章 22: Tax collectors past...

As everyone finishes their meals and had a couple drinks they decide to ask Reima about the trial and how Arie lost his arm.

Reima told them about swimming through the river and finding a silver sword in a wreckage, Reima makes up a story of them finding a lone Drowner and acquiring Water essense from it. He then tells them of the Leshen infested forest that they had managed to escape and how lucky they were that he managed to find the correct materials to complete a basic Cat's eye potion.

Reima "We eventually found the cave and went inside... It seems that the forge had indirectly created some sort of Fire elemental/Golem hybrid?" Yennefer nods as if she understands something. "There wasn't really a way past it so we tried to fight it, Arie managed to pierce it's core after losing his arm but it exploded and injured us both." He says tracing his hand on his sore face where a scar has started forming.

Eskel "Atleast now you look like one of us, seems like having your face shredded is part of being a Witcher." He rubs his the scar his adoptive daughter had given him.

Reima "It's a good look on Geralt and Lambert..." They all laugh at Eskel's expense.

Geralt "Enough of that, tell us how you managed to kill a Leshen..."

Lambert "A Leshen? Here?"

Reima "Not anymore it's not." As he holds up the head that had been attached at his waist.

...

Vesemir "GOOD HUNT MY BOY! Hahahaha!" He raises his tankard and clinks it with Reima's.

After being congratulated Reima continued with his tale.

"Arie wouldn't wake up and with the Leshen already looking for us I doubted we would make it through alive..."

He then tells the tale of finding the desecrated forest and dead mage and his subsequent battle with the Leshen obviously excluding his use of the Elder Blood.

Eskel "How did you manage to catch it? I can't imagine it would wait for you to drive a spear through it..."

Reima "I knocked it off balance with Aard and sprinted as fast as I could, kinda lucky I guess." He says rubbing the back of his head. He continues,

"After I had slain it I grabbed Arie and snuck through the forest to get back here..."

Vesemir "I can't imagine that was easy, forests beasts must be a frenzy after gaining back their autonomy..."

Reima "It wasn't but we made it."

Eskel "Alright, enough of this depressing talk. To your health!" They all repeat it and toast Reima continue drinking. Yennefer who was thoroughly shitfaced left half way through with Geralt... But Eskel, Lambert and Reima continued drinking even despite his exhaustion.

Reima wakes up and finds himself on the wooden floor of Kaer Morhen, his head hurting worse than it did yesterday when he was shot in the face with steel. Holding his head he looks up trying to keep his eyes away from the harsh sunlight. Hes still in the dining room where they had just had the feast, deciding it was best to freshen up before preparing for the day he went to find his room.

After cleaning himself and dressing in something not soaked through with alcohol he examines himself in the mirror. 5'6 in height with White Hair and Green slitted eyes, same old... Except for the new scars that are now present on his body, due to the explosion he was pierced by many shards of steel making it look like he was stabbed repeatedly, luckily they didn't go very deep or he would have died. The most notable of his new features is the diagonal scar running from the side of his nose to just where his ear begins making a trail through his sideburn on the right side of his face.

"Well, atleast I match the others now... What was the saying, scars add character? Scars always tell a good story?.... Whatever, doesn't really matter after the fact."

He makes his way to the courtyard same as his old training time. He spots Geralt already their going through forms.

Reima "Geralt."

Geralt "Reima. Incase you were wondering, your sword should arrive by today, also you can keep a steel sword of your liking."

Reima nods and goes to look over the assortment of swords and finds one that looks like a comfortable size, It's blade is around 45 inches long and has a Wolf shaped pommel with spikes protruding from it. He picks it up and swings it around to get used to it.

Geralt "Found a blade? You said you wanted to fight me before you leave, and since you plan on leaving tomorrow I should destroy your confidence now... So you don't get cocky in future."

Reima spends around 2 hours trying to best Geralt, but without his Elder Blood abilities there is no way for him to even tie with Geralt. They were about to clash again when they hear someone come through the keeps gate.

??? "Greetings, I presume you are..." He looks down at the large sheet he seems to be reading off of.

??? "Geralt of Rivia."

Geralt "I am."

??? "You ordered a sword of" He looks back down. "Silver plated atop steel. Is that correct?" He says looking very similar to a certain Nilfgaardian tax collector.

Geralt "Yes I did."

The merchant? hands a sheet to Geralt along with a quill. "Please sign here... Here... And here."

Geralt does so and the Merchant hands Geralt a long wooden box and thanks him for his patronage before leaving.

Reima "Do all merchants talk like that?"

Geralt "No... Only the ones with a stick up their ass... Here this should be yours."

Reima takes the box and pries it open, inside he takes out a sheathed sword with a similar pommel to his steel sword. He unsheaths it showing the shiny silver underneath.

Geralt "I didn't have it engraved, figured you would like to choose what runes to use on it."

Reima nods and thanks him before swinging and thrusting the blade to see it's balance. It's perfect.