The Path: A witcher's tale

Chapter 18

Karadine and I departed Kaer Morhen as soon as the snows started melting away for the spring. I had told Karadine that we had to go to Skellige, for there was something that I had to take care of. She had said that we would, but first, there was something she had to tell me. Apparently, before the winter, a contract issuer thought Karadine did such a good job, they invited her to their wedding, which is supposed to take place sometime next week. "Alright, so what's that got to do with going to Skellige" I said. Karadine replied that she could bring a person with her, and she was wondering if I would like to go. I told her how I didn't really like feasts and festivities among strangers, a bloody witcher isn't exactly a welcome sight at a time of merriment and happiness. She had explained that we would rent a room at a nearby inn where we could leave our gear and swords, and I would hold the key to the room, so nobody could steal it. I finally gave in and agreed to go with her, as long as we went straight to An Skellig afterwards.
She gave me her word and we traveled to Novigrad and rented a room at an inn called "The Chameleon." The owner supposedly knew a witcher and welcomed any patrons, no matter their profession or race, so long as they've got class and coin. We set our gear aside as soon as we entered our room, then Karadine pulled something I didn't like out of her satchel. She pulled out an ornate robe for a man to wear to a place of class. I groaned and said, "Do I have to wear that? I'm more comfortable with a studded doublet and two swords on my back, not a silken robe." Karadine replied, "Of course you do, I'm not gonna let you go with your weapons and blood-stained armor. Now stay here while I go into town and get something to wear, we leave tomorrow." I sat down in an armchair in the room and thought to myself, "Sometimes, I wonder why I put up with this shit, but what don't we do for our... hmm. What exactly is she to me?" I contemplated what I would do to commemorate the witcher I met in the tavern, I still have his medallion and swords. Soon enough, Karadine walked through the door with a dress on her arm. She had told me to close my eyes while she put it on. When she had put it on and I saw it, I swear, there were fewer sights more beautiful than that.
When she asked how it looked, I replied with, "I think you just might outshine the bride wearing that, at least for me, I doubt I'll be looking anywhere else." We called it a night and rested up for tomorrow, the ceremony was early in the morning and the reception was in the afternoon. When I awoke, Karadine was already in her dress and motioned for me to get ready quickly. I put on my robe and I strapped a hunting knife to my belt, just in case.
We traveled to the ceremony, it was held outdoors on some farmland and with a lot of guests, but of course, many just came to get drunk off their asses at the reception, which started soon after. At the reception, the parents of the bride, which organized the event, approached us and said, "It seems the entertainment is missing, we hired a mage to do optical illusions, but he hasn't arrived. I hate asking you to work now, but can one of you witchers go and look for 'im?" I told Karadine that I would take care of while she enjoys herself.
I ventured into some nearby woods and found the mage struggling to defend himself from a group of bandits. I drew my hunting knife and told them to leave the mage alone. The leader looked at me and said, "Or what? All you got is a little hunting knife, we's got bows and swords." I said, "Alright, you asked for it," and walked up to him and lifted him up and threw him away. He got up and told his men to advance. I threw my knife at one of them and it hit him in the eye, dropping him instantly. I grabbed the wrist of another and broke it, then I took his sword and thrust it through his gut. The leader got his second wind and charged me after he took the knife out of his dead comrade's eye. I stopped his arm, threw him on the floor, and used aard to slam his head into some stones on the floor. I retrieved my knife, flicked off the blood and sheathed it as the others fled into the woods.
I returned with the mage to the festivities, which were already in full swing. I didn't spectate the mage's act as I went to find Karadine, who was bestowing her blessing on the newlyweds. I stood next to Karadine when she turned and told me to give them a blessing. I had said, "You really don't want a witcher's blessing, all I know how to do is kill monsters, not wish happiness." They kept asking until I finally just wished them a happy marriage, nothing too complicated.
We went into a large barn-like area where there were musicians and people dancing and I already knew when this was going. I sat down at a table and told Karadine that she could go dance if she wanted to, I can't and won't dance. She went and danced while played gwent with some other people who couldn't dance until one of them spoke to me. He said, "Aye witcher, if ye can't dance, just drink a pint and you'll barely have the memory of how ye danced." I decided to change a bit and followed his advice.
The downside of my witcher's metabolism is that I have a faster metabolism, so next thing I know, Karadine's in my arms and we're actually enjoying ourselves. Then we left the scene, everyone was done for the night and so was I. Karadine and I returned back to our room and retired for the night, I had some serious business I had to attend to in the morning, I was headed for An Skellig to put a bear to rest.