Something Wild (Child of the Winter Moon Book 1)

16: The Truth

While all Juray found was an ugly red-haired doll, Geralt had found signs of a struggle in the couple's room, along with a protective amulet. Upon questioning Phillip about what they found, they discovered the doll was supposed to be Triss Merigold, as the Baron had made it for Tamara when she was four. Phillip knew nothing about a fight as he was drunk that night, and the amulet belonged to Anna, but he had no idea how she came about it.

"Any witches or cunning women in the area?" Geralt asked.

"A pellar. Old coot lives near Blackbough. And there's a cunning woman in Midcopse, but I know little about her. She's only recently arrived. If Anna were to see someone, she'd chose the pellar, not the woman. Anna was wary of newcomers, strangers."

"Then we oughta have a chat with this pellar."

"Fair warning, he's a hard man to talk to. Rumor has it he killed his own father with an axe as a lad, then went batty. Now they say he sees ghosts and ploughs his goat."

"Well, that was a lovely image," Juray muttered.

"Not really interested in his hobbies," Geralt said. "Just want to ask about the amulet."

"Come on. Recently answered a notice in Blackbough, I know the way."

They stopped to speak with Gretka, who knew who Geralt was, and told them how much she missed Ciri before they left Crow's Perch and headed to Blackbough. Nothing seemed to have changed since Juray's last visit dealing with the extremely odd love triangle here. They were directed to the pellar's hut and found several of the Baron's men in front of it, trying to break down the door.

"If you ask nicely, he might open the door," Juray said as they approached.

"What do you freaks want?" one of the men asked.

"Here to see the pellar."

"Too late. We got dibs on a chat with him. A long one."

"Think you need to leave. Now." Geralt cast Axii.

"Do we?" another asked.

"You do," Juray added her own Axii knowing it would be stronger than Geralt's because of her curse.

"Well...," the first one said. "Let's go then." The men left and Geralt nodded at Juray, knowing what she did.

"Let's go have a friendly visit with the pellar," she said, approaching the door and knocking. "Anyone home?"

"It's safe now," Geralt called.

"Devils!" a man called from inside. "Who do they bring? What seek ye?"

"Need your help."

"Ooh, a man," he paused. "Nay, a wolf, grey though not old. 'Tis he the pellar awaits."

"Baron's right," Juray said. "He is batty."

The door opened, revealing an old man with very little hair, wearing robes and a necklace of chicken feet.

"And the wolf does not travel alone, but with a demon, a child of the winter moon."

Juray and Geralt looked at each other.

"Uh..."

"Come on," Geralt said before stepping inside. "You were expecting me?"