The Witcher: Elder Blood

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***

Near the town of Ban Ard, just off the main road, a horse race was taking place on a special course that had been previously decorated by the organisers of the event, who had spent four days in preparation. At the start, the voices of the spectators, the neighing of the horses and the cheering of the winners of the next race mingled. The losers on the contrary were clutching their heads, cursing their rival.

It was a little different with the spectators. Some rejoiced at the victory of one, others cursed the loser. The discord in the opinion of humans, as well as rare elves, was connected with the stakes, without which no such competition could do without.

Next to me now sat one of the victims of today's betting - Detmold, who had placed a bet on the man who had lost in the very first race.

- Come on, you lost ten marks. If you fulfil one order for treatment in the city, you'll get it all back, - I'm trying to get the lost Detmold out of his gloomy state.

- Not ten. I bet more, - he said quietly, with such an intonation, as if he didn't realise how he could count so much.

- More? You told me before the betting that you wouldn't bet more than fifteen marks,' he said, as we were about to leave for the race. I decided not to bet at all, as I had no idea about the competitors and their horses. Detmold did the opposite, betting not so much on the contestant as on the horse he liked. 'I tell you, I know about them, I'll determine the winning animal at once,' the lad told me at the time. I won't lie, he knew how to determine the quality of a horse, and it really turned out to be sharp.... But it was the competitor who failed to fit into the sharp turn. - How much did you bet?

- Sixty-five marks, - whispered Detmold much more quietly than before.

- How much!? - I can't believe you bet sixty-five marks on an untested competitor without even knowing the riding level of the others!

- I had confidence in that horse, who knew? Bloody loser,' he spat in the direction of the losing man standing off to the side. The losers usually stayed behind, curious to know the winner's name.

- Just like you,' I said almost to myself, and then turned to Dethmold. - Well, let's go to the square, there's nothing to do today anyway, maybe we'll find some orders for us. There was easy money last time. Maybe someone needs to get rats out of their house again, or ailments removed.

- Let's go at once, I don't want to linger here,' he got up from the shallow fence and walked towards the town. I followed him, catching up with Detmold after a few metres.

In principle, having looked at the races of all the participants, I could estimate the winner in advance. At least, it was possible to point to the top three. So, there was no point in staying, since we had no more expected bets.

We went straight to the central square. There was a stand there, where orders from the town's residents were often posted. Given the proximity of the academy and the constant visits of students to the city, the residents knew very well that it was possible to post orders concerning magical intervention. Sometimes, when we visited the town itself, we would be able to fulfil such orders. Dethmold needed them even more than I did, for I was still in debt for my tuition.

Since the moment we had discussed the gene study with the rector, another year of my stay at the academy was almost over. Soon my obligation to the rector will come to an end, so I will have the opportunity to go on a free voyage.

Since I was not a student of the academy in the usual sense, I wore the uniform of a graduate. It had other shades, more bluish, and more quality details on the clothes themselves, giving a certain status to the mage. It had a comfortable collar on top, with a hood in the back, which did a good job of keeping out the rain and wind.

Detmold was wearing an old apprentice uniform. He had just had to take his final exam. Considering that the exam would be at the end of the year, we would leave the academy at the same time. Therefore, sometimes there was talk of future endeavours.

His brother had already finished his studies, having travelled to Pont Vanis, a major city and the summer capital of the kingdom of Kovir, last year. The winter capital is Lan Esketer, located northwest at the mouth of the Tango River. Unlike most cities, including Pont Vanis itself, the second capital has no streets and is travelled by boat using canals. In general, even being famous for its very harsh climate, and not having large territories, Kovir has a developed economy and industry, as well as mining and exporting of minerals. So Drithelm's choice of this kingdom was justified.

Like many mages graduating from the academies who wanted to work directly for the kings, Drithelm planned to also enter the service of the current king or his heir in Covir in the future. It was a difficult path, the competition was even more intense with the female academy than with the other mages of Ban Ard. It would take him more than a year to improve his skills in magic, for example by working for money, fulfilling various orders, helping a more experienced mage with his activities, or he could organise something himself. However, knowing Drithelm, given the time we've got to know each other at the academy, I don't think that he will start his own business related to magical arts.

I haven't made up my mind about what I will do after leaving the academy, I had some thoughts, I'll have to discuss them with Detmold himself, who hasn't fully determined his future path either.

- Not much, no healers are needed, rats haven't bothered anyone, no one has problems with dreams either. We're out of luck today,' Detmold looked at the paperwork, trying to find a job for a poor student of the local academy. - Ha, look at this, they want to buy hangover cures for the tavern. What kind of idiot would brew this stuff for that pennies, it would take three quarters of the sum just to make it,' he spat on the ground in frustration and started walking towards the academy.

- Wait, there is something interesting here, - having waited for Detmold to return to the counter, I pointed him to one of the main orders, though not in our speciality. - Utopians appeared near the city, the fisherman was dragged into the river write.

- Do we look like witches? - With undisguised scepticism looked at me future wizard.

- We look like those who will not refuse an easy income, and these fucking utopians - an easy income! - Putting an end to the discussion, I head to the local government to notify them that we've decided to help with the Drownings. - We can handle them on land with no problem. If they decide to swim, we'll pull them out of the water.

- And by what means?

- Whatever method we can think of, we'll use. For example: create an illusion of a man, let him go to the water, move the water a bit to make it look more realistic, and then they'll take the bait.

- It seems easy, maybe it won't work, so we'll waste our time, - Detmold was still not completely sure in such a venture.

- Do you think that witches do not know how to fuck up to kill slippery drowning people? They would come at us if they saw one or two figures,' I had some information about the monsters in my head, thanks to the witches.

I hadn't really studied the bestiary of monsters while I was in Caer Morhen, but I had memorised some of the most common ones. The Utopians were one of the more common ones. They usually live near rivers and lakes, and can sometimes be found in sewers if they manage to get in. They usually try to drag their prey into the water, cutting them with their claws and biting them with their sharp teeth. If you approach their killing competently, without being foolishly set up, they are considered weak monsters by the measure of witches.

- It's not often that wizards take orders for monsters, much less apprentices,' the clerk glanced at Detmold, noting the look of his clothes.

Unlike most cities in the kingdoms, Ban Ard and Loxia were located near academies. The inhabitants of these places were aware of what students and graduates looked like. It's worth noting here that this only applied to the clothes issued at these academies. Affluent graduates were more likely to change these garments for something more 'fashionable'. I was quite satisfied with these clothes, most likely I will not change them soon, even having the opportunity to do such an action. Still, it protected from rain quite well, convenient bags were sewn on the belt, it was also convenient for a long journey.

- And who takes orders for monsters, witches only? - Detmold, who was standing quietly behind me, asked.

- No, more often we send the guards ... - The clerk grimaced, as if from eating a lemon. - The witches are better than the guards, they have learnt how to do it. They pay the same in any case. But only, long time not seen them ...

- So today we are for the witch doctor, - having discussed with the man, who looked to be at least forty, the place where the monsters appeared, and having learnt more about the reward, we decided to take the order. - We'll be back before evening.