The witcher had a knife at his throat.
He was wallowing in a wooden tub, brimful of soapsuds, his head thrown back against its slippery rim. The bitter taste of soap lingered in his mouth as the knife, blunt as a doorknob, scraped his Adam's apple painfully and moved toward his chin with a grating sound.
The barber, with the expression of an artist who is conscious that he is creating a masterpiece, scraped once more for form's sake, then wiped the witcher's face with a piece of linen soaked in tincture of angelica.
Geralt stood up, allowed a servant to pour a bucket of water over him, shook himself and climbed from the tub, leaving wet footmarks on the brick floor.
“Your towel, sir.” The servant glanced curiously at his medallion.
“Thanks.”
“Clothes,” said Haxo. “Shirt, underpants, trousers and tunic. And boots.”
“You've thought of everything. But can't I go in my own shoes?”
“No. Beer?”
“With pleasure.”
He dressed slowly. The touch of someone else's coarse, unpleasant clothes against his swollen skin spoiled his relaxed mood.
“Castellan?”
“Yes, Geralt?”
“You don't know what this is all about, do you? Why they need me here?”
“It's not my business,” said Haxo, squinting at the servants. “My job is to get you dressed—”
“Dressed up, you mean.”
“—get you dressed and take you to the banquet, to the queen. Put the tunic on, sir. And hide the medallion beneath it.”
“My dagger was here.”
“It isn't anymore. It's in a safe place, like your swords and your possessions. Nobody carries arms where you're going.”
The witcher shrugged, pulling on the tight purple tunic.
“And what's this?” he asked, indicating the embroidery on the front of his outfit.
“Oh yes,” said Haxo. “I almost forgot. During the banquet, you will be the Honorable Ravix of Fourhorn. As guest of honor, you will sit at the queen's right hand, such is her wish, and that, on the tunic, is your coat of arms. A bear passant sable, damsel vested azure riding him, her hair loose and arms raised. You should remember it—one of the guests might have a thing about heraldry. It often happens.”
“Of course I’ll remember it,” said Geralt seriously. “And Fourhorn, where's that?”
“Far enough. Ready? Can we go?”
“We can. Just tell me, Haxo, what's this banquet in aid of?”
“Princess Pavetta is turning fifteen and, as is the custom, contenders for her hand have turned up in their dozens. Queen Calanthe wants her to marry someone from Skellige; an alliance with the islanders would mean a lot to us.”
“Why them?”
“Those they're allied with aren't attacked as often as others.”
“A good reason.”
“And not the sole one. In Cintra women can't rule. King Roegner died some time ago and the queen doesn't want another husband: our Lady Calanthe is wise and just, but a king is a king. Whoever marries the princess will sit on the throne, and we want a tough, decent fellow. They have to be found on the islands. They're a hard nation. Let's go.”
Geralt stopped halfway down the gallery surrounding the small inner courtyard and looked around.
“Castellan,” he said under his breath, “we're alone. Quickly, tell me why the queen needs a witcher. You of all people must know something.”
“For the same reasons as everyone else,” Haxo grunted. “Cintra is just like any other country. We've got werewolves and basilisks and a manticore could be found, too, if you looked hard enough. So a witcher might also come in useful.”
“Don't twist my words, Castellan. I’m asking why the queen needs a witcher in disguise as a bear passant, with hair loose at that, at the banquet.”
Haxo also looked around, and even leaned over the gallery balustrade.
“Something bad's happening, Geralt,” he muttered. “In the castle. Something's frightening people.”
“What?”
“What usually frightens people? A monster. They say it's small, hunchbacked, bristling like a Urcheon. It creeps around the castle at night, rattles chains. Moans and groans in the chambers.”
“Have you seen it?”
“No,” Haxo spat, “and I don't want to.”
“You're talking nonsense, Castellan,” grimaced the witcher. “It doesn't make sense. We're going to an engagement feast. What am I supposed to do there? Wait for a hunchback to jump out and groan? Without a weapon? Dressed up like a jester? Haxo?”
“Think what you like,” grumbled the castellan. “They told me not to tell you anything, but you asked. So I told you. And you tell me I’m talking nonsense. How charming.”
“I’m sorry, I didn't mean to offend you, Castellan. I was simply surprised…”
“Stop being surprised.” Haxo turned away, still sulking. “Your job isn't to be surprised. And I strongly advise you, witcher, that if the queen orders you to strip naked, paint your arse blue and hang yourself upside down in the entrance hall like a chandelier, you do it without surprise or hesitation. Otherwise you might meet with a fair, amount of unpleasantness. Have you got that?”
“I’ve got it. Let's go, Haxo. Whatever happens, that bath's given me an appetite.”