The Red Eyed Raven

Chapter 4: The Demon of Redania

Its been nearly 3 years since the Hedgehog saved me and his majesty from the Drowners and since then me and Scout have been doing what we do best. Going from town to town, contract to contact, tavern to tavern, all the while enjoying the path. Well most of the time, every night I'm met with the same dream over and over again. Each one about the girl and her journeys and struggle, though this morning was different. Instead of the girl in the blue cloak, it was a woman with raven black hair like mine. I couldn't see her face well, but her eyes stood out. They were a bright purple that reminded me of amethysts. I would hear her yell and scream in pain to sobbing from heartache, making me want to go find her. Though I didn't, mainly because I still believe that it was just a dream.

Soon me and Scout arrived in Posada, where homes and taverns were build upon cliffs, with only bridges being the way in and out. As we came upon a tavern, I recognized a familiar brown horse, that was tied up near a branch so she didn't run off. A smile came upon my face as I see roach, knowing that her owner is here as well. I jump down from Scout and lead her towards Roach, she neighs in happiness to see a familiar face and begins to eat the hay that was next to Roach. I don't tie her up because I know that she will stay, before walking across the bridge into the tavern.

"The Pike with a spike, That lurks in your drawers, Or the flying drake, That will fill you with Horror!" Sung the bard as I walk in, with my hood still up hiding my ruby eyes. I look around trying to find the brooding witcher. Looking to my right I see him staring at his cup, and you guessed it, Brooding. I smile and look at the barmaid, holding my finger up for a pint, in which she nods and begins to fill the pint. All the while I make my way towards the Brooding Witcher, who still hasn't noticed my presence. Until I slide onto the seat next to him, my hood still down hiding my face from him and I place my elbow on the table and my hand under my chin . He doesn't react at all, which was lame, instead he looks over at me with a small, very small, smile growing in his face.

With his gloved hand, he reaches behind my hood grabs the back of it and pulls it down. Revealing my raven hair and my ruby red eyes, as well as my smiling face. He looks at me for a while before taking his gloved hand back and picks up his mug and drowning it. he looks back at me with his cheeks filled with ale, before he swallows and stares down at me.

"What are you doing here?" he asks in his deep raspy voice, causing shivers to run down my spine. Before I could answer my pint was place before me and I smile up at the woman and thank her.

"What? No, 'hey Negra how you've been?', oh I have been doing great. Slayed a few monsters here and there since we last saw each other, thanks for asking. How have you been doing?, ' oh you know the same; following down the path, all the while stopping at whore houses and taverns to forget my dark past.'" I said imitating him all the same. He gives me a small smile before staring down at me with his golden eyes, wanting the truth out of me.

"OK, Ok. I was just coming from a job I did in Velen. I didn't know you were going to be here, not everything is about you, you know." I stated lifting up my ale and taking a gulp from it. He hmm before going back to brooding. While I watch the bard get attacked by throwing rolls, before taking off his lute and begins stuffing his pants with bread. Hey free food. He looks up and sees us, getting up from the ground taking a cup of ale before walking towards us. Ooo this is going to be fun.

"I love the way you just sit in the corner and brood." He states leaning against a pillar.

"I'm here to drink alone." Geralt response, making me slap his arm for being rude. In which he looks down at me with a seriously look.

"Don't mind him, he's just grumpy. In fact he's always grumpy." I stated lifting the cup up to my lips and took another sip of the ale. Feeling Geralts death gaze on me.