A small cart with horses roped to the front of it is almost filled to the brim with grain, and a middle aged man with black hair and thick stubble has a large coin purse attached round his neck It's weight clear from the way his neck strains away from it.

Reima "Greeting, are you Tarkson?" He says keeping his hands crossed in front of him in a non hostile manner.

Tarkson "It is so, what do you want?"

Reima "I offer protection if you allow me to ride with you to the capital..."

He eyes Reima up and down, looking from the dangling heads, to the swords and then onto his cat-like eyes.

Tarkson "Didn't think they sent out such young Witchers, do they not care for you wellbeing?"

Reima "They do, but I was so skilled that they let me leave early... Someone like me you would want on a long journey such as this."

Tarkson thinks it over until finally agreeing, albeit with some conditions. "Alright, but I will not pay ye, I will not feed ye and if you want to take a p.i.s.s you do it when we rest the horses. I will not wait for ye to shake your p.r.i.c.k."

Reima "Agreed, when do we leave?"

Tarkson picks up a travel bag from the floor and replies, "Now."

They both hop on the cart and sit on the coach seat before he shakes the reins slightly to get the horses moving.

Reima "So, why are you travelling alone without protection? Anything could jump out of the woods, kill your horses and rip you to shreds..."

Tarkson "Aye, it's a long story..."

Reima "Well, I got a couple days so lets hear it.." He says with some mirth.

Tarkson "Well, the lack of guards is easy to explain.. We canne afford em. And as for why I'm the one going? I have a rather... Significant amount of debts towards the people of Mirfield, no one wants to brave the roads especially with the bandits, monsters and beasts inhabiting them."

Reima "Are bandits a problem?"

Tarkson "Aye, tis only gotten worse since the new garrison commander took over."

Reima "Why, what's he been doing?"

Tarkson signs and continues "He's a good man, they ousted the previous commander because he was corrupt. But since he took over the bandits have become more aggressive."

Reima is confused at the situation, shouldn't someone less corrupt help the bandit problem, not make it worse? "Why has the problem gotten worse? Shouldn't the Commander be doing something about it?"

Tarkson "That's the problem, he's hunting them all down... The bandits and highwaymen flee from the capital raping and pillaging anything that isn't protected, before they were just gangs selling Fisstech but now they've gotten desperate. I honestly thought I would be murdered before I even reach the Capital.

Reima "Yeah, well, I'll not allow that to happen my friend."

Tarkson seems a rather amiable person and doesn't seem to be gripped by the wave of anti-human propaganda perpetrated by the Eternal fire, and while they are not as popular now as they will be in the future, people just want something or someone to hate and make the scapegoat. Tarkson even asked questions about his training to become a Witcher, he gave vague answers but it seemed to have satisfied him.

CRACK!

Suddenly a tree drops onto the road and blocks the path, 8 armed men come running out while pointing their blades at them.

Bandit leader "Stop there or we'll feed you to the beasts in the woods!"

Tarkson is not amused at all... He surprises Reima by standing up and shouting at the bandits. "You sc.u.m, you think I'll lie down while you rob me blind!?! f.u.c.k you!" And he spits at the Bandit leaders face.

Reima doesn't know whether to pat him on the back or punch him in the face when he sees this. "For f.u.c.k sake" He says to himself before jumping off the cart, sword drawn. He is quickly surrounded and decides to use the Elder Blood abilities.

Bandit "What now, freak!? What's the use of two swords if your not gonna use them!?"

Reima grins "Oh, I'll use them alright."

Bandit "Yeah? You and wha arm-UHH!" He tries to finish his insult but finds a blade sticking out of his chest. Reima had vanished and reappeared in a turquoise flash behind him.

The other bandits, startled start shouting about Witch craft and start charging at Reima.

Looking at the large group coming towards him Reima unleashes a quick Igni before doing a pirouette and slas.h.i.+ng the neck of a bandit not flailing to rid himself of fire. His head quickly twists to the side as the sword pa.s.ses through his carotid artery, causing a large volume of blood to squirt out.

Reima continues to turn, twist and dodge while slas.h.i.+ng a the confused and frightened bandits... Until none remain.

He stands there panting covered in blood while looking at the corpses.

Tarkson "d.a.m.n lad, you said you-ere a Witcher but not a man-witch... Ill not pursue this but were something to befall Mirfield I would know who to blame... Also thank ye for saving my life."

Reima shakes his head at the att.i.tude that most have of magic before attaching 8 additional heads to his collection... It's getting rather heavy if he does say so himself.