Love As You Are

Chapter 3

The contractor's house rests atop a small hill from which the pier and a strip of shore are visible. White sails of the docked wooden boats are pushed to and fro by the breeze. The peacefulness of the day makes it difficult to believe that an ill fate could have befallen this man's brother. Surely, they'll find him passed out in a back-alley. Easy coin for an easy ending. He could probably make a fun little song about that, something light-hearted in-between battles with kikimores and ghouls.

A small old woman answers the door and peers up at them apprehensively.

"We're here about the contract," Geralt says politely.

"Oh, yes. Thank you for coming so quickly." She looks so relieved at Geralt's presence it nearly breaks Jaskier's heart. "My son Alan didn't come home last night or this morning. We're terribly worried something's happened to him."

Jaskier feels confident in his initial assessment that the missing man has simply gone on a bender of sorts and is still probably stumbling around drunk. Having been there himself on numerous occasions, Jaskier certainly can't fault anyone else for doing so, but this does seem like a massive waste of a witcher's time.

"I know what you're thinking," the woman says, glancing at Jaskier as if she can read his thoughts. "But this isn't something he does. Not much of a drinker, always comes home before morning. I just know something is wrong."

"Do you know where he was last seen?" Geralt asks.

He can't believe Geralt hasn't already turned and walked away.

She shakes her head and tells them they'll find her other son, John, the one who posted the contract, at the docks. "He's fair-haired, very tall," she tells them. "Taller than you both. Won't have a lick of trouble finding him. He'll have more information for you."

At the docks, Jaskier spots a man that fits John's description. He taps on Geralt's arm and points him out.

"See? I'm useful to you in more ways than one. Not only am I going to spread word of your great deeds, I'm making them happen."

"I would have found him myself."

"We'll never know for certain."

Geralt punches his arm, but there is distinctly less force behind it this time than when he'd been punched in the gut by Geralt. If that wasn't progress, what was?

They make their way to where the man who might be John is loading crates onto a boat, and Jaskier notices again as the workers stop to gape at Geralt or turn to one another, whispering and shooting wary looks his way. Jaskier is amazed that it doesn't seem to drive Geralt mad, and it strengthens his resolve to improve Geralt's reputation. Soon those looks will simply be awe-filled and full of gratitude that a hero has strolled into town.

"You John?" Geralt asks as they approach the man, who nods.

"Here about the contract, I hope?"

"That's right. Spoke to your mother. Said you'd be able to tell us more."

John sends them to one of the local brothels, Crippled Kate's, where they speak to some of the regulars as well as a couple of the girls. A few of them report hearing strange sounds outside, but they'd thought it was just a stray dog.

"This feels like a wild goose chase," Jaskier says after they've been searching the area surrounding Crippled Kates for close to an hour.

"You're the one who wanted to come. Not gonna complain if you decide to go strum your lute instead."