Sebastian moved through the corridors of the dwarven palace his boots echoing against the floor, the guards he passed turned to watch him, their voices curious.
"What's wrong with the witcher?" one of the dwarven guards muttered to his companion. "He seems in a hurry. Like he's chasing something."
The Temerian guard beside him shook his head. "I don't know, should we follow?"
"Best not. The King trusts him, and so do the Elder. We'll stay at our posts."
Sebastian rounded a corner and nearly collided with a figure that had materialized from the shadows. It was Dandelion, his face flushed with the remnants of the feast, his eyes carrying the slightly unfocused quality of a man who had consumed more than his share of dwarven ale. But there was a flicker of sobriety in his gaze as he recognized the witcher.
"Seb!" Dandelion called out, "Seb, come here! We need to have a late-night drink. The night is young, and the dwarves have a cellar that would make kings weep with envy!"
Sebastian's voice was sharp, his pace not slowing. "No time for that right now, Dandelion. I need to be somewhere. This cannot wait."
Dandelion fell into step beside him, "Late-night city stroll? Count me in. I've been told I'm excellent company, even when the company is a witcher with a permanent scowl."
Sebastian's voice was flat, carrying no room for argument. "It is not a stroll. But sure, you can come along. Just do not mention this to anyone. Not a word!"
Dandelion's grin was wide. "I will be as silent as the grave. My lips are sealed tighter than a dwarf's purse strings."
They emerged from the palace, the streets of Mount Carbon stretched before them, their lights flickering against the darkness. Dandelion glanced around.
"Where to?" Dandelion asked, his voice losing some of its drunkenness.
"The infirmary. Wherever it is." Seb answered.
Dandelion's face lit up with recognition. "You are in luck, then. I have a sharp memory, really, a skill that a bard must have. I saw it while we were heading to the palace. Follow me."
Sebastian smiled. "I was busy taking in the beautiful sights, but that is good. Because I was starting to question my decision to let you come, since you really cannot keep secrets."
Dandelion's felt his dignity wounded. "Nonsense! For my friends, I can keep them till I die... or I am really facing a death situation. But even then, I would take the secret to the grave, and the grave would be grateful for the privilege."
Sebastian smiled and said nothing.
They walked through the winding streets of Mount Carbon, the city's architecture, the dwarven buildings were built into the mountain itself, their walls of rough-hewn stone, their windows glowing with warm light. The sounds of the city had faded to a low murmur, the distant clang of forges who worked late and the occasional bark of a hound.
They reached the infirmary, a squat building of grey stone, its entrance guarded by a single dwarf in chainmail. The guard's eyes narrowed as they approached, his hand moving to the axe at his belt.
"Halt," the guard called out, "State your business. This is a place of healing, not a tavern."
Dandelion stepped forward, "Good sir, we are here on urgent business. This witcher is a personal friend of the King himself, and we have been sent to check on the condition of a patient."
The guard's eyes narrowed further. "I have heard no such orders."
Sebastian stepped forward, his voice calm and steady. He reached into his pocket and displayed the pin that Foltest had given him, the Temerian lilies, the symbol of royal authority. He held it up for the guard to see.
The guard's eyes widened. "The Temerian lilies... you are one of Foltest's men.. That is grand. Trouble found me, I cannot get in your way, then, can I?"
Dandelion's voice carried a note of smug pride. "That is right. You cannot, or you shall face the King's judgment! And believe me, his judgment is swift and merciless."
The guard stepped aside. "I want no trouble. You may go inside. We only have a few injured inside... and a she-elf."
Sebastian moved past him, Dandelion close behind. The interior of the infirmary was quiet, the rooms were small and sparse, their walls lined with beds that held the wounded and the broken.
Sebastian found her in a small room at the end of the corridor. She lay on a narrow bed, her body wrapped in bandages, her face pale and drawn. Her breathing was shallow, her eyes closed, her body barely recognizable as the fierce archer he had known.
He walked closer, his footsteps soft against the stone floor. Dandelion followed, he was confused. "Who is she? Someone you know?"
Sebastian's voice was hard, his emotions tightly controlled. "I told you about them before. This is Lune, one of the Scoia'tael I told you about." He paused, his voice dropping. "She is all that is left.."
Dandelion was surprised. "Oh... I am sorry, then, Seb. But what the hell happened to her?"
Sebastian's voice was cold with suppressed anger. "They have been murdered by a man, here in this city. She is the sole survivor. I was hoping to see her when the Elder mentioned a she-elf, and yet..." He paused, his eyes fixed on her bandaged body. "But death seems merciful now. She must feel devastated, to lose people she called family. And look.."
