Redemption

A delay in plans

Geralt sat at the table in the farthest corner at the Rosemary, and Thyme, the band had stopped playing for a while, but the booze still ran free. The Skelliger from the other day was eager to start a row, he had been trading insults with a man standing at the bar. At first, that was all it was, one insult after another, thrown back and forth between the two men, accompanied by the occasional bout of raucous laughter. However, when that wasn't enough to get the man to lose his temper, the Skelliger resorted to throwing his tankard at him. Geralt had to admit the Skelliger's aim was spot on, he hit the man right on the top of his head. The man pushed off of the bar, headed straight for the Skelliger, and of course, the Skelliger was all too ready for the fight. Geralt figured since Dandelion was a friend he would try to diffuse the situation. He stood up from his table, and placed a hand on the Skelliger's shoulder, to which he turned around to face Geralt.

"Maybe you should take this outside, before it gets out of hand." Geralt stated.

The Skelliger now took his fighting stance with Geralt.

"Who the fook' are ye' anyway, you should be mindin' yer' own business." The Skelliger's tone was confrontational.

Geralt held up a hand.

"I'm Geralt of Rivia, and this is my friend's tavern." He answered.

"Geralt of Rivia, the one who seated our Queen Cerys. Well then, Come sit with me for a drink." The Skelliger's demeanor completely changed.

Geralt followed the man to his table, taking a seat across from him, the Skelliger poured him a drink in a tankard, and handed it to Geralt.

"Names Halvard. What kind of business brings a witcher to Novigrad?" He asked.

Geralt took a drink from his tankard, noticing the man from the bar was still standing where the Skelliger had left him.

"I could ask you the same thing. What brings a Skelliger to the continent?" He put his tankard back on the table.

"I came here in my ship, as soon as I docked the Redanian army commandeered me' vessel, some sort of official business concernin' their king. It's a load of horseshit if you ask me." Halvard explained.

Geralt raised an eyebrow, noticing the man had stalked back to the bar.

"What kind of business?" He asked, considering King Radovid was dead, he wondered what kind of business meant that the Redanian army needed a commandeered vessel.

"How should I know, it's not like I'm the royal ass wiper, so I can be privy to such talk." Halvard smiled, then took a drink from his tankard. "You didn't answer me' question." He added.

Geralt looked around the tavern, the band was getting ready to play again, and the man at the bar was glaring at Halvard.

"We're planning to sneak back on the ship at night, and sail out of here for Skellige. You want to come along Geralt?" The Skelliger ignored the fact that Geralt still hadn't answered his question.

Geralt shook his head.

"Nope, my plans won't be taking me anywhere near Skellige." He said.

"Just what are your plans anyway," Halvard asked as he scanned the room, his gaze landing on the man at the bar.

Geralt spotted Roche entering the tavern, with a less than enthusiastic expression on his face.

"I'm afraid I can't tell you that." Geralt answered.

"It's probably for the best." Halvard raised his tankard above his head. " Here's to success whatever they may be." He shouted.

Geralt raised his tankard too, they could use all the luck they could get, especially since he was pretty sure Roche had bad news. When Roche spotted him, he gave a nod, and so did Geralt, then both headed upstairs to the room that Roche was sharing with Ves. As the witcher reached the bottom of the stairs, he heard raised voices, and turned to see Halvard, and the man standing nose to nose. He shook his head, no matter how hard Dandelion tried to keep the Rosemary, and Thyme a respectable place, the riff-raff always seems to find a way to filter in.

After ascending the stairs to the second floor, he made his way to Roches room, and entered, Geralt noticed there was only one bed, and wondered just how close Roche was with Ves.

"I've news, and it doesn't bode well." Roche immediately said upon Geralt entering the room.

"I figured as much." Geralt responded, as he closed the door behind him.

Roche crossed the room to look out the window, his hand resting on his chin.

"The local peasantry around Oxenfurt have threatened to riot, if Emhyr so much as steps foot in Oxenfurt. I guess they see his officiation as Redania's acceptance of his rule, and they want none of it." Roche turned around to look at Geralt.

Geralt gave what he heard some thought.

"So what are our options." He asked.

Roche shook his head.

"We have none really, except wait for Thaler's spy's to bring word of the outcome in Oxenfurt. The prissy nobles will most likely get their way they always do, but it will take time." Roche shook his head, he had a feeling they wouldn't be able to pull off this plan without a hitch.

Geralt cast a glance around the room.

"Then we will need to send a messenger to Iorveth, let him know we will be longer than we thought." Geralt suggested.

"Your probably right, I have a man, he is a swift rider, and he knows how to take care of himself. I'll send him first thing in the morning." Roche had but a few loyal men, and a woman who had stayed.

Geralt nodded his head.

"The sooner the better," He agreed.