hearing the end of the sentance. It made me seem like a coward which i definitely wasnt. I shot up to my feet, the silver cuffs around my wrists tugging me down and the large chains ringing out from impact. Of course i had forgotten  about them. The sudden movement erupted a new pain in my shoulder again where the crossbow hit. I hissed out in pain as the stabbing feeling spread around.

The new face soon appeared from behind the cart, a lighthearted smile spreading across his face. Those eyes. Another witcher. 

"Well your new catch doesnt seem very thrilled to be here i must say" his eyebrows raised as he took a good look at me slumped self on the other end of the cart

"Fuck off Lambert." That cold voice. I could recognise it anywhere, the coldeness soon melted though with a much more easygoing remark "you wanna housebreak them, or should I, id rather not get my hand bitten off"

I rolled my eyes, this was so stupid. Couldnt they just have finished me off? It would have been easier for everyone but no. I sighed deeply it was going to be my mission to not let them break my spirit. I was going to get out of here one way or another. Wolf, the white haired witcher soon enough took a few catutious steps into the cart attaching another long sliver chain to the one that was perviously bolted to the floor. So much for treating me like a person. Leaving the cart i felt a few tuggs at the chain which meant i had to get a move on. 

For the first time in days i stepped outside the fresh crisp mountain air filled my lungs breathing a new hope into me  that everything was going to be okay. The sun shined down i covered my eyes with my arms before my amber eyes adjusted to the light, i could finally take in the area around me, and i gotta admitt that it was so much more impressive than when i was sitting in the corner of the cart. The place was vast and filled with so many new sounds, smells and sights. It was overwhelmingly amazing considering it could have been better if i wasnt being dragged along a wooden plank path by a witcher. Every so often he would turn around to see if i was keeping up, soon enough breaking the silence with what seemed like a halfassed comment,

"I dont want to end up killing you. So do what we ask and nobody will get hurt". Thanks for being so nice I definitely dont have a burning urge to bite your arm off. I stayed silent avoiding his burning stare. I was not going to give him the benefit of the doubt. I stumbled as he sharply tugged on the chain before stopping by a set of large wooden doors.

"You understand?" Again, he recieved no response from me. Just a cold dead stare, my head held high. I was not going to give in that easily- my spirit was not going to be broken just because they put some cuffs on me. No way in hell. He pushed the heavy doors open revealing a large spacious room filled with bookshelves and chests full of lord knows what streaks of light from the large windows illuminated the room. It was quite the view. Welcome new home i guess...