Something Wilder (Child of the Winter Moon Book 2)

5: Helping Ciri

Ciri led them to the Bits.

"Almost there," she said.

"Where are we going exactly?" Geralt asked.

"To see Whoreson Junior."

"Hate to break it to you, but that son of a bitch is dead," Juray said.

"I asked Zoltan, and he said Whoreson's alive and well on Temple Isle."

Juray stopped, not quite believing that the man survived what she did to him. "Ciri, I beat the shit out of him, stuck a dagger in his crotch, and slit his throat and let him drown in his own blood."

"Must not have been a deep enough gash, because it seems he's recovered."

Juray and Geralt looked at each other, the older Witcher having a hard time believing that Juray didn't thoroughly murder the man with as angry as she was.

"Okay, I really need to see this."

They started walking again.

"Why're you doing this again?" Geralt asked.

"I want to look him in the eyes."

"What then?"

"Don't know. Depends on what I see."

They arrived at Whoreson's house and were stopped by two of his sentries.

"What?" the first asked.

"Here to see Mr. Wily," Geralt answered.

"Mr. Wily's expectin' important guests, so bugger off, you, you..." He looked at his companion.

"Turds!" the second sentry finished.

"Is that the best insult you could come up with?" Juray asked before holding her fingers in the Axii sigh. "Now we asked very nicely to see Mr. Wily. I'm sure you'll comply with that request."

"Aye. Go on upstairs. Boss is waitin'."

"Thank you." The three went inside.

"That was... strange," Ciri commented on their behavior.

"To say the least," Geralt agreed.

"Definitely had more colorful comebacks last I was here," Juray observed.

"I wonder what they're doing."

"We'll know soon enough."

They walked into Junior's office and were surprised to see Whoreson Junior himself sitting at his desk. He looked the same as the day Juray killed him, receding hairline, smug expression, tattoos covering his neck and arms, only now he had an ugly scar over his right eye.

Junior regarded them with his good eye, a smirk on his face. "Well, well, who do we have here?" he said. "Finally found your little ward. Took your sweet fuckin' time."

Juray suddenly looked amused.

"Seems in fine health to me," Ciri commented.

"Ahh, 'cause you thought you'd killed me that time. Surprise, sur-fuckin'-prise. Shut your trap, witch, afore somebody fills that hole for you!"

"Enough. I'll finish what you started." Ciri reached for her sword. Junior jumped up in a panic. Juray stopped her by grabbing her wrist. "What the fuck, Juray?"