PROLOGUE

NO MAN'S LAND

The wind was howling, the sky was dark. It looked like a heavy storm was about to come, but the climate was nothing compared to the utter destruction and the horrible situation of the region. The ground was covered with blood of dead horses and human bodies, most were human corpses. They were all dead soldiers, this is the evidence of a recent horrid battle on this place. The storm came and rain also started to pour. It was like the water is trying to wash away all the blood from the soil to make the soil pure again. Not a single living soul could be seen through eyes except for the two hooded riders on their horses.

One of them got down from his horse and walked down to where at least 30 dead corpses were lying at the same place. Some of them even got partially buried under the ground, only a part of hand or a part of a leg or some portion of middle body was visible. The rider bent down on one knee and started to examine the ground with his hands. It seemed he was searching for something. The other also left his horse then came to stood beside him while observing his surroundings carefully.

The rider who was bent down on knee on the ground spoke up,

"She may have passed through here, there is evidence of magic here."

The other rider who was standing dropped his hood. He was a little aged. He had white long hair, a small part of which was tied in a small ponytail, moustache and a small beard under his lips. A scar was also visible on his chin. What strange was that he was carrying two swords on his back, a wolf-headed necklace was hanging from his neck. But the most striking feature was his eyes, they were just like cat. The rider who was inspecting ground stood up and dropped his hood, this rider was much younger than the other one. They both had same kind of hairstyle and same hair colour, he also had a moustache but he was fully bearded. It looked like he had not shaved for ages and under some kind of stress. His eyes were similar to the older rider, like him he was also carrying two swords and a similar necklace was hanging from his neck also. He had a long vertical scar which started from his left forehead, moved over his left eye then down to the front of the left side of his face. He muttered under his breath,

"We are on the right track."

"Yes we are Geralt, we will find her soon enough. Don't worry."

"I am not worried about finding her Vesemir."

"Then what are you..."

"We will talk about it later." , he cut him off in mid-sentence.

"We should head back for now, give that damn Griffin's head to them, collect our coins and return on the track."

"All right Geralt, I will not press you, let's go back and get this done. We will rest tonight then head towards White Orchard tomorrow."

Geralt nodded and climbed on his horse. They both rode away on horse back.

AFTER FEW HOURS...

"You are accused of...cannibalism and therefore sentenced to death by hanging….or torment."

Geralt saw the leader of a group of 4 Nilfgaard's executioners was reading a scroll to a young woman who looked scared to death, hot wet tears were pouring from her red swollen eyes.

"Please don't do this, I did no such thing. I never did. I was framed by someone. Please have mercy." , the woman pleaded. The leader gave an evil chuckle.

"I know my dear. It was me who framed you. My men told you to stay out of my business but you never listen. So I have to put you away because you know too much, beside I can't let my past 5 years of hard work go in vain."

Hearing this the woman's eyes bulged. She was shocked. Then he hit her in the abdomen, she fell down on the ground panting. Geralt had heard everything. Anger was coursing through his veins. He must stop this. Those scums need to die, they don't deserve to live. Understand his thoughts, Vesemir warned him,

"Geralt don't meddle. Just give them the head, take our reward and let's get out of here. We don't need any attention, need to keep a low profile."

Geralt closed his eyes considering Vesemir's words. Then he saw again in his mind a memory which still haunts him. He saw a red haired woman getting tortured in her cell. As soon as he thought of that his nostrils flared, his breathing became uneven. Pure rage surged through his body. He saw red.

"I can't do that Vesemir. I can't let her die like that, she is innocent. Didn't you hear what that bastard was confessing to her? I will put an end to this. This is greater evil than...others. I will choose the lesser act of evil of killing men. But these are scums I will not regret killing them."

Vesemir only nodded. When they approached the leader he turned towards them and gave them a disgusting evil smile. Geralt dropped the Griffin's head on the ground. The leader put his hand in his pocket and pull out a pouch of coins.

"I knew you Witcher's will not let pass away the opportunity to earn some coins, heh? So tough hunt?"

"Definitely tougher than yours."

