Page 8 - The Witcher Story

The stranger retreated towards the wall, tense and alert. He held the sword
in both hands, sweeping the blade through the air. No one moved. Terror, like
cold mud, was clear on their faces, paralysing limbs and blocking throats.
Three guards rushed into the tavern with thuds and clangs. They must have
been close by. They had truncheons wound with leather straps at the ready,
but at the sight of the corpses, drew their swords. The Rivian pressed his back
against the wall and, with his left hand, pulled a dagger from his boot.
‘Throw that down!’ one of the guards yelled with a trembling voice. ‘Throw
that down, you thug! You’re coming with us!’
The second guard kicked aside the table between himself and the Rivian.
‘Go get the men, Treska!’ he shouted to the third guard, who had stayed
closer to the door.
‘No need,’ said the stranger, lowering his sword. ‘I’ll come by myself.’
‘You’ll go, you son of a bitch, on the end of a rope!’ yelled the trembling
guard. ‘Throw that sword down or I’ll smash your head in!’
The Rivian straightened. He quickly pinned his blade under his left arm
and with his right hand raised towards the guards, swiftly drew a compli-
cated sign in the air. The clout-nails which studded his tunic from his wrists
to elbows flashed.
The guards drew back, shielding their faces with their arms. One of the
customers sprang up while another darted to the door. The woman screamed
again, wild and ear-splitting.
‘I’ll come by myself,’ repeated the stranger in his resounding, metallic
voice. ‘And the three of you will go in front of me. Take me to the castellan.
I don’t know the way.’
‘Yes, sir,’ mumbled the guard, dropping his head. He made towards the
exit, looking around tentatively. The other two guards followed him out back-
wards, hastily. The stranger followed in their tracks, sheathing his sword and
dagger. As they passed the tables the remaining customers hid their faces
from the dangerous stranger.

7

The Witcher Story ENG.indd 7 7/23/08 11:03:48 PM