Chapter 146: 146. The Castle Ruins.
"Vesemir, those three knights have been following us for a long time," Allen said, riding closer to Vesemir on "Carrot."
Not long after leaving the inn, the two witchers noticed the three royal guards. It wasn't so much that they were being followed as it was a blatant provocation. There was no attempt at concealment—when Allen and Vesemir sped up, the knights also sped up, maintaining a distance of about twenty meters behind them.
"Yes, I know," Vesemir said gravely.
It seemed that Bob and Mary's strange behavior had aroused suspicion. Three human knights weren't anything to be afraid of, but the real problem was that a small misstep could draw the attention of the king and the sorcerers. But the more they were suspected, the less they could afford to show any sign of guilt.
"Our destination doesn't change. If asked, we'll say we're on a commission to scout the castle's layout and prepare to exorcise the wraiths," Vesemir said quietly, pulling on the reins to halt his horse.
Allen nodded slightly.
The three knights behind them slowly caught up.
"Why are you following us?" Vesemir asked.
The middle-aged knight did not answer but instead asked, "Where are you going?"
"To the castle of Viscount Hudson. We've been commissioned to exorcise the wraiths there," Vesemir replied expressionlessly.
"Viscount Hudson?" The middle-aged knight frowned at the name.
He was a nobleman from the northern part of the kingdom, having only received the king's orders to come to Ban Ard half a month ago to capture the elusive elves. Despite this, he had taken the precaution of investigating the nearby nobles, but he hadn't heard of any Viscount Hudson in the area.
"It's the castle on the hill. The owner before it was abandoned was Viscount Hudson," one of the knights beside him whispered, adding, "He's a viscount of the Val family. Ten years ago, his entire family perished in a fire."
"Abandoned for ten years?" The middle-aged knight looked at him in surprise.
Due to the long-standing wars, there were many abandoned castles in Kaedwen, but usually, they would find a successor from a family branch within a year or two...
The middle-aged knight glanced again at the knight from the Val family. It seemed too coincidental that, while on a mission in the area, one of the royal guards from the Val family was conveniently by his side. The nobleman's instincts warned him that there was something suspicious about this, making him want to retreat. But...
"The haunted castle? Captain, we could just follow them there! It's the most likely place for the elves to be hiding," another knight suggested, stepping forward.
The middle-aged knight's path of retreat was effectively cut off.
When it came to a royal mission, there was no avoiding it. The middle-aged knight sighed internally and, with a stern face, said, "Witcher, don't try any tricks. We'll be following you all the way to investigate the viscount's castle."
"The situation in the castle is unknown, and I'm bringing a student with me. I can't guarantee your safety," Vesemir warned, trying to dissuade them.
Having made up his mind, the middle-aged knight wasn't about to be brushed off with such an excuse. But he didn't need to say anything—the young, hot-headed knight beside him took Vesemir's warning as an insult.
"Don't worry! The Royal Guards have Kaedwen's finest knights. Captain Serio was even the swordsmanship champion two years ago. We'll certainly protect your little student, witcher!" The young knight declared, patting the longsword at his side.
Vesemir glanced at Allen, unable to do anything but reluctantly agree. It didn't make much difference anyway; their plan was just to scout out the situation that afternoon. Besides, the commission from Bob and Mary was indeed to exorcise the wraiths, so they were telling the truth.
"Bowen, go find the mayor and record our route. We'll wait for you at the castle gates," the middle-aged knight ordered coldly.
The knight from the Val family named Bowen hesitated for a moment before tightening his reins and riding toward the orchard. Before leaving, he shot Vesemir a resentful glare, as if the task had been imposed on him by the witcher master.
"Let's go, witcher," the middle-aged knight commanded coldly.
"Don't order me around! I'm not your soldier, knight!" Vesemir grumbled, then urged his horse to speed up towards the viscount's castle.
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The dry ditches, overgrown with weeds, the cracked stone-paved road, and the pitch-black, crumbling castle walls loomed before them.
"Caw...caw..."
On a withered branch, a black crow with blood-red eyes stared unblinkingly at the intruders. This was a castle, yet it was also a ruin. After passing through the crooked gate, Vesemir's mood visibly darkened.
Witchers were different from ordinary people, not just in strength and magic. Their brains had also undergone the Trial of the Grasses, enhancing their memory. The older and stronger the witcher, the better their memory.
"Have you been here before?" the middle-aged knight asked, breaking Allen's train of thought.
Vesemir paused at the question, then answered without trying to hide the truth: "Yes, I came here fifteen years ago."
"Viscount Hudson was my friend, a very close friend."
"Fifteen years?" The three knights were taken aback.
"Truly a group of monsters..." Bowen muttered under his breath.
But his words were loud enough for even the humans nearby to hear, making it clear that he didn't care to hide his disdain. Vesemir, however, didn't react, lost in thought.
Allen, on the other hand, felt a growing sense of unease. The knights' animosity toward witchers, while not yet widespread among the common folk, seemed to have fully taken root in the new generation of Kaedwen knights.
Was this a result of the king's deliberate propaganda or the Cat School's reckless actions?
Allen dismissed any lingering optimism. There was no more fooling himself—the Royal Guards were among the king's closest noble groups, and in many ways, their attitudes reflected those of the royal family.
For these knights to harbor such hostility towards witchers, there must have been some guidance, if not direct orders, from the king. Otherwise, how could they dare to insult the witchers right in front of them when the Wolf School was a royal-supported organization? Weren't they afraid that Allen and the others might mention this to the king during the student competition?
"Thud, thud, thud..."
As the heavy footsteps echoed, Allen's mood grew darker. The hope of winning the king's favor was becoming increasingly slim, while the threat of Kaer Morhen's destruction loomed ever closer.
In his low spirits, it seemed even the surrounding environment grew colder. No, something wasn't right!
Sunlight was still shining down—how could it suddenly feel so cold?
Looking at the clear shadow cast on the ground, a strong sense of danger made his heart race.
"Buzz..."
The wolf medallion suddenly began to hum.
....…
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147. Trapped.
149. You Know Viscount Hudson Too?
150. A Product Never Seen Before.
151. A New Commission.
152. As Strong as a Witcher.
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