Chapter 39: A Fellowship

Triss opened a door to a room on the other side of the corridor. It was a rather empty room, barely decorated, no windows at all. The only light source was that of a blue candle in the middle of the place, lit up by some sort of magic.

Mikael entered the place, along with Triss as she closed the door. Inside the room were three other people, waiting patiently until Triss finally came.

"The newcomer talked to the king?" questioned a rather big man, wearing a koviri armor in the middle of the room, watching the blue candle crackle.

"It's done, the king is fine with him." said Triss, quickly sitting on a desk, making herself comfortable.

"When are we going then?" questioned another man, or rather a woman, an elf, she saw twirling with her knives, playing with it.

"Patience Eetha." spoke the big man. "First, introduce yourself, newcomer."

Mikael raised his eyebrow, and looked at Triss, which she just shrugged. Mikael sighed, and introduced himself.

"Name's Mikael," he said, but that's it, he didn't say anything anymore.

"That's it?" questioned a man who was standing on the corner besides the elf. "No skills… or… something?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"The reason why you're here." said the big man in the middle of the room. "Tell us why Merigold chose you."

"Because she told me to." shrugged Mikael, sitting on a chair near Triss.

The big man frowned, and looked at Triss. "You seriously chose this guy?"

"Look, he's just messing with you." Triss rolled her eyes. "He's good, really good, killed a colony of Barbegazi in less than a day in the middle of darkness, he tracked an Amarok overnight, resist a Vendigo's eye curse, and so on…"

"A Vatt'ghern then?" questioned the elf.

"No, not a Witcher." snorted Mikael. "Just my job really… solving problems, doesn't  have to be monsters."

"Mercenary then?" said the man beside the elf.

"Eh… not quite, I don't wars, but close enough."

The big man in the middle then hummed, and stood straight. "Well, Mikael the one-armed, my name Guldalm of Narok, a knight of the king."

"Eetha." said the elf.

"Caldos of Poviss," said the other man. "A mage, just like Merigold."

Mikael hummed. "An elf? Why are you here?"

"Am I not allowed here?" questioned Eetha back.

"No, just, curious is all…"

"None of your business." scoffed the elf.

Mikael shrugged. "Alright, fair enough. But… only five people? Where are the others?"

"It's just us." stated Triss.

"You expect the five of us to kill hundreds of men, AND rescue the princess at the same time?"

"What? Are you scared now?" Triss questioned in amusement.

"No, but are you that desperate?"

A chuckle came from the corner of the room. "No, we will bring mercenaries through a portal once we're in position."

"Oh, that's great, I thought the king sent you to a suicide mission." snorted Mikael.

"Well, it was, until you come along." stated Triss suddenly.

The others frowned at Triss's words. "What's that supposed to mean Merigold? Are we not good enough?" questioned Guldalm.

"Let's be honest here, the three of you can't kill hundreds of men," said Triss.

"But we have the mercenaries?"

"True, but you have to actually sneak inside their base first." Triss continued. "Otherwise, it'll just be the same, we won't be quick enough, and someone will definitely slip up."

"What has that got to do with him?" questioned the elf, still annoyed at Triss's words.

Triss sighed. "I can't explain it now, you have to see it for yourselves, otherwise, you won't believe it."

"We have time."

"We don't." refuted Triss. "We'll depart this afternoon, the deadline of the ransom is approaching."

"When's the deadline?" questioned Mikael.

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"The end of the week."

"And you wasted weeks stalking me instead of actually doing something?"

"It's called 'thinking of a strategy' Mikael." Triss rolled her eyes. "Anyways, we'll gather at the gate, bring your things as minimal as possible, our job is to sneak into a fortress, not camping."

"Fortress? I thought it was supposed to be inside the mountain?"

Triss sighed. "I'll explain on the way, just, go home first, gather your things, then gather at the gate."

Caldos sighed. "Merigold, I hope what you're saying is right about that man, otherwise…"

"I know… just trust me."

"Very well." said Caldos as he opened a portal. He looked around. "Anyone need a ride?"

The elf then the knight then walked towards Caldos, entering the portal one by one, while Triss and Mikael stayed.

"You?" questioned Caldos to Mikael.

"Can't pass through a portal." shrugged Mikael as he pointed at his right arm. "Mixed with Dimeritium."

Caldos raised his brow. "Huh… interesting…"

After that, he just entered the portal, leaving Triss and Mikael alone.

"You need something to take from your room?" questioned Triss.

"Not really. No." he answered.

"Then let's go together." she said, not taking no for an answer as she opened the door, and walked straight through it, not waiting for Mikael to decide at all.

Mikael sighed, and followed her through the lavish corridor of the palace.

—

As Mikael and Triss were waiting outside the gate for the others, the two already wearing their cloaks, and their horses ready, they chatted a little about the mission.

"It's not really a fortress per say, it's more of a natural cave system," said Triss. "But, they obviously fortified the living daylight out of that place."

"So, what's the plan?" questioned Mikael. "From what I can see, it's only me that didn't know about the plan.'

"Well, originally, we are supposed to sneak in, and portal mercenaries from the inside, so we don't have to siege the place." answered Triss. "But with you, we could use brute force."

"Brute force?" frowned Mikael. "You want me to use my rot?"

"Yes." said Triss innocently. "You can't do that?"

"You do realize the rot affects all of you right?"

"I know, but I trust your capabilities on controlling it." she said. "Just like what you did to me back in the tavern."

Mikael, hearing that, just hummed, and looked away from Triss, watching as birds flew in the sky on this clear day.

"Mikael, why do you hate me so much?" questioned Triss suddenly.

Mikael raised an eyebrow. "Hate you? Who says I hate you?"

"You just seemed… hostile to me…" she murmured.

"Oh." Mikael simply said. "Well… sorry…  just… don't trust sorceresses is all..."

"You don't trust us?" questioned Triss in surprise. "Why?"

"You know why Merigold." he stated. "They say that sorceresses are beautiful women, with the eyes of cold and angry little girls. Not to mention, all of the things you've done… just… feels strange… I know what you've done in these last two years, I just can't help but to judge you, once again, sorry…"

"You know what I've done?"

"You can see the future Triss." said Mikael. "What's stopping me from seeing the past?"

"Well…" Triss didn't know what to say, she just kept staring at him. "If you really know what I have done these last few years… then I guess you have a right to judge and hate me… but, I know what I have done, with Geralt… with the lodge… I'm trying to do better, no more scheming, I'm just… trying to live… there's an Ofieri saying 'May you live in interesting times.',  well, I'm well past that, now, I'm just trying to find some quiet you know…"

Mikael hummed at her words, not saying anything.

Triss sighed. "Sorry… just, these days, I don't really have a friend to talk to… I'm surrounded by a bunch of old men…"

Mikael chuckled at her words. "Not to be rude or anything… but you're old too Merigold…"

Triss snorted. "You know what, forget what I just said."

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