Something Wild (Child of the Winter Moon Book 1)

59: The Battle of Kaer Morhen

"Gonna have to thank Yen once this is all over," Lambert said as they moved through the woods. "That spell – really something. And the invisibility."

"Hounds could sniff you out," Geralt reminded. "So don't get too close. And you'll be visible as soon as you start fighting. Remember that."

"I'm sure they could hear us, too," Stormrider added. The invisibility amulets kept Lambert from noticing he was looking at him as he spoke.

"He always talk this much?" Letho asked.

"Only when he's nervous," Geralt answered. "Good work with these bombs, Storm."

"Aim at the portals, be precise. We're out of dimeritium. But like Yennefer said, casting Yrden might help."

"They're here," Lambert said as they spotted Red Riders. "Time to say hello."

"Slow down," Geralt said. "Element of surprise is key. Stay hidden, give Triss a chance to show them what she can do. Then we'll hit 'em."

"Mean to say Merigold can conjure up more than a cloud of butterflies?" Letho said.

"She a sorceress, dumbass," Stormrider said.

"Lots more," Geralt said, "Wait and see."

Fire suddenly rained down upon the soldiers that were approaching, rendering them ash in mere moments.

"Next time you get the feeling I'm about to piss off Merigold," Lambert said. "Make sure and knock me upside the head."

"You would think the smart thing to do is not piss off powerful sorceresses," Stormrider said. "Unless you're an idiot."

Letho snorted a laugh and Geralt could imagine that Lambert was glaring at the Bear School Witcher. Geralt led the way through the forest.

"Love these moments. The air before a battle – nothin' smells as sweet."

They closed the portals with Stormrider's dimeritium bombs, avoiding Roche's already triggered pit traps. Stormrider was impressed by how deep he, Ves, and the Skellige Islanders had dug them and the amount of spikes in the trap guaranteed no survivors.

"Geralt!" Lambert suddenly shouted. "C'mere!"

The others joined him.

"Look! They're regrouping!"

At the head was a man with heavy armor, a large mace, and a heavy shield.

"See the commander?" Geralt said. "Name's Imlerith. I remember him from back when I rode with the Hunt."

"That's a story I'm going to ask about if we survive this," Stormrider said.

Their invisibility winked out.

"Damn it," Lambert cursed. "Spell's waning. We're becoming visible."

"We gonna try to kill him?" Letho asked.

"Too risky," Geralt said.

"Pansy."

"Some of us aren't kingslayers," Stormrider said. "Or suicidal. There's too many."

Geralt fired the signal for Triss from his crossbow and they waited, but nothing happened.

"What's with Merigold?!" Lambert asked.