Sebastian and Dandelion had returned to the dwarven palace, Dandelion followed close behind, his usual chatter subdued by the gravity of the night's revelations, they rounded a corner and found Triss waiting for them, her arms crossed. She had been leaning against the wall, her eyes sharp, as if she had been expecting them. The torchlight caught her hair, casting a warm glow across her face. "Where were you two?" Triss asked, "I woke up and found you both gone. The feast ended hours ago, and I thought you would have retired to your quarters by now."
Dandelion stepped forward, confident that he could talk his way out of anything. "We were just taking a late-night stroll, Triss. The city is beautiful at night, and I thought Seb should see it. He is a guest here, after all, and it would be a shame to miss the.."
Sebastian cut him off. "We visited a friend. One that I told you about."
Dandelion's eyes widened. "Triss knows? What happened to 'tell no soul about this'? I thought we were keeping this between us."
Sebastian's voice was patient. "It is okay to tell Triss. I told her about them since we were in Vizima, and we traveled a whole kingdom to find her. It would be strange not to trust her on something like this, when I already entrusted her with a powerful mask that could tear open holes between worlds."
Dandelion's expression shifted to one of reluctant acceptance. "Fair enough. I suppose if you trust her with ancient elven artifacts that could open portals between worlds, you can trust her with your secrets about Scoia'tael friends."
Triss's eyes were fixed on Sebastian. "Thanks for the kind words... So did you find your Scoia'tael friends? Are they safe? I know you were worried about them."
Dandelion's face turned grim, his silence speaking volumes. The joviality that usually marked his demeanor had vanished. Triss's expression shifted.
"They are dead, aren't they?" Her voice was soft.
Sebastian's voice was flat. "They were murdered. With one sole survivor."
"Killed here? By the dwarves? I knew it was bad for them here since they are unwanted, but I did not think the dwarves would go so far as to..."
Dandelion cut her off. "Not quite. It was not the dwarves."
Triss's confusion deepened. "What do you mean? Who could have done such a thing?"
"They were killed by a single man. A bounty hunter that goes by the name of Leo Bonhart. Apparently, he was looking for me." Sebastian said.
Triss's eyes widened "Looking for you? Why would a bounty hunter be looking for you? You have only been on the Path for a short time, you have not made enemies like Geralt has."
Sebastian's voice was flat. "I assume he is looking for Geralt as well. And Eskel, and Lambert, and Vesemir. We all share one thing in common, you know that, right?"
Triss's voice was soft. "Other than being witchers of school of the wolf... you are all part of Ciri's family.."
Sebastian nodded slowly, he had already connected the dots. "The moment I heard his name, everything started to make sense. He is very dangerous. He hunts witchers. He is skilled enough to kill them." He paused, his voice dropping. "That griffin medallion we found in Vizima, it is one of his trophies. I believe he sent out those assassins, who probably do not work for him but are employed by the same person that employed him to find Ciri. They were sending out little warnings for us."
Triss's voice was urgent. "What are we going to do?! If he is hunting witchers, then he is a threat to all of you. We need to warn the others!"
Sebastian's voice was firm. "Nothing. I have no time to track him down right now, and it will not be easy. He is trying to find us, hoping one of us would lead him to Ciri. But he is sorely mistaken. I want him to find me first."
Dandelion voice was barely over a whisper. "You should have seen the survivor, Triss. She was barely alive. Her fingers were cut off so she could never use a bow again.. He left her with mortal wounds and walked away, leaving her fate to the gods."
"He let her live to pass on a message. He wanted her to tell you what happened, to send a warning." Triss said calmly.
Sebastian's eyes hardened. "Perhaps. But it backfired, now I know who he is. Even though he knows about my powers now, it will not change a thing."
Triss's voice carried a note of concern, her hand reaching out to touch his arm. "What? Does that mean he knows your weakness? If he knows about your powers, he could use that against you.."
Sebastian's voice was confident. "I do not think so. Only one of the Scoia'tael knew about it, and he died. I assume Faelorn kept it to himself to the moment he died. All the more reason why I must avenge him. He was a good elf, and he did not deserve to die like that."
Triss said, her voice softening. "We are going to continue our journey to Rivia this morning. This can wait. We need to focus on the task at hand."
Sebastian nodded slowly. "I am only agreeing because Geralt is with Ciri at the moment. I know he will die before letting anyone touch a strand of her hair. He has always been that way."
Triss's expression shifted. She looked away, her silence stretching for a moment too long. Her fingers tightened on her own arm, and her gaze dropped to the floor.
"Seb, there is something you should know."
Sebastian got curious. "What is it?"
Triss opened her mouth to speak, then stopped. Her eyes darted away, an evasion that was entirely out of character. "Someone is coming.."
Sebastian glanced over his shoulder, his voice carrying a note of dismissal. "Just a guard. So?"
Triss shook her head, her voice carrying a note of forced lightness that did not reach her eyes. "Maybe some other time. It is not important."
She turned and walked away, her footsteps echoing against the stone, her shoulders tense.
Dandelion was confused, his eyes following her retreating form. "What is up with her? She looked like she was about to tell you something important, and then she just... left."
Sebastian's voice was thoughtful, his eyes still fixed on Triss's disappearing figure. "I do not know. But she is hiding something clearly. Every time I bring up Geralt and Ciri, there is a strange look on her face."
Dandelion attempted to lighten the mood. "You think she still fancies him? I have seen that look before... it is the look of a woman who has unresolved feelings."
Sebastian smiled. "I think there is more to it than that. I know Triss and she does not act like that unless something is weighing on her deeply."
Dandelion yawned. "I will go get some sleep, with whatever hours we have left. You should too. We have a long journey ahead of us."
Sebastian nodded slowly. "Maybe I will."
Dandelion walked away, leaving Sebastian alone in the corridor, the torchlight casting long shadows across his face.
Triss, walking away, her steps quick and purposeful, spoke to herself.
"Damn it," she whispered, frustration eating her heart. "I cannot say it directly to his face. Damn it, Geralt! Why did you even tell me about this?" Her voice dropped. "I really cannot keep Seb in the dark about Ciri. He deserves to know. But how can I tell him that she was taken by an elven mage, that she is probably in another world, that she might never come back?"
She paused, "My only option is to get that mask working. There is a better chance to use that and find her, and then I will tell Seb that an elven mage abducted her..." She paused, her voice dropping to a whisper. "No, this is still wrong. I am still lying to him. Curses!" She disappeared around a corner, leaving the corridor empty and silent.
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