Temple Guards

Two temple guards approached Triss. The Witcheress reached for her blade before hesitating; there were no calls to attack, no magic flung their way. The two guards were simply talking to Triss. The sorceress, for her part, seemed relaxed and willingly followed the guards down the street.

Ciri's brow furrowed in confusion. The city was on near lockdown and witches were being exiled if they were lucky, burned at the stake if they were not.

'Why would Triss be willing going with them?' Ciri wondered. She did not know so she did the only thing she could do: she followed them.

The guards and Triss came to a large well-guarded barracks and went inside. Two men, both fully armored, guarded the front door making sure no one who wasn't supposed to be there was allowed to enter. Thinking quickly, Ciri scrambled up an adjacent building, crawling along the roof until she spotted Triss through on the many windows that lined the large, square-shaped building. Ciri prowled along the roof, making sure to keep Triss in sight before the sorceress was brought to what seemed to be an office.

The room was large enough to have its own balcony so Ciri gracefully jumped across, crouched down and leaned in, hoping she could hear as well as see what was going on.

"You're making too much of a ruckus," A tall, stocky man said. He rubbed his hand through his dark hair which was pulled back in a tight pony tail. From the looks of it, he was the captain of the guard in this area. "That stunt down at the docks..."

"I had ****," Triss offered as she stood in front of the man who was sitting behind a large desk. "There was an infestation in a warehouse near the docks, I was paid to-"

"I don't care," The guard captain snapped. "If Menge hears that not only is there a witch in my district but she's actively practicing magic, he will have my head."

Triss shook her head. "I needed the money, I- "

"Don't care," The guard captain snapped again. The man looked her up and down, his gaze traveling slowly up her body. Triss was wearing tight leathers that clung to her every curve and her neckline gave the barest hint of cleavage. She wore a hood that was pulled down to show off her bright red hair and freckled face.

"If you need money so badly there's other ways you could be making it," The guard captain leered. "I'm sure my men could think of a few ways..."

Triss's eyes narrowed and Ciri could almost hear her teeth begin to grind.

"No," Triss replied.

"No?" The guard captain chuckled. "Never for money, then?" He asked with a smile.

Triss didn't respond; instead, she crossed her arms and looked away.

"Do you have what I want?" The guard captain asked, getting down to business. Triss looked back at him, pulled out a small bag and tossed it to him. He caught it with one hand, smelling it quickly and smiling. He tossed the bag into a drawer. Then, with a dramatic flourish, the man stood and made his way around the desk.

"And now the other thing," The guard captain said, leaning back against his desk.