Chapter 28: Sure-lock your holmes?
It's been a couple weeks since Reima had arrived in Ard Carraigh, where he has become somewhat of a local celebrity. Not only did he clear most monster camps that were harassing travellers and merchants but he is more pleasant than other Witchers that had previously visited the city. Allowing people time to repay their life debts to him or even refusing to take coin at all has garnered him quite a lot of respect amongst the populace. He even heard a bard singing of his exploits against a Water Hag that had almost clawed his throat out.
Reima was enjoying himself... The harsh looks from people seemed to have softened a little and folks were not as afraid to approach him to ask for help. His constant visits to Commander Indit Sazi has made them rather familiar with each other, to the point where he has even offered him Wine during their last meeting. While people attitudes are improving there are still those who seek to make trouble...
Thug "Freaks like you should stay in the mountains fucking cats or whatever you do to make more of ya!"
While eating and drinking in the common room of the Inn three men approached Reima and tried to do something? Reima isn't really sure what they want except for him to go fuck cats in the mountain or something similar?
Reima looks at them coldly "I'm sorry, do you need something?" The other patrons of the Inn back away from the nearing conflict.
Thug 2 "Yeah, we want you gone! The only thing needed is the Eternal fire to protect us!"
Reima "Yeah? Take your Eternal fire and deal with the Monsters yourselves then. I wonder how you would fare against a Werewolf or a Chort"
One of the men spits on the floor before replying, "It'll be as easy as it will be to handle you."
Reima places the his fork strategically on his plate before replying while using Observation Haki, "Do you wish to try?"
The first Thug tries to shiv Reima in the back with a dagger but Reima pounds on the plate in front of him, launching the fork behind him and into the thugs face miraculously piercing his eye.
He gives off a scream before stumbling to the floor holding his eye. His friends pull out their weapons but before they can even swing their blades they find their necks sliced and Reima standing their, dagger in hand. "Man feels great to be a badass..." He walks to the still alive thug with a eating utensil stuck in his eye. "Spare me lord, I wasn't in my right mind!".
Before Reima can end his life guards burst into the Inn weapons drawn.
Guard "Halt! The Commander wishes to see you Witcher!" He states loudly while observing the bloody scene.
Reima realises how suspect he looks and tries to think of an excuse... "Errr, they... Fell?" A drop of blood falls loudly to the floor from his dagger. A few snorts can be heard around the Inn while the Guard looks agape at him.
Guard "Witcher, I am not here to arrest you. The Commander has a job that requires your assistance."
Reima's eyes light up as he breaths a sigh in relief, he wipes his bloodied dagger on the downed mans clothes before following the Guard outside while his subordinates deal with the aftermath of the short battle.
The Guard who has become rather familiar with Reima by now asks him, "It wasn't you who instigated that conflict was it?"
Reima replies innocently "Not at all, they were shouting something about the Eternal fire before trying to stab me while I ate."
The Guard nods "It'd do you well to stay out of trouble Witcher, you've become rather popular as of late."
Reima shakes his head at the dig and they finally reach the Commander opulent office.
They enter and find two people waiting inside aside from the Commander.
Indit Sazi "Reima, good for you to show with such haste." He eyes the small blood stains on his clothes, "It's good you're already ready for combat since we have a rather delicate job for you. These two are Dagovi Gasreza and Branand Maeg, nobles of Kaedwin who are both currently missing their wives."
Dagovi is a middle aged man with dark skin and no facial hair, he's around 5'10 feet tall and rather skinny.
Branand looks like a typical Norse warrior, around 6ft tall with bulging muscles and full red beard.
Both nobles look haggard and tired, they look Reima up and down.
Dagovi "Commander Sazi, I respect your competence but are you sure a fr-Witcher barely old enough to stop drinking milk is going to help us at all!?!
Branand "I don't wish to disrespect you Witcher but I think a mage is probably needed for matters such as these."
Reima "Well, we won't know until you tell me what the job is, so lets hear it." He says crossing his arms and leaning against the wall.
Dagovi looks rather put out as he begins, "There had been rumours that a curse that makes women infertile before making them disappear had swept the city... I hadn't believed them, thought they were the rabble making up stories until my dear Nuci went missing..."
Branand nods "Same with my Netlize... A year of trying to conceive and then suddenly vanishing, I had thought she would try and end her life in a depressed stupor until Sir Dagovi told a similar story. We determined that it must be some the curse the rumours spoke of."
Indit looks to Reima along with the others.
Reima "It could be almost anything causing things that you have described, I think I'll need to examine frequent places that your wives had visited to get a better picture at what we're looking at..."