A deal I can't refuse (Page 11)

I haven't seen Gaunter in forever. In fact, I thought I'd never see him again. I don't know how he got here or knows that I'm here. Yen isn't letting me speak to him. Gaunter said I owe him, and it's probably for Lara's diary. It's no ordinary diary, I know that, which means he isn't an ordinary merchant.  Maybe not even, man.

It's silent, and I decide to take this chance to ask him a question. "Are you talking about the diary? It's been a great help..." I can see his gaze shift to me, and he wears a calm smile and one that all merchants have.

He takes a step forward, and Yen raises her hand, charged with magic to stop him. He stops and looks me in the eyes from where he stands. "You were always smart, Cera... Do you know much about your family? Other than what the diary has told you." He asks me a question I have often wondered myself. The diary only tells me about things from Lara's time. I shake my head. "You're very important to a lot of people, Cera." Yen has had enough and blocks any view we have over each other by stepping in front of me.

I feel her magic charge even more. "I said not to speak or look at him!!!" She has a frantic edge in her voice—a desperate madness. I look at her and see she is genuinely scared. I take a look at everyone else, and they are as confused as me.

Except for Triss, she looks like Yen right now. "I don't care what you want with my Cera demon!!! I won't let you have him!!!" Yen lets out a wave of anger I rarely see from her. I look over at Gaunter again.

He has an annoyed look on his face. He sighs and puts his fingertips together in front of his stomach. "It seems this won't be progressing anywhere with you, Yennefer of Vengerberg. I think Cera and I will have a private conversation." As soon as he said that, Yen starts casting magic. However, Gaunter claps his hands, and everything stops. I walk out from in front of Yen and look at every one. Nobody is moving an inch. Even Yens magic has been stopped in the middle of being cast. I look over to Gaunter as he has the same friendly face he always has.

It seems Gaunter has a lot more secrets than I originally thought. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he froze time. I don't know how he can control a fundamental part of reality, but he definitely isn't a normal mage.

If he is one, that is, I doubt he's mortal at all now. "Now that the interruptions are out of the way. We can talk about a problem I have." Gaunter disappears from in front of me and is now behind me.

I turn around fast and look at the man. "What is it you want from me? I get wanting payment for the diary, but I seriously doubt I can give compensation." I try not to anger the powerful man. Geralt always taught me to be patient and listen to the information I'm given. That way, I can find a way out of a tough spot if I ever find myself in one.

"True, you have no money to give me for the diary. You do, however, have talents I need to help me collect debts from certain individuals." I guess he's been watching me for a long time. Yeah, I'm a great fighter.

I seriously lack in the strength department, though. I'm only 10. "Like fighting? I can fight pretty well, but I doubt I could live through multiple enemies." I try to explain that a 10-year-old can't fight that well against enemies that he might have.

He gives me a slightly scary look, a grin that seems innocent but has an insidiousness behind it. "Yes and no. I have contracts with people that need a proxy to finish. You'll have to fight, but it will be quite rare. If you tell me what you wish for the most, I will grant it for you after the job is done." So he's a Djinn?

Well, I know Djinn's don't have physical bodies, so no. "Anything I wish?" There are things that I'd need for my plans in the future.

Information on the enemies that took my parents from me is mainly what's on my mind. "Anything." His voice is low and happy. Sensing that he's won my interest.

I have to make sure he can give me what I want. "Even on how to defeat the ones that took my mom and dad?" If I'm honest, this is my only wish. To kill them all myself. I'll never forget that day. Gaunter's face goes from a dark and slightly sinister one to a solemn one.

He makes a small sigh and puts his fingers together in front of him. "I should've known that greed wasn't in your heart Cera. You want revenge for what happened to your family. Most humans only want money or extravagant things. Those are the ones I deal with. I don't have much contact with people like you. Cera. People who aren't just out for undesirable things." I guess that's a compliment.

I can't refuse someone this powerful. He also gave me the diary of Lara. "I won't be killing or hurting anyone of innocence's, right?" If I can get the information to kill and stop those bastards, I'll take it.

He smiles slightly, and I have a bad feeling. "No one of the sorts will be harmed. The men I need help taking care of are truly scum. So we have a deal?" He holds out his hand for a handshake. I contemplate for a second and conclude that I'll get what I need to avenge my parents if I do this.

My mind is already made up with the promise of information about my enemies and how to kill them all. "It's a deal, Gaunter." I take his hand and shake it. He gives a wicked grin. Soon my face is burning as I get on my hands and knees to hold the spot. I trace it with my fingers. It seems like some sort of brand.

I look at him. "What was that for?" I say to him, thinking it was uncalled for.

He holds out his hand to help me up, and I grab it. "To show we are associates. I can't have my enemies know they can mess with you without consequence." I guess this is ok. I would guess he can remove it too.

Since he can put it on with a wave of his hand. "Can you unfreeze everyone? I want to get back to Yen and her wanting to take me away." I can only hope that this isn't a deal that happens right now. If it is, then oh well.

He gives a slightly solemn look. "I'm afraid not. We're leaving. I want what I'm owed from those unsavory individuals." I look at him as though I have been played.

In truth, I let him play me. I'm desperate for that information. "Can I at least say goodbye?" Surely he will allow that.

He shakes his head, and I resent my own desperation. "I'm afraid not. Come, we must go." I'm disappointed, to say the least. He open's a portal I've never seen before. Guess it's unique to him like mine is to me.

I follow him and look back at my friends and family. I don't know how long I'll be gone. Hopefully, you can forgive me. That information is as good as mine. I go through the portal, and we disappear and reappear near a port.

This is a place that is familiar to me. Like it's been described to me in stories. "This is as far as I will take you. Go to Skellige. That is where the first contract is. I have other business to attend to here in Novigrad." So I'm in Novigrad. Dad would tell me stories about this place. Well, I guess it's time to find a ship to Skellige.

~~~(POV Yen)~~~

I launch my magic at the demon, and as the dust and smoke clear's I see he's gone. I'm relieved that he has left. I don't know his true identity, but I don't want Cera to have anything to do with him. I better check on my Cera to make sure he's okay. I turn around and notice he's gone as well. It feels like my heart and mind shatter at the realization that he took my Cera.

He took him. He took my Cera. I couldn't control my anger anymore. "HE TOOK MY BABY BOY!!!" I unleash screams as my magic is released in all directions. The walls crack, and the ground shakes. After a couple of seconds, someone hits me on the back of the head, and I fall unconscious.