Something Wild (Child of the Winter Moon Book 1)

40: To Skellige

"You look like you were in a fight," Joachim said.

"We were," Juray confirmed. "How's Priscilla?"

"Much better." He turned to Priscilla. "Right?"

"Yes," Priscilla whispered.

"That's a good sign."

"Indeed."

"Did you take care of what I asked?" Jaskier asked.

"We did," Geralt said. "The Witcher's way."

"Doc, do you have a moment to stitch me up?" Juray asked. "Afraid the killer laid claws on me."

Joachim motioned to a chair. "Of course."

"Thank you," Jaskier said. "Both of you."

"Did our part," Geralt said. "Now you do your part and take care of her."

"I will. Treat her better than the dryads of Brokilon could." Jaskier went back to his vigil and Geralt went over to Juray as Joachim tended to the wound Hubert gave her.

"May I ask what did this?"

"Higher vampire. You were right not to trust Hubert. Turned out he was the killer."

"I thought nothing in Novigrad could surprise me. But that explains why he hadn't changed at all." Joachim finished with Juray's back and she donned her shirt and armor. "I don't think I've seen anyone with the amount of scars you have."

"That's just my back. You should see the other Witchers." She turned to Geralt. "I think we should get some rest before we look for a captain willing to sail to Skellige. And Dudu and Zoltan will want an update on Priscilla."

Geralt nodded. "Yeah."

"Stay as long as you need to," Jaskier said. "I have rooms reserved for you for anytime you're in town. Zoltan knows which ones."

"Thanks, Jaskier."

Juray and Geralt spent all day looking for a captain that would be willing to sail to Skellige. Every captain they spoke to wasn't willing to risk being attacked, a few more superstitious ones refusing to even ferry Juray even if they were willing. Until one captain pointed them towards a captain by the name of Wolverstone, describing him as a liar, a thief, and a bugger, but the man was crazy enough to sail into Islander territory. The two went to find him at the Golden Sturgeon, a tavern next to the docks. The bartender pointed them to an already inebriated man.

"You have to be fucking kidding me," Juray muttered.

"You Wolverstone, captain of the Atropos?" Geralt asked the man.

"So you want to know... if I'm Atropos, cap'n of the Wolverstone...? No fuckin' clue, mate..." He snickered.

Geralt sighed. "We need to get to Skellige."

"My Atropos and me, we're due to sail for Ard Skellig. Carryin' grain. But that's hush-hush. Got any coin?"

Geralt passed him a full purse.

"Hefty sack, like a bull's. When do we sail?"

"Not sure you're ready," Juray said. "You can barely stand."