Chapter 4 - Chapter 4 - Ard Carraigh

A/N:-

Hey wonderful readers! 📚

I've noticed that if you're reading this fanfic on mobile devices, you might miss out on some of the explanatory notes that provide valuable context and enhance the story. To ensure everyone can fully enjoy and understand the intricacies, I'll be adding these notes directly in the paragraph comments as well. This way, no matter what device you're on, you won't miss a thing!

Also, if you have missed the notes from previous chapters, feel free to check them out. It's not mandatory, but for those of you who pay attention to details, these notes can help make sure nothing slips through the cracks and everything makes perfect sense.

Thanks for your support and happy reading!

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The image of Klara Larissa de Winter settled into focus within the glowing crystal ball and the room seemed to grow quieter, the usual bustle of the inn fading into the background. Tissaia stood with a poised grace, her hands folded neatly before her, while Alaric observed silently, leaning against the door.

"Tissaia," Klara began, her voice measured and penetrating. "I assume you've not spent your time idly."

Tissaia inclined her head respectfully. "Of course not, Mistress. I've completed my assignment in Kovir and Poviss, as you requested. Their victory was decisive."

"Indeed," Klara said with a faint smile, though her eyes remained sharp. "Tell me everything."

Without hesitation, Tissaia recounted the events of her time in the north—the negotiations, the spells she cast, the pivotal moments that turned the tide of battle in favor of Kovir. Her report was succinct yet thorough, delivered with the kind of precision Klara had instilled in her during her years at Aretuza.

When Tissaia finished, she waited, her posture composed but expectant. Alaric had seen this before: the quiet tension of students awaiting judgment from a teacher they respected.

Alaric smiled, recalling how he anxiously awaited Barmin's judgment after completing every test, the mentor's approving nod forever etched in his memory.

"Well done," Klara finally said, her tone carrying the faintest note of approval. "You've proven yourself capable in the field, as I expected. You're ready to graduate, but..." She trailed off, her expression hardening.

Tissaia frowned slightly. "But what, Mistress?"

"There is another matter that requires immediate attention," Klara said, her voice turning grave. "The court sorceress of Kaedwen, Rosalind Gilcrest, was recently executed. Framed for poisoning the court priest, she was branded a traitor and put to death. I have reason to believe she was innocent."

Tissaia's frown deepened, and even Alaric leaned forward slightly.

"Rosalind's daughter, Tetra Gilcrest, reached out to me through intermediaries," Klara continued. "She claims her mother was targeted in a conspiracy and begs for help. I am assigning you this task, Tissaia. You will travel to Ard Carraigh, to investigate."

Tissaia's expression was impassive, but Alaric could sense the shift in her focus, "Understood, Mistress," she said. "I'll leave at once."

"Good," Klara said, her gaze flicking briefly toward Alaric before returning to Tissaia. "Kaedwen is a treacherous place. Stay sharp, and trust no one. Also…. Tetra is a Source. Like her mother. If she proves promising, ensure she makes her way to Aretuza. Her talents must not go to waste."

"As you command," Tissaia said.

The image in the sphere flickered, then vanished, leaving the room dim once more. Tissaia turned to Alaric.

"Well," he said, breaking the silence, "it seems our plans have changed."

"It appears so," Tissaia replied, her voice determined. She met his gaze, her eyes sharp as ever. "We're going to Ard Carraigh."

...…

The bustling capital of Ard Carraigh welcomed them with its cold winds and sharper stares. Tissaia, cloaked in her usual composed elegance, wasted no time delving into the conspiracy surrounding Rosalind Gilcrest's death.

Through careful investigation, Tissaia uncovered the dark truth. The Head Chef, a loyal conspirator in a larger scheme, had poisoned the court priest—a trusted confidant of the late Rosalind. The blame was deftly shifted onto the court sorceress, exploiting the tension between nobles and mages.

Digging deeper, Tissaia found that Rosalind's assassination was no mere act of justice. A Witcher, hired through back channels, had delivered the killing blow. The identity of the employer remained elusive, but the threads pointed toward a faction seeking to destabilize the king's rule and eliminate key allies. The more she uncovered, the clearer it became that Tetra's plea to Klara had been rooted not just in grief but in desperation.

The castle kitchens of Ard Carraigh were abuzz with the clatter of pots and the murmurs of staff as Tissaia stood, her piercing gaze fixed on the trembling Head Chef, who hovered mid-air. Alaric loomed nearby, leaning casually against the stone wall, though his predatory amber eyes left little room for comfort.

"I'll ask once more," Tissaia said, her voice calm yet cutting. "Why did you frame Rosalind Gilcrest?"

The chef stammered, his sweat-soaked face pale under her unyielding stare and the crushing invisible force. "I—I was ordered to! I had no choice—they-they -"

"Orders from whom?" Alaric interjected, his voice a low growl that sent a ripple of unease through the room. He stepped forward, the soft jingle of his swords making the chef flinch.

The man swallowed hard, his gaze darting between the two. "A... a noble. He was covering his face! They only told me the priest needed to die... and that Rosalind was to take the fall."

