Something Wilder (Child of the Winter Moon Book 2)

9: Assassination

While Ciri and Geralt waited on Avallac'h to return, Juray left with Corrine to escort her home. She'd expected questions about Ge'el's comments about her; Juray could see them in Corrine's eyes; but was glad the sorceress didn't voice them. She seemed to know from Juray's response to Ge'els that the Witcher was unwilling to speak of it. After making sure Corrine was safely within the Golden Sturgeon's walls, she headed to the meeting with Dijkstra. Finding the warehouse, she knocked.

"Who's there?"

"Witcher Juray."

The door opened to reveal one of Dijkstra's men. "Get in here. Boss awaits upstairs."

Juray headed upstairs, hearing the others talking.

"Will you bloody tell us what this is about?" Roche asked impatiently. He was wearing the Blue Stripes uniform, named so because of the design of the armor of Temeria's elite special forces unit.

"Just as soon as Juray arrives."

"If you won't ploughin' talk," Thaler said as Juray climbed the stairs, "least you can do is pour a round. Bloody suspense has made my throat dry." Thaler was an older bald man, a golden monocle on his right eye.

Juray reached the top of the stairs. Roche and Thaler were seated at a table, Dijkstra standing at one end.

"Witcher!" Dijkstra greeted. "At last. Now, we're all present..."

"Mhm," Roche said. "And up the fucking creek. Why've you summoned us? Radovid's on his ship. We'll not get him there, I've told you."

"Stop it. I've an idea how to draw him onto dry land. But all in due course. Let's start by confessing our sins. I let Philippa Eilhart in on our plan. Mea culpa."

"Bravo," Thaler said sarcastically. "Bloody braaavo."

"Maybe because she was standing right there when you mentioned how you were up shit creek to me," Juray said, taking a seat across from Thaler.

Dijkstra waved his hand. "Now, now. It's not a disaster. The lady sorceress is highly unlikely to warn the brat anyway. What's more, she's willing to help us kill him. Naturally, it's nothing I'll ever agree to... But Phil, she's inspired me. Call her my muse."

Juray rolled her eyes, catching sight of a white owl sitting in the window.

"Inspired you to do what?" Roche asked.

"Patience. We've yet to get to the substance of the matter. Juray... do I recall correctly that Radovid's hired you and Geralt to find Philippa?"

"Only thing we found is her hideout. What's your point?"

"We can use Philippa without involving her, provided you help."

Juray only raised a white brow.

"Radovid expects you to report to him, bring him information about her. All you need do is mention her name, intimate that you've a lead, you're on her trail..."

"Oh, he'll swallow that," Thaler said. "Hook, line, sinker, and a good bit of the rod as well!"

"Let's say Radovid bites," Juray said, having doubts that he would fall for anything like that, "believes me, and none of that is a given... What then?"

"You'll tell him you've found Philippa's hideout," Dijkstra said. "Somewhere where we can easily set a trap, and ambush..." He looked at the others. "Suggestions?"