Of Blades and Blood | Witcher

i. Far From Men

Dettlaff was a man of his word and he'd remained true to what he told the witcher about going far from men.

In as little as just a few days after the events of Toussaint, he'd made it as far as the Mahakam Mountains. It was there that he'd found a large cavern fit for solitude, a place no mortal could find. A place difficult for even one of his own to locate, well hidden among rocks and trees. It was just as he wished it.

The moment of his arrival was still and, at least as far as one could tell, Dettlaff was calm. He had steady hands, normal breathing, no immediate and consuming emotion. He first made certain no other creature dwelled in the cave and sat for a moment in silent agony. Until, at last, he truly broke for the first time since his departure.

It was hard for him to know for certain how long his collapse lasted. He was, at the end of it, surrounded in broken rock and used such great might in releasing his emotions that he'd broken a few of his own bones. Though they healed in moments and Dettlaff, even though an immortal creature of immense strength, was tired .

So the broken vampire took his rest against the cold wall and fought none of it.

~~~

The witcher and Regis ran into the room looking panicked. Dettlaff and his Rhenawedd stood before them. After a moment of silence, Regis spoke, moving to stand by the crackling fire.

"Now we need only find Anna Henrietta's sister. Where should we look? Do you know?"

The witcher, his rough voice more serious than usual, replied, "Mhm... Ran into Roderick, Dun Tynne's lord. Told me where I'd find Syanna."

"Then speak and let's grab her," the vampire quickly said. "Time is short."

The witcher knelt by the fire, not in any rush. All eyes were upon him.

"Said she was in a room in the tower...very one we're in right now. Which, incidentally, looks nothing like a prison cell. And just so happens there's a carafe full of wine here. Bet it's stolen Sangreal."

As he spoke, Dettlaff's mind began to whir. But no...it was impossible. Rhena would never...

Yet, glancing at Regis, he could practically see the cogs of the fellow vampire's mind churning away. He wondered if they were thinking the same thing.

"What's your point?" Rhenawedd drawled, turning her body towards Geralt.

"Giving you one chance – to tell us everything, yourself," said the witcher gruffly.

"I've nothing to tell."

Dettlaff's mind continued to pound with possible explanations, refusing to believe the ones that brought him pain. Rhenawedd would not deceive him.

"Witcher...what is this?" he demanded.

The witcher stood up and looked at him.

"Sorry, Dettlaff," he said. "You've been had."

Dettlaff shook his head just slightly. Almost immediately, he also realized Regis could likely feel what he was. That was something Dettlaff found irritating at times, the way their blood bond worked. He could even sense what was going on in his mind.

"My friend, please. You must listen to what Geralt has to say."

Dettlaff said nothing and merely looked at his blood brother, then back to the witcher. With his eyes, he prompted Geralt to continue.