Something Wild (Child of the Winter Moon Book 1)

55: The Trial of the Grasses

"It didn't work?" Juray asked as soon as she and Eskel joined Lambert, who had a very noticeable black eye, and Vesemir and she saw Uma was still Uma. She did not like that he was sitting on Sad Albert, the only surviving table that the Grasses would be performed on.

"Not entirely," Vesemir answered. "But I did learn something interesting. Which I'll say once Geralt shows his ass up."

Geralt finally showed up about half an hour later. "See everyone's up and at 'em."

"Mhm." Vesemir looked at each of his Witchers. "And reeking of booze." He turned to Lambert. "That hat was a memento, Lambert."

"Relax, old man. It'll come out in the wash."

He then turned to Juray. "Take you and Lambert got into another fight."

"If you're asking if I'm the reason he has a black eye, yeah."

"Not like I didn't give her a reason not to deck me this time."

"And the other times I didn't?"

"You can give them a rap on the knuckles later," Yennefer interrupted. "Let's get to work."

"What did you learn, now that Geralt's graced us with his presence," Juray said.

"While you were out hunting forktails and playing with the megascope, I examined Uma. Noticed one thing – at moments of, what's the term... relaxed consciousness, he behaves differently. While falling asleep, he'd pause awake for an instant. Something different about his movements, his gaze, then. But only for a moment. So I induced a trance, hypnotized him, essentially. No effect at first, but as he dropped into deep lethargy, I heard something... a sigh or a moan. And it wasn't Uma's voice."

"All right," Lambert said. "I just don't get how that helps us."

"It means we were right about this being a complex curse, idiot," Juray said.

"Thank you, Vesemir..." Yennefer said. "And... I apologize for what I said earlier. Have the boys and Juray told you what we plan to do?"

"Lambert did. Don't like it one bit. But I suppose I have to trust you."

"Are you sure this is the only way?" Juray asked.

"Unfortunately."

"Thought we got rid of that table ages ago," Geralt commented.

"Must be fifty years since I last saw Sad Albert," Eskel said.

"Couldn't bear to part with it," Vesemir explained. "Thought we might find a use for it one day. You know how old people are."

"Sure," Lambert mouthed. "Every grandpa out there's got an attic full of torture devices."

"Right, so what now?" Juray asked, reluctantly.

"We can begin. We need only brew the potions."

"Wait," Lambert turned to Yennefer. "Why couldn't we—"

"Do it earlier? Because the preparatory potions for the Trial are strongly reactive. They must be administered immediately after they're brewed. Satisfied? Juray, make the potions. Here are the formulae." She handed Juray the parchment and she headed toward the nearby brewing table. "Eskel, take a bottle of spirit..."

"Oh, no. After last night, I—"

"...and disinfect the tools," she finished with a sigh.