The Witcher: My Own Path

My short but rather strong speech gave them some food for thought, I could see the change in their faces and the way they were now sitting. I think I can be pleased with myself as morale has gone up and the determination in their eyes clearly shows me that.

''Nightingale, Mirim what have you got for me?''

''First of all my lord you were right about a man named Raymond Maarloeve, he is an outstanding detective and on top of that he lives literally a few metres away from me, who would have thought that such a talent would move to Vizima. Anyway, he's been following the tracks of the fisstech and the people we got rid of in the sewers two years ago and it led him to a man named Ostrit a magnate and knight living in...''

''Ostrit??? Ostrit, Ostrit... that name seems familiar to me... Wait, wasn't he sometimes the guy who was in love with the queen, and when he found out what Foltest had done to his own sister, he accidentally cursed her and not him? It was because of him that the striga was born, dammit...''

...of the city's richest district and on top of that his mistress was Queen Addy's personal midwife. In other words, a fat fish, a very fat fish, I'm ashamed to admit it, but too fat for our capabilities so far, so I wanted to stop investigating further, I dismissed Raymond, but something didn't give me a break so... Mirim can you?

''Of course Nightingale. Nightingale ordered me and my squad to get into Ostrit's house and search it, just as a prophylactic to have something to latch onto if the Order gains more power, but what we found was beyond anything we could have expected. In it, Ostrit's personal journal describes his love for the Queen and how he cursed her, even though Foltest himself was supposed to be the victim.

''Let me see that diary Nightingale!''

Nightingale reached into a bag lying next to her chair and handed it to me.

What wonderful news, now I can not only disenchant the princess, but I also have irrefutable evidence of who was responsible. Now all I have to do is go to Velerad and ask him to arrange an audience with the king. However, I can't say that I broke into the nobleman's house for no reason.

''Do you still have all the evidence against Ostrit in the fisstech case?''

''Yes sir!''

''Excellent!''

The full moon will be in a week's time, so I'd best get a credible story ready quickly about my investigation and interest in the fisstech and my knowledge of it, I thought.

''Orik, do you have any books or scrolls about the striga?''

''Of course, that and as soon as it appeared, almost seven years ago, I was immediately interested in the subject.''

''Deliver it to me by tomorrow morning!''

''As you command, my lord!''

''You both did a great job! What about Raymond, have you developed a closer relationship with him or do you think he will join us?''

''I don't know my lord, sorry.''

I wasn't angry, this detective is very talented, it's better not to push too much so as not to scare him off.

''Raymond would be a great addition to the Order, so don't sleep on Nightingale, research him thoroughly first!''

''Of course, my lord!''

(A day later, morning, waiting room outside the throne room)

''Petitioner Tyr of suburb, His Majesty King Foltest awaits you!''

As I walked along the red carpet in the throne room, I surreptitiously looked around at the assembled courtiers. I hoped to see Ostrit there, to confront him with all the evidence so that the matter would end quickly and without any problems. I had asked Mirim earlier if Ostrit would realise something was wrong when he noticed the absence of the diary. She reassured me by saying that when she found it, it was as dusty as if no one had touched it for years. Great news. The funniest thing is that the group of Talons we once finished off really belonged to him, literally everything worked out to lead me to him, whether it was destiny, power or maybe my immense luck. It doesn't matter now, but whatever it was, thank you! Hahaha!

There he is! I finally spotted him, short brown hair, brown eyes, stern face. A second chin had formed from his excess weight, a prominent belly and all wrapped up in a silk high-class yellow-red outfit and a blue fabric belt, brown trousers and high leather shoes. His face betrayed boredom, he didn't even honour me with his gaze, how unkind! You will be my springboard Ostrit, you and the striga princess!

I stood some five metres from the throne in the same place I always did, however this was my fourth audience with the king. Each one was short and meaningless, the first was about my fight with Graveir, the second about my books and the third about olive lamps. A brief exchange of words and some mediocre praise nothing more, maybe this time would be no different!

When the king had finished cursing like a cobbler at one of his subjects, he finally honoured me with his gaze.

