The White Wolf and The Red Bat

chapter 5

"Miss Merigold, you were dispatched to settle a family affair, not to enlist a mutant mercenary for a game of sleuthing." Segelin said, suspiciously. 

"This is no game, Captain. Tonight is a full moon, and Geralt has already proved himself to be invaluable." She replied, "We believe we can cure the creature."

"You say she's a girl. Then you will refer to her as Her Royal Highness." The captain snapped.

"Segelin, I believe urgency warrants flexibility in court decorum."

"The witcher's theory is nonsense. Princess Adda was the people's angel. Who'd wish to murder her?"

"What about her lover?" Geralt finally spoke up.

"Seditious rumors. Idle courtesans trading out boredom for jealousy."

"Perhaps if you called off your guards, if we were able to search the abandoned castle, we could find clues as to who cursed her." Triss pleaded.

"Except this witcher would kill the princess as she sleeps, and collect the miners' coin."

"Call her a princess. Call her a unicorn if you'd like to. She grew inside Adda, feeding on her petrified womb." Geralt said, sarcastically.

"Have you no respect?" Segelin snapped back.

Geralt ignored him, and continued, "Mutating. Growing for years till she got so hungry... she was forced to slither out. Rotten muscle, bent bones, two spidery legs, claws dragging in the dirt. An overgrown abortion."

"Enough." King Foltest growled.

"Your Highness?" The captain asked,

"Leave." Foltest said, and the group began to exit, Geralt holding the door open for them.

The last person apart from the pair left, and the Witcher pretended to follow, before Genevieve slammed and locked the door, staying in the room with the King. There were shouts from outside and loud bangs on the door.  

"Who's the princess' father?" Geralt asked.

"My men will kill you, Witcher." The King said with no emotion.

"Hmm. It's funny. You learn that your sister was murdered, and you didn't even flinch. But the moment I mention the girl's father... Why were you never married?" Geralt asked with a smirk.

"You are speaking to a king." He chuckled

"That is exactly my point. Why not produce your own heir? Why not kill the striga and avoid this revolt? Why drag this all out? Between you and me... who is the striga's father?"

"I remember hearing stories about witchers when I was a child. Is it true what they say? That the mutations that grant you your... abilities also erase your emotions? Must be. 'Cause only a man devoid of all heart could accuse a brother of bedding his murdered sister while urging him to kill her." The King spoke harshly, as guards burst through the door. Genevieve glanced at Geralt, wondering if he truly couldn't feel human emotion. That wouldn't make any sense - of all the years she'd known  him, he'd always seemed to care.

"Leave Temeria. Never return." He spat at Geralt, and sneered at Genevieve, who sent him a wink.

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The two were crouched outside  the abandoned castle, eyeing the two guards outside the door, whispering indistinctly. 

"You were told to leave Temeria." A familiar voice sounded from behind them.

"But come on. These views." Geralt said sarcastically, and Gen chuckled.

"Are you going to kill her?" Triss suddenly asked seriously.

"We don't want the miners' coin." Genevieve assured.

"Or mine, apparently. What is this girl to you? Why do you care?" She asked to Geralt.

"You first. I saw how Foltest and his boy
spoke to you. Why help those who won't listen?" He countered.

"I'm sure someone as legendary as you has already figured out several ways to get past Segelin's guards." She pried, and Genevieve handed him a large rock, which he then threw into the doorway of the castle, frightening the guards, making them run away. The pair smirked. 

Once they were sure the guards had left, they walked inside the castle, looking around carefully.

"Temeria reeks of secrets. I could sense them. Just like I could these bodies before we entered. I imagine you sense them, too." Triss spoke.

"Could smell them when we were crouched outside." Genevieve sniffed the air.

"Foltest and Adda." Triss noticed a picture hanging on the wall on the castle, "What happened to them? Not answering questions is a pillar of your brooding charm."

"You get used to it." Genevieve smiled.

"Pretty sure Foltest is the father." Geralt said suddenly, making the two women pause and look at each other with a confused look on their faces.

The trio entered a small room with a bed in the centre, "Adda's bedroom." Triss said, "Do you think he cursed her? Foltest?"

"Maybe." Geralt said, leaning down to the bedsheets, inhaling deeply. A look of disgust came across his face, and he nodded for Genevieve to examine it further. She smelled, and exhaled quickly, mirroring his disgusted look.

From across the room, a light tune could be heard playing. Triss was playing with a music box, and looking around some cupboards.

"Letters. From Queen Sancia, Foltest and Adda's mother." She called the two over, showing them the letters.

Later that day, the trio went to meet with Ostritt, as Geralt had some questions for him. They showed him the letters, and began questioning him.

"A Queen Mother cursing her own children for their affair. This could destroy the throne." Ostritt sighed, putting the letters on the table.

"Sancia wanted Adda to get rid of the child." Geralt spoke,

 "It seems she refused. Repeatedly." Genevieve added.

"And now she's taken that curse with her to the grave." Ostritt said, faking sympathy.

"You've served the family for decades. Was Sancia involved in dark sorcery of any kind?" Triss asked.

"No. Of course not." Ostritt said confidently.

"What was your relationship to Adda?" Geralt asked, observing the man closely.

"Well, I like to think that she saw me
as a confidant. And protector, even. We used to talk at great length about her troubles. She could be very naive." Ostritt hesitated.

"She ever mention her brother?" Genevieve pressed.

"Certainly not like this." He said

"She was ashamed." Triss told him.

"Or she was frightened. What if the relationship was not...consensual?" He said uncomfortably.

"Hmm. You think he raped Adda, then cursed the child to cover it up?" Geralt said, unconvinced.

"Well, kings have done more for less." Ostritt suggested

"True." Geralt sighed, glancing over at Genevieve. She nodded, and he started moving towards Ostritt.

"There's only one wrinkle, though." He said, towering over the man, "Your scent was on her sheets. Old ones...and new ones."

"What would I be doing in a dead girl's bed?" Ostritt asked unconvincingly, not meeting Geralt's eyes.

"We smelled what you were doing." Genevieve snarled, now approaching him too.

"Foltest had no right! He seduced Adda. Abused his position. He was always nagging her for attention. Always nagging! But he didn't love her. I did." The small man suddenly burst out, in a rage, exuding pure jealously. Triss stood in shock. 

"You cursed the woman you loved?" Genevieve scoffed,

"I cursed Foltest, not her."

"Countless are dead because of your jealousy." Triss became angry now.

"Countless are dead because of Foltest!" He spat, squirming, "He spoiled Adda with his seed. He refuses to kill this striga. He lies to his people. And yet you wag your finger in my face."

"If you wanted him to suffer, you could have just exposed the affair." Triss suggested.

"And hurt Adda? Never. Her memory will not be sullied, not while I'm alive to protect it."

"Tell us how to lift the curse." Geralt growled.

"No. Foltest will watch as Temeria turns against him. Just as he turned Adda against me." Ostritt spoke, clearly proud of his actions.

"We'll see about that." Genevieve smiled, as Geralt approached the man, and knocked him out in one blow.