Chapter 64

On the other side, the Witcher and Kelvin went to Spansol to investigate.

The North wind bit through to the bone. At the village gate, the chief shivered. When the white-haired Dwarf came into view, the man immediately hunched his back to a crude forty-five degree bow, his face folding into a smile like a hound greeting its master.

“Boss Kelvin, welcome to Spansol. The whole village is honored.”

He ushered them inside with exaggerated courtesy. When Kelvin passed, the chief seized his thick, black-haired hand in a show of warmth. Kelvin let the touch linger only briefly and pulled his hand back to his side. Then Letho watched him wipe his palm on his sleeve with a clear look of disgust.

Casili forced a nervous laugh, his tone syrupy with flattery and a thin tremor of fear. “Boss, have you come with good news? Has the murderer in the woods been caught?”

“Do you dare question our competence?” Kelvin lifted his chin and glared, spite sharpening his small face. Though barely as tall as the chief, he carried himself like a giant. “Cut the nonsense. This is Letho, the Witcher Mount Carbon sent. He has questions. Answer them honestly.”

“Of course, of course. We will do as you ask.” Casili led them in. As Kelvin passed the Dwarf ranks, Letho’s eyes slid across faces. Casili’s gaze snagged on the Witcher and changed. He remembered this man, the one who had once coldly refused his plea for help. Then pride spread across his lips. He thought, we were refused once, and now look, we must obey. A Witcher is only another dog in a Dwarf’s eyes.

The little social loop was odd; Dwarves scorned villagers, villagers scorned Witchers, and Dwarves in turn revered Witchers. Letho did not care. He asked plainly, “Are the villagers all inside their homes?”

Casili glanced at Kelvin as if asking permission, and Kelvin nodded. “Yes. Except for those miners on duty. Everyone stays indoors for fear of ghosts, no, that filthy thing. No one dares run about.”

“Stay with Kelvin. I will look around, speak to people if needed.” Letho scanned the timber and stone houses, then began moving between them, peering through windows at women, children, and old men.