The Path: A witcher's tale

Chapter 19

After about 3 days around Novigrad's ports, we set sail to An Skellig, home of clan Tuirseach. At sea, Karadine and I held a cabin on the ship, while she stayed below deck, I wandered about to help defend in case of attack. The had begun to set so I had gone to keep Karadine company. As I was walking, I heard a voice singing angelically. My first instinct was that a siren somehow got aboard and I began to reach for my silver. That changed when I listened to what was being sung, I heard mentions of a wolf and a feline, so I thought that it was most likely a minstrel practicing some ballad. However, the voice was coming from the cabin Karadine and I rented. I stealthily walked in, my hand around the handle of my steel sword, until I saw it was Karadine singing. I relaxed and said, "Nice tune, I knew you gave singers the details of our adventures, didn't know you gave them the lyrics though." She jumped and turned as she replied, "Sorry, didn't hear you come in." "No need to be sorry dammit, that was beautiful," I said. She had explained that she was pondering about what the future held in store for us and that song came to mind.
She had decided to tell me about her past, she had said that she remembered how much her first scar, a slash running across her right cheek, had bothered her. I told her not to worry, for what it's worth, I think that scar suited her rather nicely, a witcher isn't a witcher without a few scars. She had replied that she missed those somewhat awkward compliments I would give her. She also asked me if I ever wanted to settle down at my vineyard, hang our swords above the mantle and start taking care of the vines, "You know, no more sniffing out some beast, no more silver, no more steel. No more 'Why you got two swords,' what do you say," she asked me. I said that personally, I prefer to stay on the Path, I like the adrenaline rush I get during a hunt, but if she would like; later, when there are less monsters and our services aren't required as much, we could rest our weary bodies and relax for a while. She said that was fine by her, she was just a little unsure if she wanted to live the witcher's life, for she once had beautiful violet eyes, she told me, but that all changed when she was taken by the school of the Cat. I assured her that her eyes are still beautiful, at least to me, and that the witcher's life; even though it's not all glamour and fortune, it's still a life worth living. She thanked me and then after undoing a few shirt buttons we preoccupied ourselves for the night.
When we awoke, the ship was docked at Kaer Trolde harbor and it was early morning. We got off the ship and got on a smaller boat to sail to Urialla harbor. Once we reached An Skellig, we trekked through the isle and reached old, ruined castle Tuirseach. Prowling the ruins, there was an old basilisk, a large draconid that resembles a large lizard with venomous claws. I told Karadine that I would take care of it, it flew at me as I drew my silver and prepared myself. When it was about to reach me, I jumped to the side and sent my blade at the monster's wing and stopped it mid-flight. The beast got its second wind and started crawling towards me. My sliver sang through the air and met its mark at the beast's head. It still got back up and lunged at me in one desperate attempt. Its claw grazed me down my cheek and I replied with a strike at the monster's neck.
This finally did it in and left the head rolling away as I pressed a rag on my face to heal. After about an hour of rest with Golden Oriole and Swallow in my system, with Karadine at my side constantly making sure I was fine, I set up some stones and placed the swords of the bear witcher in some crevices. On a flat stone, I placed some kindling and set it alight as I threw the bear witcher's medallion in it. Karadine and I stood in silence as the medallion burned away to commemorate the old witcher and then we sat down at a nearby cliff.
I looked at Karadine and told her that nearly every night during that year when I was traveling alone, I would find myself dreaming about her and what things would be like when we were reunited. She then asked if things are currently up to par with my dreams. To which I replied, "No, things have been better than I would have ever dreamt they would be. I love you Karadine." I said this as I went to kiss her and she did the same. We then sat there in each other's embrace as I said, "Well, now we're off to Kovir, I heard that the ruler there needs some top-notch monster hunters." Karadine then met eyes with me and said, "Okay, but for now, I just want to sit here for a while," she then leaned on my shoulder and we remained there for quite a while, for whatever there was in Kovir could wait.