The Divine Hunter

'My dearest Roy,

It has been a year since we separated. Months have passed since your last letter came to us.

Susie and I would sometimes think about the time we spent in Lower Aedirn. We had nothing but a rickety shack and an almost barren tobacco field. Those were hard days, but at least we were all together. That was the most important thing.

How are you doing, my son?

In your last letter, you mentioned dealing with parasites, bugs, man-eating beasts, and monsters. We're worried about you. Susie even lost sleep over it, and we're just ordinary humans. We can't do anything but pray to Melitele and hope that she watches over you. Master Letho is an expert here. He has years of experience under his belt. Listen to him. Master skills and defend yourself against all the dangers that may come your way. Please, be safe no matter what. Live to fight another day.

When we meet again, and that will be real soon, I want to see my son growing up into a strong, handsome lad, not someone who's lost an arm, leg, eye, or ear. Your mother would be devastated if that happened. But enough sad talk. I have good news for you.

Your brother, Mino, is now a month old. Praise Melitele, he's been free from any sickness ever since he was born. He's a healthy, lively boy. He's got beautiful black eyes, a tiny nose, and a little mouth. You should see him yourself. He looks just like you when he smiles.

The boy's smart. Real smart. And an anklebiter too. Gurgles all day. We think he's trying to say your name. He can't wait to see his brother and hear his tales of adventure.

That's all for Mino. I wanna talk about our business. I just found out Novigrad's the biggest city in the north. There's more than thirty thousand people here, and not just humans. There's elves, halflings, dwarves, and more! Food's always in demand, so business has been going well. We make three to four crowns a day. It's a lot better than farming in the village. Enough to put food on the table in this city.

We have Auckes and Serrit to thank. They helped us establish ourselves in Novigrad. They're nice men, though I must say they are a bit of an oddity. You didn't tell me how you're getting along with them. But if you ever get into a fight with the witchers and have nowhere to go, come to Novigrad. You can live with us, like how you used to back in the village.

We have a lot to talk about. Don't keep us waiting.

Always loving you,

Moore and Susie.'

The last stroke was drawn, the candlelight flickering. A young, plump blonde in a tight bustier stood up. She held the letter up and blew on the ink. "As you requested, I've finished the letter. I'll be reading it aloud now. See if it needs any corrections."

"It's alright. No corrections needed." A gaunt man with a hunched back took the letter gratefully. "Thank you, Vespula. Sorry I had to trouble you." He tucked the letter into his shirt and patted it, then he took out a money bag caked in dirt. "As usual, here's one crown for your work."

Vespula shook her head. She looked at the man again. He was barely forty years old, but his hair was graying, and his face was covered in wrinkles. His skin was dry, and he looked like a farmer that had been through the roughest patches of life. He would ask her to write a letter every month for the last six months, but he had no idea where the recipient was living, so barely any letters were sent. He stacked them up, waiting for his son to come home and read them.

She glanced at him again. The man was abused not too long ago. There were bruises on his cheeks. He looked a little funny, but also pitiable at the same time. "The thugs came and threatened you again, didn't they, Moore? You need the money. Keep it. Buy Mino some good stuff. Don't let him starve.

"Thank you, Vespula, but you need to make a living too."

"I'm not short on money. Just take it back. Or take it as a little loan."

Moore kept quiet. His wrinkles huddled closer as he hesitated for a moment, then he tucked the crown away. His son did need the money.

"Moore, this may sound rude, but is your eldest a mercenary?" That was what Vespula gleaned from the look on Moore's face and the letter's content. "Do you want someone to try and contact him?" She pursed her lips. "If he's staying in Novigrad, maybe those bastards will stop extorting you completely."

Moore took a deep breath and shook his head. Nobody could escape the jaws of the four gangs, not as long as they were in Novigrad. That was especially true for regular citizens like them. He changed the topic. "I should leave, Vespula. Susie is at the stand with Mino. I can't leave them waiting."

***

The sun barely shone through the cracks between the dreary houses in the city. One worried man was passing through the alleyway. Novigrad was trudging down the riverside on the outermost area of Novigrad. It was filled with dilapidated, rickety houses, occupied by the impoverished and ostracized. The latter meant elves.

Across the river stood a city of great buildings and business areas. There was a port right by the river. There were also two slaughterhouses, three warehouses, and four watermills. The people were hustling inside these establishments, and all this was only one part of the free city.

The city's resplendence grew the further north someone traveled. The buildings were splendid, and the citizens who lived there enjoyed a higher status. On the northernmost side of the city stood a lone island, separated from the main city by a bridge. It was the headquarters of Eternal Fire, the most authoritative figure in the city.

The Eternal Fire was in control of the city, and they were more powerful than the gangs of Novigrad. Even so, Moore and his family preferred the ancient goddess, Melitele.

"O great Melitele, deliver us from those bastards, I pray." Moore turned around and made way to the marketplace not far from the entrance. The sounds of hollering filled the air, and everything became merry.

Moore saw merchants in weird outfits who came from all over the world selling their merchandise here. He thought their accent was weird too. And then he thought about their lives over the last six months.

They started off pretty good. With Serrit and Auckes around, the gangs didn't even come to harass them or demand any protection racket. But once the witchers were gone, those thugs came back with a vengeance. Not only did they start taking protection racket, they even demanded the part Moore and Susie 'owed' them from back when the witchers were still around.

They were just a couple of regular citizens. These local gangsters made them go through their savings quickly. Their business was becoming unsustainable from the constant harassment. "I hope everything goes well today."

"Gone to write another letter for your boy, old chap?" A halfling barber rubbed his reddish nose and waved his furry hand at Moore.

"Yeah."

"I envy you. You have a family, but you need to hurry. I just saw some whoresons heading to your stand."

Moore's heart sank, and he hastened his steps. "Sorry, moving through. Excuse me." He squeezed through the throng. When he finally got to his stand, he heard a baby's cries and the howls of a woman. Moore's breathing became ragged, and his eyes turned crimson with fury.

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