Adventures with the Witcher(s): A Multi Witcher Story

Chapter 3 (Eskel): Griffin Ambush

"Are we there yet?" you groan, still on horseback. "We're not any closer to Vizima anymore then we were five minutes ago, (y/n)," Eskel points out, "what are you even complaining about, it's not even noon." 
"But it feels like we've been riding forever," you whine. "It only feels that way cause you're still hungover from last night," Eskel smirks before tossing you a canteen, "Here drink some water, that might help a bit."

You shake your head, "Can't we at least stop for a bit and stretch our legs?" Eskel looks ahead and spots a stream; he figured a quick stop wouldn't hurt, and it would give the horses a chance to drink some water themselves if they needed to.
The witcher nods in approval and leads the horses over to stream. He dismounts and offers you a hand which you gladly except considering the fact that your head was still pounding something fierce (though it wasn't as bad as it was when you woke up).

You take a sip of water from the canteen before going to refill it in the stream. You reach into Midnight's saddle bag and pull out some dried berries which you snack on.

"You feeling any better?" Eskel asks, giving Scorpion a few pats on the side of the neck. "A little," you admit, "head still feels like it's splitting in half, albeit slowly." Eskel smirks a little at that, "I did warn you," he says, "you plastered and put your life on the line that of your own free will, I had nothing to do with it." "Yeah, I know," you give Eskel a quick glare, "and I'm starting to wish I didn't. I'd really kill for a cup of coffee right about now." "What's coffee?" Eskel asks. "It's a brown, bitter drink made with coffee beans," you explain, "they help you stay awake, but some people might also use it to help sober up...or when you're hungover." "Does it actually work?" "Ah, I think the jury is still out on that," you admit.

 "I still appreciate you helping me out," Eskel tells you, "not many people are usually willing to help when it comes to monster problems. That's why they always hire someone like me to do the job."

You feel the pouch of coins attached to your belt, the same pouch Eskel gave you as payment for your help in luring out the katakan. "Do these jobs always pay this well?" you ask him. "Not always," Eskel admits, "sometimes they end up not paying at all." "What?" you look at him in surprise.
"There have been times when I did the job and contractors would refuse to pay," Eskel explains, "killed a manticore once, brought its head to the client; he thought it couldn't have been that difficult to kill considering how long it took me to complete the job so he tried to swindle me and only give me half the promised reward." "Didn't you try and do anything?" you ask. "Tried...he ended up rounding up locals to chase me out of town," Eskel answers, "then there was another job I took where I killed a drowner, but the client refused to pay cause he was under the impression the monster that was attacking people was bigger and lot more threatening."

"Well that was shitty of people to try and rip you off like that," you say, "don't they realize killing monster isn't exactly a walk in the park, even for a trained professional? And being run out of town like that was pretty extreme." ""I'm a witcher, (y/n), that's how folks have always treated people like me, like mutant freaks," Eskel says matter-of-factually, "for the most part, they tolerate us long enough till the job is done. Afterwards, they no longer want anything to do with us and want us gone as soon as possible." 

Silence followed, being that you had nothing to say to that. You recalled what Vesemir had said to you back in Kaer Morhen, how people could be cruel to those that were different, to those the general population didn't know of or understand and how that unknown could turn into fear and hatred of the 'other'. Such sentiments weren't lost in your world, it was just with a different set of marginalized groups.

"Maybe if more people in this world really got to know people like you and your brothers better, they might better learn with emphasize with your more," you finally say, which got Eskel's attention, "At least, that's been my experience." "Oh?" Eskel says, curious. "I'll admit I was scared of you, Geralt, and Lambert when I first came to this world," you say, "but when I stayed, and got to learn more about you, about witchers, I knew you lot really weren't so bad. That may not be the case with other witchers, but the ones I've met so far...like you...well you did save me from a forktail, tended my wounds, and let me stay in your keep for the winter and...well I know you're not a freak, Eskel, you're a good, decent man."