Something Wilder (Child of the Winter Moon Book 2)

11: Searching Skellige

"And what else would Crach have?" Lugos shouted as Juray approached him and Erimon. "He not content to have the mightiest fleet, take control of my isle, and seat his spawn on the throne?"

Lugos was smaller than most Skelligers, but made up for it with the temper that earned him the moniker of Madman Lugos. He was an older man with a bald head and a grey beard, wearing the purple and teal of Clan Drummond. Juray knew the man was mourning the loss of his only son, a contender for the throne who was murdered by the previous queen in an attempt to put her son on the throne. Lugos had accused Clan an Craite of being involved and was livid when it turned out that they'd had nothing to do with it when Svanrige forced Birna into confessing her involvement. He loathed the idea that his greatest rival's daughter was now Queen of Skellige, thanks to the Witchers' intervention and investigation into the incident. Erimon was perhaps the same age as Juray, maybe a few years younger. He was already graying when he tutored Pavetta and, in turn, Ciri. He wore red tartan robes with deer fur at the shoulders, a tall hat decorated with deer antlers. He was holding a staff in his right hand.

"Under present circumstances—" Erimon started to say. Juray wasn't sure how he managed to stay so calm and wasn't smacking Lugos upside the head with his staff.

"Under present circumstances, Crach can go ahead and reap the shite he sowed. Almighty Crach – well, surely he can take on the Black Ones and meself. I'll not kneel before an an Craite! Never! That clear to you?!"

"You prefer to aid the Black Ones?"

"I'd sooner aid the wraiths of bleedin' Mörhogg than let Crach rule all Skellige!"

"And your men, what do they say? Will they follow you when the jarls call you a traitor?"

"This here's my land, druid! Watch your words!"

"What would you call it, if not treason?" Juray asked.

"That your bark before you bite?" Lugos snapped. "Did Crach send you here for my head? Well then, go ahead, try to take it!" He drew his axe and Juray realized that Lugos had been looking for an excuse. "Get 'em!"

The two were forced to defend themselves, killing Lugos and his men in the process.

"Come," Erimon said. "We should not stay here."

They fled the keep and stopped a good way outside.

"I expect something like that out of Geralt, not you."

"I wasn't expecting him to fly off the handle like that," Juray defended, truly not expecting Lugos to be mad enough to attack a Witcher of her reputation.

"The blood of Crach's blood sits upon the throne, and that is your doing. I'm afraid you've ignited a small civil war."

"How am I to blame for that?"

"For helping Cerys with her investigation. Because of your intervention, she is queen."

"Okay, I guess I am to blame for that."

This drew a chuckle from the Druid. "So, Clan Drummond will attack sooner than we expected, it seems."

"I was under the impression Crach sent you to negotiate an agreement with Lugos."

Erimon laughed. "An agreement! Only Crach believes such a thing possible at this stage."

"Good. Then I didn't actually ruin things for you."