The Path: A witcher's tale

Chapter 14

Just as the final snows of winter were melting away, I left Kaer Morhen for another year, this time however, I was traveling alone. I was on my way to Dol Blathanna for my next contract when I had decided to give Wasp a rest while I stayed at an inn that was on the way. I had went straight to the innkeep and asked for a bottle of something strong. That's when some bandits came in, talking shit. "Who's this?" Their leader said. "Brave warrior looks like. He got two swords, see?" Said another. The leader then directed his attention to me and asked "Hey, white streak! What's the point of having two swords?" I overheard one of his cohorts say, "Wonder if he keeps a second prick in his trousers too." I didn't even look back as I said, "Well, I'm a witcher, one sword's silver, for monsters. The other's steel, also for monsters, but they're monsters like you. By the way, also heard you wondering about my prick, only got one of those, asshole."
The bandit leader came up to me and told me, "Oh, so you're one of those mutant freaks. You calling me a monster, right? Well let's see just how good you are at your job then." He sent a dagger right at me and I grabbed his wrist, knocked the blade out of his hand, and broke his wrist. This only made the piece of shit madder, as he started throwing punches. I fluidly dodged his blows and caught his second arm, put it behind him, and broke it. I had said to him, "Looks like I gotta work again, there's a monster in front of me that has to be taken care of." I banged his head on the table and he died after a second hit. I looked at his men and said that if they didn't want to end up like him, they better get the hell out. Just like that, those whoresons, ran away, tail between their legs. I decided then that it was time to get going. I payed the innkeep and started traveling again.
After around a week, I finally reached the valley of the daisies, Dol Blathanna. While I was marveling at the beautiful elven architecture, I heard an elven voice yell from the woods, "Voe'rle dh'oine! Do not continue unless you wish to gain another hole in your head!" I looked up and replied, "I am no ordinary man, I am a witcher, heard you got a monster problem, I can help." I thanked him as he let me pass into the main kingdom to speak to the ruler, an elven sorceress known as Francesca Findabair. While riding through the city, I heard folk whisper, "Dh'oine, no, vatt'ghern?" After a large maze of roads, I finally reached the main palace, where Francesca sat on a throne before me.
"Ceádmil Enid An Glenna. I have come for work," I said. "Ceádmil vatt'ghern, wait, I think I have heard of you, Bloede Bleidd. We have a creature prowling our forests and I would like you, on behalf of my people to deal with the beast." I took the job and asked where I could start my hunt. I was told that I could examine a clearing in the woods where the first victim was killed. "Va fail," I said, "next time we meet, the beast in the woods will be no more." I arrived at the clearing and found an elven woman there, who seemed to be lost in thought. I thought that she could help me by providing details and went to ask her if she knew anything. She jumped when I spoke but apologized afterwards, for she was not expecting anyone. She had said her name was Eylen, and that this was the place where her husband killed someone for the first time, that a curse gripped him. I told her that I could help, for I was hunting a beast in these woods and maybe I could lift his curse.
It was then that I heard a raggedy breathing behind me and I told Eylen to get behind me. Once she did, a werewolf jumped out of the bushes and attacked me. I took care of it with my silver blade, but this werewolf wasn't like the others, it seemed more human than wolf. I knocked the werewolf to the floor and it spoke to me. It had said that it used to be a very wealthy merchant named Brutus, when a curse was cast upon him, turning him into the abomination before me. I said that everything was going to be alright and I will lift the curse. I dealt a killing blow and observed that he burned away with a spectral fire like a wraith, meaning that he'd be back later.
In the meantime, Eylen invited me to her house where we could discuss the curse. Once there, I asked what happened that caused her husband to be cursed. She had said that one night, while eating dinner, a beggar with a spoon and bowl had knocked at their door asking for food. Her husband had said no, for he felt that the beggar should work and get his own food. The beggar then broke his spoon and cast aside his bowl and said the words: "From this day forth, a beast you shall be. For a man is not what has become of thee. Men will loathe and attempt to kill you. Women and children will fear and shun you. And nothing that dies by your hand will sate you." It's good that she memorized the curse, for that's how I know how to lift it. Every curse has an "anti-curse" hidden in the curse's words.
I said to Eylen that I need her to come with me so I can lift the curse. I went to a butcher to pick up some freshly slaughtered meat and ventured into the forest. I didn't have to go far before I encountered Brutus. I defeated him a second time and decided to speak to him. I had Eylen at my side and asked her if she still loved Brutus. She replied affirmatively and said she was willing to kiss Brutus, even if he was a beast. She had done so and I offered the meat to Brutus. "I Andrezej, give Brutus this meat of my free will under no duress," I had said as I fed him. Upon consuming the meat, he transformed, his hairy and misshapen body changing into a familiar humanoid form. Eylen threw a blanket around her husband and took him home to get dressed.
Afterwards, we traveled to Findabair's palace and I presented Brutus to her and said, "Ceádmil, this is the monster that was prowling the woods." Francesca had asked how a merchant could have been a monster that was killing people in the woods. I explained that a human beggar somehow got past the elven sentries and cast a powerful curse on Brutus, turning him into a werewolf. She paid me a generous reward and said, "Va fail, Bloede Bleidd. Good fortune on the Path." I said my goodbyes and left the valley. Upon leaving, I was captured by some Temerian Blue-Stripes commandos. They overwhelmed me and locked me in a prison wagon after relieving me of my gear. Only time will tell where I was headed.