Dandelion followed Sebastian's gesture. He saw her hands, the missing fingers, the raw stumps where they had been. "Those are fingers one uses for a bow. She would never use a bow again... The man deliberately cut her fingers off so she would not be able to use her preferred weapon. He left her with mortal wounds and made her fate up to the gods. Whether she lives or dies, she will never be the same. That was his cruel ploy, most definitely."
Dandelion was silent, his face pale.
Sebastian moved closer, his hand reaching out to hold hers. His voice was low. "I will avenge you, Lune. I will avenge Faelorn and Yarvik. I will find the one who did this and bring you his head. Of that, I promise you."
It took a few seconds, but then she spoke, her voice barely a whisper. "Seb..."
Dandelion's eyes widened. "She is awake!"
Sebastian's voice was gentle, his hand still holding hers. "Hey."
A tear fell down her cheek, her body too weak to move. Sebastian's voice was soft. "Don't talk too much. I know what happened. I know the others are dead, but I'm glad you are alive. I just want you to keep it short and give me this man's appearance, his face, his eyes, anything that could help me find him."
She uttered, barely able to speak, but she did so anyway. "L... Leo... Bonhart."
Sebastian's eyes widened at the name. "Leo Bonhart. He told you his name was Leo Bonehart?"
She shook her head in approval as best as she could.
Dandelion was confused. "Who is that?"
Sebastian's voice was cold. "A bounty hunter. A man who kills witchers. I have heard stories about him, he collects their medallions as trophies.."
He turned back to Lune. "Why did he do what he did to you guys?"
Lune's voice was barely a whisper, each word a struggle. "Looking for... you."
Dandelion was alarmed. "What?! Have you met this man?"
Sebastian shook his head slowly. "No. But I finally understand what happened in Vizima. The assassins, the medallion, it was him, he sent that medallion with them knowing that if they end up fighting a Witcher, they would understand it is a warning. He has been hunting me."
He squeezed her hand. "Thank you, Lune. I will find him, and I will be the last person he ever sees."
She spoke again, her voice weak and trembling. "Seb... I'm sorry.."
Sebastian's voice was soft. "No, I'm the one who is sorry for not being there for you guys."
Lune's voice was barely audible. "No... I told him about you. About... your powers.."
Sebastian was silent for a moment, his expression unreadable, then he smiled, a soft, sad expression, and squeezed her hand. "I am glad you did. At least he will die knowing that he is severely outmatched, and can't really do anything about it."
He leaned down and kissed her wounded hand. "I am glad you survived. I will put a word with the Elder to take care of you and give you a horse once you are good to go. I think you can still ride a horse, you are strong, afterall you were the one who captured me remember?" He smiled. "Find shelter far away from the kingdoms of men. You can always come visit me in Kaer Morhen. I will keep Leo's head as a trophy there."
He showed her the pin on his chest. "I am Foltest's kingsguard. I know you will probably hate me for it.. But I'm doing this for a good reason."
She shook her head weakly, carrying no judgment.
Sebastian's voice was firm. "I will be leaving now. I pray that you recover quickly. I know you will, I have to leave again, now that I have a man to hunt as well."
He turned and walked out of the room, Dandelion close behind. At the door, Dandelion paused. "Rest well."
They emerged into the night air, the streets of Mount Carbon quiet around them. Sebastian was silent, his face showing no emotion. But Dandelion noticed his quiet anger.
"We will find the prick," Dandelion said. "I believe that."
Sebastian's voice was cold. "I hope he finds me first at this point. Everything started to make sense now. He is probably looking for Ciri, and we the witchers of the School of the Wolf are just a side quest to him, people that will lead him to her. But he is sorely mistaken." He paused, his voice dropping. "I just hope Geralt is doing his job of protecting her properly. Now we know that people like Leo Bonhart are looking for her. Kaer Morhen is not safe... Yennefer was right... and we left Vesemir alone there."
Dandelion reassured Seb. "Excuse me, but are you really worried about Geralt and old Vesemir? They might not be a flame demon like yourself, but they are still master witchers. They have survived worse."
Sebastian's voice was flat. "You are right. It's just that I had a bad feeling, and it turned out the friends I made are dead.. I don't want this to happen to anyone else while I'm away..."
Dandelion's voice carried a note of genuine sympathy. "I am sorry, Seb. But sometimes we can't do anything, and shit just happens."
Sebastian's voice was firm. "We should return now, before the others suspect something. And please, do not mention this to anyone."
Dandelion's voice carried the weight of a solemn promise. "You have my word."
/-\
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