Something Wild (Child of the Winter Moon Book 1)

6: To Hunt A Griffin

Geralt tied off his horse and headed towards the gates of the garrison. He was stopped by two guards.

"Military camp," one said. "No locals allowed without the express consent of the garrison commander."

Geralt just looked at him. "I look like a local to you?"

"You look like trouble," the other said.

"Dead wrong. I make trouble go away. I'm a Witcher."

The guards suddenly changed their tune with Geralt. "A Witcher..." The guards looked at each other. "Captain Peter Saar Gwynleve is in the tower. Turn right, past the gate."

"Huh, you Black Ones aren't so scary after all," Geralt's sarcasm got the better of him. "Can even be nice if you want to."

"Don't get accustomed, Nordling." He pushed to gate open and let Geralt pass.

He headed to the tower, ignoring the stares. He went into the tower to find the commander speaking to a local farmer.

"How much grain will your village give?" he asked.

"Whatever you say, Your Excellency."

Peter stood and held his hands out. "Look at my hands. Look! See the calluses?"

The farmer nodded.

"These are not the hands of an 'Excellency', but of a farmer."

Geralt leaned against the wall to wait them out.

"So we speak peasant to peasant. How much can you give?"

"Forty bushels. There'd be more, sir, but our lads, the Temarians that is, took from us earlier and..."

Peter held his hand up. "You will give thirty and that will do. Let us settle on it. And I wish to see the transport soon."

"Thank you, sir! Thank you kindly!" The farmer left and Peter turned his attention to Geralt.

"I summoned only the ealdorman and the smith, Willis, but it is said he's a dwarf. You are too tall to be him."

"Very perceptive of you."

Peter didn't respond.

"Geralt of Rivia. Witcher."

"A vatt'ghern. That explains why I did not hear your footsteps. What do you seek here?"

"Yennefer of Vengerberg. Where was she headed?"

"That is a military secret."

Geralt could tell he was struggling with the Common Tongue. "Haven't thrown me out. Haven't called the guards. So go ahead. What's your price?"

"There is a griffin in the area. Slay it, and then I will see what I can do."

"It's a deal. Some questions before I start. Know where the griffin has its lair?"

Peter motioned to the map on his desk. "It kept to the Vulpine Woods at first. I sent a patrol there, five young men. A hunter found them two days on. I only recognized them because they wore our plate. Since then, the griffin has grown bold. Attacks on villagers, fields, the main road."

"Meaning it's abandoned its lair. Gonna have to set a trap."

"I judge from your tone this will not be easy. What do you require?"