The White Wolf and The Red Bat

chapter 6

Geralt and Genevieve approached the old abandoned castle, Geralt carrying his swords in a satchel, as well as some potions he had brewed. They were met with a large group of Foltest's soldiers. Geralt sighed, placing down his items and drawing his sword. The soldiers followed and drew theirs. Genevieve sighed and crossed her arms.

"Men..." She sighed.

"Oh so quick to violence." Foltest said as he emerged from the back of the group blocking the entrance, "Strange, considering what Miss Merigold
told me about you."

"And what's that?" Genevieve asked, shaking her head slightly.

"She told me... to trust you." He hesitated, then chuckled.

He suddenly grew very serious, and glanced between the two in front of him,  "Will this work? Answer honestly."

"I don't know." Geralt admitted.

"Will my..." He hesitated, "will my daughter... be normal?"

"She'll need special care. She's lived as an animal. All she's ever known is... rage and hunger." Geralt told him, sighing. He looked at Genevieve and excused himself, pulling the King to the side to speak privately.

Geralt pulled out a small brooch, and handed it to the King.

"What is this?" he gruffed.

"For the princess. If I can lift the curse. A gift." Geralt offered.

"You're giving me this because you do not expect to see morning." Foltest sounded skeptical.

"This isn't my first time trying to save a princess who others see as a monster." Geralt spoke, but it was loud enough for Genevieve to hear, and she scoffed and turned slightly to look at Geralt.

"What happened to that princess?" The King asked.

"I killed her." The Witcher said bluntly.

"I did try to resist, at first, with Adda.
We both did. For all it brightens, love casts long shadows." Foltest sighed, "I envy you. To live... and never have to fall in love."

Geralt locked eyes with Genevieve, but she turned quickly to hide her disappointed expression.

They picked up their belongings and entered the castle as Foltest's men withdrew themselves from the entrance.

Inside, they entered Adda's room, where they had tied up an unconscious Ostritt, and waited for him to wake.

A little while later, he began to stir;
"Witcher. This is madness!" He yelled, "What are we doing here? What's happening?" 

"How can we lift the curse?" Geralt ignored the man's angered tone.

"No. This is not right. Foltest must pay for what he did." He shouted once more.

"Explain that to her." Genevieve spoke.

"Carry me out. I order you." Ostritt pleaded, pulling on his restraints.

"Tell me how to lift the curse." Geralt repeated.

Ostritt squirmed, and stumbled over his words, panting furiously.

"Sh-She was hiding from the Brotherhood. She sold me a lamb. Sh-She told me to wait until a full moon, to wait and then to kill it. And then I recited some silly chant.
And then I bathed in the lamb's blood
until sunrise. Until the rooster crowed three times. And that is all." He cried, "I swear. I swear. Now please let us leave."

"What was the chant?" Geralt pressed

Ostritt gasped, and looked confused, "It was years ago!" He exclaimed, "It was Elven. Um..."

He thought for a moment, trying to remember the words - and then he spoke, a short chant in Elder.

Geralt stood all of a sudden, and started rooting around in his potion bags. 

"Oh, for fuck's sake." Genevieve breathed out.

"Wh... what is it? The... I... I've done what you've asked." Ostritt asked, panicked, "What more can I do?"

"Nothing, unless you can keep a striga out of her crypt until a fucking rooster crows three times." Geralt growled at him, downing a black potion.

"You're gonna have to fight her till dawn." Ostritt realised, looking very pale.

"No fucking shit." Genevieve spat, taking off her cloak and extending her claws, not caring if Ostritt saw or not. Fucker would surely not make it through the night.

The two exited the room, slowly stalking, and listening. Geralt had a chain wrapped around his arm, ready to use.