The Traveler: Part 1

Chapter 4

The 2-week-long voyage on the ship north had hardly been pleasant. Ciri and Lambert had taken turns chaperoning Iespeth on the upper deck due to her seasick nature. The only relief was that the two never had to be concerned of any sailor approaching their elven companion since she reeked of vomit. They had attempted dipping her fouled clothes in the sea water which only mitigated the physical evidence of her sensitive stomach, but not the scent.

"Pont Vanis. Finally! It's not far from the harbor to the city gates. I can't wait to sleep in a proper bed and take a proper bath" exclaimed Ciri looking at Iespeth.

"I never knew how disgusting a mixture of fish, laverbread and bile could be. That elf of yours could teach a master alchemist a few things if he ever wanted to play a prank on someone he didn't like." Lambert simpered. He only planned to stay a few hours in the summer capital of Kovir while the ship restocked. He would sail further to the Hengfors and then continue on foot east to Kaer Mohren. Ciri and he had originally planned to stay for two days in the city with Triss -that was, until Iespeth came into the picture- but he longed to see Keira, who was due to arrive at the northern witcher fortress in two weeks and they were already running behind. Alone, he could speedily cross the mountains on foot and arrive when she did. All the remaining witchers of the School of the Wolf and their paramours excluding Geralt and Yennefer, had agreed to winter this year at Kaer Mohren.

Ciri became anxious as the ship prepared to dock. She was looking forward to seeing Triss and letting her take a look at Iespeth. As the harbor came into sight, she began reminiscing about when she first met Triss at Kaer Mohren. It was on the 'Killer' path on the southern edge of the fortress -the trail all young witcher's ran for training- where she first encountered the sorceress. Triss had mended her split knee with magic. She remembered after Triss' arrival that the frequency of growth-accelerating mushrooms and endurance-enhancing "salad" had mysteriously decreased. She remembered learning how to deal with being "indisposed". Most of all she remembered the kindness with which Triss had cared for her and hoped she would show the same care for Iespeth.

"I'll tell Eskel and Maya why you'll be delayed." Lambert told Ciri. "I think I know what you are going to say, but what do you plan to do with her?"

Ciri rubbed her face roughly with her hands and gave an exacerbated sigh.

"She's not your problem you know. You don't have an obligation to take care of her" Lambert said trying to be helpful.

Ciri looked at him knowing he was - in his own peculiar way - trying to helpful. "Lambert, I understand where you are coming from. I really do. I would love to just leave her here with some random elves or even pay some fees to dump her into some asylum. Hell, If I didn't hate them so much, I could even demand a favor from a member of the Lodge...but, it wouldn't be right. I need more information."

"You don't owe her anything. Shit, she's just going be more trouble than any benefit she could provide you." he retorted.

"Lambert, when I was on the run from the Wild Hunt I was constantly at the mercy of people I didn't know. Elves, humans, and a few other races...almost all of them complete strangers. It was because of their mercy and compassion that I survived. Some of them gave their lives protecting me even without knowing what was at stake. They are part of the reason that we all survived the White Frost; Tedd Deireadh as the users of the Elder Speech so elegantly put it." She looked down and creased her eyebrows, "I feel that I owe their memories at least this much. I feel like I need to help Iespeth without purpose or promise of payback. I...I can't explain why". Her eyes watered.

Lambert felt a bit of envy. He wondered if he would ever feel that selfless. He had never felt particularly motivated to do something good just because it seemed morally right. His life had been one of survival mostly due to spite. It felt inappropriate to express his typical instinctual reaction of cynicism to her monologue, so he merely remained silent.