Sebastian sat across from Faelorn in silence now, with one arm resting over the rough wooden table, untouched food pushed aside while the cup of strong liquor remained half-empty in his hand. Around them the Scoia'tael had relaxed somewhat.
No elf in this camp would ever truly relax around a witcher.
Faelorn leaned back in his chair while sharpening a dagger slowly against a whetstone.
"We found the village yesterday, in flames, dead humans, just like you described."
His voice was quieter now.
Less like a commander speaking to a prisoner, and more like a tired man speaking to another tired man.
Sebastian listened silently.
The elf captain continued.
"We used to pass through there occasionally."
A smile crossed his scarred face. "At first we planned to rob them, yes we rob people from time to time, we kill from time to time too."
That earned a few chuckles from nearby Scoia'tael.
"One dwarf. Two carts. Easy work really."
The dwarf from earlier lifted his cup proudly.
"Still could've robbed them too."
"You would've stolen the chickens and forgotten the grain," Faelorn replied dryly.
The cavern laughed softly, then the elf captain's expression dimmed again.
"But when Yarvik went into the village…"
He gestured toward the dwarf.
"…they treated him kindly, it was surprising..."
Sebastian raised an eyebrow slightly.
Faelorn nodded.
"Fed him."
The dwarf grunted.
"Old woman even gave me soup."
He sounded offended by the memory.
"Tasted like shite."
"Didn't you say you liked it?" another elf muttered.
"Did I? I only remember that I stole their apples afterward to stay professional."
A few Scoia'tael laughed again.
Sebastian found himself smirking faintly despite the subject matter.
Faelorn continued turning the dagger slowly in his hand.
"That kind of thing is rare you know?"
His voice hardened slightly.
"Humans usually spit at us before they speak."
His eyes shifted toward Sebastian briefly.
"You've seen how your precious kingdoms treat anyone not born with round ears."
Sebastian said nothing, because there was nothing to argue against.
Faelorn continued, "So instead of stealing from them… we traded."
That surprised Sebastian slightly.
The elf captain shrugged. "They didn't ask for much. Salt. Medicine. A few tools."
A bitter smile touched his lips.
"And we happened to possess quite a lot of stolen goods and crowns."
The dwarf raised his drink proudly.
"Robbery does pay well!"
"Until you drink the profits," Faelorn muttered.
The older elf leaned forward slightly afterward.
"The villagers never betrayed us either, again which surprised me the most... they were peasants, but I dare say they were much more noble than kings."
His voice quieted further.
"They knew exactly who we were."
"Scoia'tael, Outlaws and enemies of Redania... and they still helped."
The cavern grew silent again.
Sebastian slowly exhaled through his nose.
"…And now they're dead."
Faelorn nodded once.
"Yes."
The word lingered heavily.
Sebastian stared into his cup thoughtfully before speaking again.
"Are you certain the Redanians did it?"
Faelorn immediately looked at him like he'd asked whether fire burned.
"How naïve are you, witcher?" Faelorn said in genuine disbelief.
"Of course it could've been another unit entirely. The captain who hired you might truly know nothing."
He tapped the dagger lightly against the table.
"But someone knew."
His eyes darkened.
"Villagers aiding Scoia'tael?"
He scoffed bitterly.
"To Redania that makes them traitors already... and to a soldier who hates elves that makes them devils."
One of the elves nearby muttered quietly,
"Humans kill their own easier than they kill us."
Faelorn nodded slowly.
"They figured out the villagers traded with us."
The elf's voice became colder with every word.
"So the good loyal subjects of the kingdom paid the price for aiding filthy nonhumans."
Sebastian clenched his jaw slightly.
Because the worst part?
It made sense. Too much sense.
"The captain was eager," Sebastian admitted quietly.
"He pushed hard for the investigation."
Faelorn smirked faintly.
"Of course he did."
"He negotiated fiercely too," Sebastian continued. "Wanted so bad to find 'who did it'."
Faelorn barked out a dry laugh.
"There it is."
He leaned back again.
"They wanted a witness. Preferably a neutral one, someone to track the ones the villagers aided."
"Can't get better than a witcher"
"Exactly."
Sebastian rubbed his temple slowly.
"…Fuck."
The dwarf lifted his cup toward him.
"You say that a lot for a mutant."
Sebastian pointed lazily toward the cavern ceiling.
"I'm adapting to Redanian culture."
That earned another round of rough laughter.
Even Faelorn smiled faintly.
Then the captain's expression sharpened again.
"Now that you understand…"
The elf rested both forearms against the table.
"What are you willing to do about it, witcher?"
Every nearby Scoia'tael subtly listened now.
Sebastian remained silent for several moments.
Then finally he sighed and spoke honestly.
"I'll admit something first."
Faelorn raised an eyebrow.
Sebastian leaned back slightly.
"I let myself get captured."
Several Scoia'tael immediately started cursing.
"I fucking knew it!"
"Told you!"
The female elf who captured him narrowed her eyes dangerously.
Sebastian raised a hand defensively.
"In my defense, your trap was very convincing."
"You stepped directly into it!"
"Yes."
"…Idiot."
Sebastian ignored her.
"I wanted to find your camp faster, kill everyone involved, finish the contract and leave."
There was complete silence, then Sebastian added quietly,
"But what motivated me wasn't coin." as his eyes shifted toward Faelorn.
"It was justice."
For a second Faelorn simply stared at him.
Then suddenly burst into loud laughter, a laughter dragged out of someone who rarely experienced genuine amusement anymore.
"Of course I knew that!"
He slapped the table once while laughing.
"My subordinates can barely capture drunk merchants alive, let alone a witcher."
The female elf looked offended immediately.
"I captured him!"
Faelorn pointed directly at Sebastian.
"He practically walked into camp asking for directions!"
Even the dwarf nearly choked laughing.
Sebastian actually looked mildly embarrassed now.
"…Did you?"
Faelorn wiped at one eye while still chuckling.
"Vatt'ghern, your acting skills need work."
Sebastian muttered something unflattering into his drink.
The elf captain eventually calmed enough to lean forward again.
"You know…" Faelorn said thoughtfully, "you don't seem half bad for a mutant."
Sebastian blinked.
"…Thank you?"
"So how about we do something about this together?"
The elf's scarred face twisted into a dangerous smile.
"You see…"
He spread his arms slightly toward the cavern.
"I'm also quite fond of justice."
The smile widened.
"It's practically my life's purpose."
"I made a mistake." Sebastian said.
Faelorn's amusement faded slightly.
"I didn't cover my tracks properly when I was following your trail, and we ended up coming here so..."
The cavern quieted again instantly.
Sebastian continued, "If what you're saying is true… and that captain is suspicious…"
His eyes narrowed.
"…then he might've followed me or made sure someone does."
One of the Scoia'tael immediately cursed in Elder Speech.
Another grabbed for his bow.
Faelorn however remained calm, mostly.
"That cannot be helped now."
He stood slowly from the table.
"We were unlucky."
His eyes shifted toward Sebastian.
"Someone wanted us pointed at each other."
Then the elf captain extended his hand across the table.
"But if it comes to battle… You'll fight with us, won't you?"
Sebastian stared at the offered hand for a moment.
A Scoia'tael captain.
An outlaw, an enemy of the Northern Kingdoms.
And somehow…more honest than half the humans Sebastian had met since leaving Kaer Morhen.
Finally Sebastian reached forward and clasped the elf's forearm firmly.
"Of course."
/-\
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