Surreptitious Cerys: Bran-Dishing Evidence

Follow Cerys and emerge from the tunnels without incident. You decide to revisit the cellar entrance to look for evidence of the culprit.

Head south up the steps, and examine a set of footprints (using your Witcher Senses) at the cellar door. Someone walked through spilled mead. Now turn and follow the footprints up the main stairs back up towards the smithy. On a landing, examine a wall torch: There is a scrap of cloth on it. Cerys is shocked; only Arnvald wears this fabric! Race up and out of the cellar corridor, across the exterior battlements and smithy, and up into the Keep entrance. You see Arnvald leap on a horse and race off.

Arnvald’s guilt is unquestionable, but bringing him to justice is tricky. Gallop after him, following the route down the cliff path and tunnel, out of Kaer Trolde, and along the road heading roughly south. He bears right twice; first at the parked caravans, and second at the fork in the road, and heads directly to a group of bandit seamen; wearing Clan Tuirseach colors and waiting for him at the beach. You can end the chase in a number of ways:

• (Crossbow) While riding, produce your crossbow and knock Arnvald off his horse. You’re commended by Cerys, and Arnvald is usually alive.
• (Aard or Igni) While riding, use either Aard or Igni to remove Arnvald from his steed. Cerys is impressed, and Arnvald is usually alive.
• (Beach Fight) Should Arnvald reach the beach, he is expecting to be smuggled out of Ard Skellig by these seafarers loyal to his cause. But you can never trust these bandits; Arnvald’s usefulness has expired, and they attack him. Battle five of them, moving to Arnvald’s proximity and drawing attacks away from him. If you don’t, he is easily slain.
• (Losing the Trail) If you aren’t quick enough in tailing Arnvald, head towards the beach area in your own time. You discover Arnvald’s corpse on the sand.

After the tumble from his horse, or bandit fight, Arnvald is either dead or alive:

• (Arnvald is alive) He moans on at his hatred towards the an Craites, but agrees to implicate Birna Bran and the berserkers at a trial.
• (Arnvald is dead) Cerys is shocked at the betrayal. You decide to search Arnvald’s corpse, and find a small key. Cerys sees the tartans the bandits where wearing, but you tell her not to jump to conclusions.

Back at Kaer Trolde Keep, use your Witcher Senses to thoroughly search Arnvald’s room:

• There are strewn clothese everywhere, and a missing shoe.
• The other shoe is under a small table. Check inside the shoe for another key.

Close to his bed is an envelope with a particular smell attached to it. Follow the scent to a hidden compartment in the northeast corner of the room. Use the key to unlock it; inside is a letter. The perfume is Birna’s! The letter isn’t signed, but the evidence is enough. Read on to “Cerys’ Conclusion”, below.