The Battle of Wills || The Witcher

Chapter Five

Not wanting to provoke a reaction, Geralt slowly set down the jar he had been holding and turned to face the man that had spoken. It was the witcher. The red-headed one Geralt had seen earlier.

Geralt's heart jumped into his throat, yet at the same time, the world came into crystal clear focus. Fear was not the enemy. It could be paralyzing if men let it be, but it also granted an edge to those that knew how to use it, rather than be used by it. That edge had saved Geralt many times. He could only hope that it would do the same here.

As far as Geralt knew, there was only the one door out of this room and the witcher was standing in it. Geralt was in a bad way when the best thing that could happen would be the witcher getting closer.

A fight was imminent, that much was certain. Geralt couldn't hope to talk his way out of this. His hand at his side, Geralt cast Quen preemptively, but said nothing.

The witcher took a step into the room. "I knew I sensed someone earlier. I told myself that it was nothing, that no one would be stupid enough to come here. And yet curiosity eventually got the better of me and I headed to the lab, the place Ralen told all of us you would try to break into." He smiled. "What do I find but an open doorway? And a fool witcher wishing to die."

He's stalling. Quit letting him stall for time. But there was nothing to do. Geralt was trapped. So he replied, "I'm surprised Ralen didn't come himself. Where is he now? Doing things too important for a lackey such as yourself?" As much as Geralt wanted to keep from making the witcher mad, at least anger might unseat the man. Might make him lose focus.

Geralt had to get to that door.

The witcher's notstrils flared ever so slightly to Geralt's comment, but he spoke calmly. "Ralen does and goes where he pleases. He left me to kill you, should you show up." That wicked smile again. "I think we both know that's more than enough."

Unfortunately, Geralt had to agree and he supposed his silence signaled it. The witcher's grin only deepened. But why hadn't he attacked yet? If Ralen truly had left this man to stop Geralt, then the witcher had to be powerful. One blast of Aard or Igni at this distance and Geralt could be dead.

And then it hit him.

He didn't want to destroy the lab. They needed it. Needed it to make more serum. That's why they knew Geralt would come here.

"Where's the serum?" Geralt hoped his blurted question might catch the witcher off guard and get some kind of involuntary reaction telling him where the serum was. A final, desperate attempt at locating it.

Geralt had no such luck. The witcher's eyes didn't even waver.

He laughed. "You think Ralen would leave it lying around unguarded? You really are a fool."

Geralt believed him. And chastised himself for thinking exactly that. Maybe he was a fool. He came here on a fool's errand, after all. At least Geralt would have no qualms about what he was going to do next.

Returning the smug smile that the witcher had etched into his face, Geralt raised his hand and pointed his palm toward the other side of the room. Too late, the witcher realized what Geralt was up to and rushed forward, fear filling his eyes.

It didn't stop the blast of Aard from shattering everything along the side wall.

The witcher barreled into Geralt on the far side of the room, both drawing their knives in unison. The space was much too small to wield a greatsword. Blades flashed around them as they both sought to gain the upper hand. Geralt didn't have much experience fighting with a knife other than the skills he had been taught in training. Luckily, neither did the other witcher. Their clash was one of reaction more than expertise. In this case, however, that fact favored the red head.