The leader's expression immediately changed. He scowled at Geralt, threw him the pouch of coins which he caught, he spat at the feet of the two Witcher's. 'Big mistake' Geralt thought in his mind. Then the leader turned away and walked towards the woman. He grabbed her chin while spoke to his men,

"Now where were we? Oh yes! Now boys, before we end her why don't we have some fun hah, what do you say?"

His men cheered and agreed. He gave her a toothy evil grin and grabbed her chin more tightly so that would hurt her. The woman began to struggle but her hands and legs were bound. He gave her a toothy evil grin then started closing his face to her to kiss her. Geralt watched enough, he was shaking with fury.

The woman thought in her mind this is a terrible way to die. She knew that she will surely get raped now by looking at those men's evil lust filled eyes. Then they will probably torture her to death. When she saw the leader of those scums was bending down to kiss her on her mouth, she was feeling disgusted. Just the leader was about to kiss her she suddenly saw a gloved hand covered his mouth from back. Then the hand turned him around and gave him a mighty punch on his jaw. Blood split from his mouth and he was thrown a good three away by the power of the punch, she saw his jaw was broken. Then she saw her saviour, it was one of the riders who was talking with the scum just a moments ago.

"Close your eyes now.", he told her.

The other men started towards Geralt immediately, he threw them away with Aard then pulled out a knife from his boot, grabbed one of the downed men and drove the knife vertically upwards through his chin so it pierced his brain. The other attacked him again but he dodged them. He kicked one of them who fell on the ground. He grabbed the other one from behind and snapped his neck. The one who was kicked to the ground got up and threw a punch. Geralt caught it easily then cut his hand away with a powerful slash of his knife. The man howled in agony, Geralt threw the knife which struck the man at his forehead killing him instantly. He turned towards the woman to unbound her.

He shift his attention to the leader who was still on the ground grabbing his jaw. He grabbed his collar and threw him away from the mud. The leader was frightened now.

"You do not deserve any easy death monster. You will die with agony." Geralt's voice send a chill through the leader's spine. In a heartbeat he saw white hot flamed surging towards him, he screamed even through his broken jaw. He died by burning, his whole body was turned deep black by burns.

Geralt walked towards the woman and bent down in front of her urging her to open her eyes. Her eyes opened at last looking at him still with fear.

"Are you all right?" . The woman nodded.

"Who are you? And why are you saved me?" she asked him.

"It doesn't matter who I am. Know me as a stranger passing by who mean you no harm. You should leave from here immediately, others may come looking for you. You are not safe here. Here take this coins, you will need it to travel to somewhere safe."

The woman looked at him with a grateful face and happy tears were running down her face. She did not know who this stranger was and why he helped her. But she thanked her god for sending him to rescue her from those evil men. She also didn't believe there were still good men like him out there. She only managed to say,

"Thank you, whoever you are."

He nodded and started to walk away. She then asked him what she didn't wanted to utter but it came out before she even understood.

"Will I ever see you again?"

He stopped and turned towards her.

"Don't think we will meet again. Stay safe and find a way to get out of here."

She received the answer with a small but genuine sad smile on her face, he rode away to the distant with the other rider and soon disappeared in the woods.

A/N: In my story, Triss is still an independent and strong woman. She only shows her vulnerability in front of Geralt and acts as damsel in distress sometimes only in front of him because she loves the way Geralt takes care of her. Also Geralt in my story is not a playboy. Yes, I changed it. He already loves Triss too much during Witcher 2 events, so he is thinking of Yennefer somewhat less. In few words he is completely devoted to Triss but could not determine what he feels for Yennefer. Triss and Dandelion are very good friends and she could discuss her internal feelings with him. Here, in this story Triss only ever been with Geralt intimately or otherwise. She is only his, which she says to herself. I haven't read the books, so I don't know what relationship she had before Geralt and I don't need those. What I made her character here is, she was a virgin until she slept with Geralt in Witcher 1 in Kaer Morhen. Please don't criticise her character by comparing it to the books if there is any difference because I don't know that and I pictured her like the way I described before.