''Tyr my boy, good to see you, what brings you to me, have you written a new novel? It would be good, as lately I have been lacking distraction from all the idiots around me. Don't roll your eyes Velerad, you know full well what I'm talking about!''

''Absolutely, Your Royal Highness!''

Kneeling down, I looked at the king, pretending to be saddened.

''I am afraid not today my king, on the contrary, my heart aches to have to worry Your Majesty with the information I have acquired.''

Foltest's face grew slightly more serious.

''Speak up!''

I nodded my head.

''However, I beg Your Grace to order the palace guards to block all exits, as the matter is of state importance.''

He looked at Velerad and he at him and then both of them at me, he held his gaze, examining whether this was fun or not, whether I was crazy or not.

''Guards block the entrances, no one moves, now young Tyr tell me what you come to me with, and if this is some sick joke, don't think my attitude towards you will save you from being hanged!''

''I wouldn't dare, my king!''

I reached into the briefcase I had with me and which they had very carefully searched beforehand and took out stacks of documents. The diary was, of course, well hidden between them. I looked around the room. There was silence, everyone was curious as to what I was coming with.

''I don't know Your Highness if you are aware, but I have been an apprentice to Captain Ryzz for several years now, and although I am not officially part of the city guard I often perform their duties, helping the citizens as much as I can, and training myself on occasion.''

Foltest nodded.

''Two years ago, I came across a large group of fisstech traders in the Temple Quarter, but before I could investigate further, that group disappeared, and I am by no means saying that they just went somewhere else, no! They were all murdered in one night and their bodies simply disappeared. By the blood trail I counted about thirty people! Thirty bodies carried out of the city in one night without alerting anyone!''

The room suddenly erupted into a din I'm not surprised, something like this is quite a news story!

''Silence!''

''Boy, is it true?''

''Yes Your Majesty, but that's not all!''

''Go on!''

''To be honest...''

I bowed my head in feigned shame.

''I was frightened my king. Thirty lives, thirty bodies. Someone had murdered a lot of people and was not only very efficient, brutal, but also intelligent to solve it, leaving almost no trace. I let the investigation go, but over time I became a bit more confident and letting someone or something like that live here in the city did not give me peace of mind. After a few months I resumed my investigation.''

I took out half of the documents provided to me by Nightingale and looked at Velerad. The manager came over and took them.

''I hope that's not all!'' Asked Foltest, not hiding the irritation on his face.

''Not my king!''

''My investigation took almost two years, but it finally led me to the Castle Quarter. To a man named Ostrit!''

The room was bustling again, I heard ''ohs" and "ahs'' Foltest automatically directed his gaze to the man I was talking about. Ostrit, had turned a little pale, but it was not yet something that could condemn him to death.

''Driven by curiosity and a desire to solve the case... I broke into Bard Ostrit's house! What I found turned out to be something far worse than mere fisstech trading and it had to do with queen Adda and the princess!''

''What the fuck?! What did you just say?! An agitated Foltes all the way up from his throne.

From the corner of my eye I watched Ostrit's reaction, the poor man was as white as paper.

I quickly reached for the rest of the documents and the journal and handed them to Velerad, he in turn gave them to Foltest.

''Curse you, Foltest! I hope you die and get eaten by worms. I curse this incestuous relationship. Your sister Adda deserved someone better. I wish that the child that will be born from your chutzpah will be as monstrous as you. If the witch was telling the truth, you will soon taste revenge. All you have to do is prepare all the ingredients and repeat the formula three times. Supposedly, even that is unnecessary, you just have to hate. And I hate very much.''

With every word he read, Foltest was turning redder and redder with rage, looking at the journal then at Ostrit. Ostrit, on the other hand, was turning whiter and whiter with fear.

''Guards! Guards! Catch that mangy son of a bitch! No, I'll slaughter the son of a bitch myself, the sword! Give me the sword!''

Ahhh... now it's my turn, I have to play everything perfectly!

''No sir! Please, stop!''

''Shut up fuckwit or your head will fly off like that motherfucker!''

''I can disenchant her king! I can save her! Please!''

''What did you say?!''

''It's a curse my king, if you can cast it on someone, you can pull it off too!''