Tissaia folded her arms. "And the Witcher who killed her? Who hired him?"

"I don't know!" the chef cried. "They sent word through intermediaries! Please, I had no choice..."

Alaric snorted, his lips curling into a grim line. "Convenient. But the Witcher—they didn't pick him at random." He glanced at Tissaia. "If I had to guess, he's from either the School of the Viper or the School of the Cat. Only they would take a contract like this—no questions asked."

Tissaia raised a brow. "And how certain are you of that?"

"Certain enough," Alaric replied, his gaze darkening. "The Vipers prefer assassination jobs like this. But the Cats? They'd kill for the thrill just as much as the coin."

The chef whimpered, his knees buckling. "Please... I told you all I know!"

Tissaia turned back to him, her expression cold and calculating. "You may have been a pawn, but you're still guilty."

With a flick of her hand, the chef's life was snuffed out, his body collapsing lifelessly to the ground. She turned to Alaric, her voice steady yet filled with the fire of righteous anger. "We need to find that Witcher and trace this back to whoever ordered the priest's death. This conspiracy doesn't end here."

Alaric nodded. "Agreed. But we'll need to tread carefully. If this was orchestrated by nobles, they won't take kindly to us pulling on their threads."

Tissaia smirked faintly. "Careful? I didn't think that word was in your vocabulary."

After a tense silence, Alaric finally spoke, his tone curious but gentle. "Was that your first kill?"

Tissaia's eyes, still burning with residual fury, softened slightly. "No," she replied quietly. "It was my second."

...…

The air in Tissaia's quarters was thick with tension as Klara's image shimmered within the crystal ball. Her expression, normally composed, was now darkened with fury. Tissaia stood straight, her features neutral as Klara began to speak.

"Treacherous nobles," Klara said, her voice cold and sharp, "and the king allowed it to thrive under his nose. Rosalind's death cannot go unanswered."

Tissaia inclined her head slightly. "What would you have me do, Mistress?"

Klara's gaze seemed to pierce through the crystal. "The king must die. Quietly. An accident, a misstep—whatever you deem plausible. His son is but a boy, impressionable and malleable. You will remain in Ard Carraigh as his court sorceress, ensuring Kaedwen becomes a stable force under our guidance. Until you find the perpetrator."

Tissaia hesitated for only a fraction of a second "And the boy?" she asked.

"You will control him," Klara replied, her voice softening into something almost maternal. "Ensure his loyalty lies with us."

Tissaia nodded slowly, this was not an easy task.

Klara's expression softened, a rare glimpse of warmth breaking through. "And, the child bears her mother's gift—and more. Send her to Aretuza. She must be trained, honed, and safeguarded from those who would exploit her."

"As you wish," Tissaia said.

"Do not fail me," Klara warned, her voice hardening once more.

The crystal ball dimmed, leaving the room in silence. Tissaia turned to the window, gazing into the distance. Alaric, who had observed quietly from a corner, stepped forward.

"Do you plan to go through with it?" he asked, his voice low.

Tissaia's lips pressed into a thin line. "Duty often asks more than we're willing to give."

Alaric frowned but said nothing more. He had seen the resolve in her eyes before—it would take more than his words to dissuade her.

-x-x-x-

A/N:-

Well, that was a short chapter. My cat decided to chase a laser pointer across my keyboard, and voilà—here we are. Yes, that's my excuse.

So, as you can see, I've used a character from Netflix's Witcher: Nightmare of the Wolf.

Now according to canon, the Netflix storyline and timeline are all messed up.

First of all, there is no Deglan in canon. Barmin is the Grandmaster of the School of the Wolf, and he would never, I repeat never, create monsters to earn more money. He was a wolf for goodness' sake. Loyalty, pack mentality, and empathy are their core values.

I admit some witchers might be greedy, but rarely would they be from the School of the Wolf. Now, the same can't be said about the rogue mages at Kaer Morhen.

Dagobert Sulla was an infamous renegade mage who was the first to create a Frightener. Basically an overgrown chimera insect that is a pain in the butt to kill if a mage is controlling it.

But even Sulla, after creating the beast, is said to have exclaimed, "What have I done?" and promptly destroyed it.

And this made me almost laugh—Vesemir had a showdown against Tetra at the end, like what the heck. Vesemir and other witchers, including Geralt, survived because they were outside Kaer Morhen on the Path.

But in the movie, it's shown that Vesemir is the only survivor, which isn't true because others like Rennes, Eskel, and Berengar should already be witchers and survived the pogrom.

Another thing is that Lambert is also supposed to be significantly younger than Eskel and Geralt, whereas here he is depicted to be training together with Geralt and Eskel. At the end, we can see that only 4 of the children of similar age survived, which also doesn't make much sense.

So, I will be changing those areas a lot. Thank you for listening to my rant if you have read this far.

If you have any questions, go ahead and comment. I will try my best to answer without spoiling too much.

I have just started to write the story. So, if you have any ideas about the plot or characters, comment below. If I like it and it fits the criteria, I will include it in the story.

Clear skies to all of you!