I'm so happy people are actually reading this story.
It is common knowledge that Witchers are meant to be sterile, that thought makes Nessa's head spin, obviously they wouldn't want the mutations they give Witchers to be passed on to those not chosen by them, yet here she stands, in a cave practicing control over her powers, she's not meant to be yet here she is.
Being over five hundred years old, compared to her sixty years, Borch must have at least encountered her biological father, she remains hesitant to ask him, Nessa has never given a second thought to her father before, he left them so why should she.
Yet the potency of her powers must come from her father as well as her mutations, her mother's family were practicing mages but her mother has never seen any of them exhibit that much raw power - some Witchers do have some power but her fathers must have been strong.
"Borch, uh...I was wondering if you've ever encountered my...I mean the Witcher that fathered me?" Nessa speaks up then winces, Borch looks concerned before answering "I may have met him in passing, but do not fret child you are nothing like him."
It's a relief knowing that Borch doesn't think her capable of making someone fall for her, fuck them and abandon them.
"Does he know of me?" it's a dangerous question to ask, she may not like the answer, "I do not think so" she doesn't feel anything regarding his reply, she's never needed her father before, it doesn't change even if he was aware of her.
Her mother may have been another story, Nessa thinks that if ever given the opportunity her mother would welcome the Witcher back with open arms, no matter what pain he had caused her.
"Again Nessa, you need to perfect this one, it could be vital in moments needed to escape" Borch commands, escaping seems cowardly she thinks yet she knows when the odds are stacked against her escape may be the only way to survive.
Shaking her hands to try again she tenses, "Relax, it needs to come naturally" she rolls her eyes at him, dark mist spreads from her palms, it's thin and wispy, barely able to conceal her. "Concentrate Nessa, where is your mind" Borch questions, he always sees through her.
"Who else is searching for the dragon and her egg, your not telling me and I can feel it, don't forget I know you too" frustration showing, he told her to work on her patience, it clearly didn't stick.
"I told you that a band of Dwarves, a group that call themselves the Reavers, Sir Eyck of Denesle and his mage escort and Téa and Véa" he comments offhandedly.
She narrows her eyes "You never mentioned a mage before, will she sense me there?" everyone else he had mentioned and she had met Téa and Véa before, they were spirited warriors, Nessa admired them.
"Not likely, she doesn't have the control over her power that you do, her training at Aretuza has most likely stunted advanced magic like that" he says calmly, it irritates her, how can he stay so calm and unconcerned, she knows he isn't but his facade is good, too good.
Cintra bustles with people rushing around doing their jobs, Borch finally let up on her lessons and offered to take her part way to Cintra, they travelled at night, wind rushing through her honey coloured hair whilst she sat upon his golden back glowing the moonlight, it was thrilling travelling by dragon, she had traveled in this manner twice before, after she saved him and once when she was too weak to get up after fighting some beast.
It took her two nights to get to the kingdom instead of a month, Borch's mission must be starting soon for him to want her to get her armour now.
Children play knuckle bones on the street, completely unfazed by the hubbub around them, marketeers shout, advertising their sales and traders mull around. She walks quickly toward the edge of the market, towards the actual buildings that contain shops, the blacksmith sits right at the end, closest to the great castle that towers over the city.
Smoke immediately fills her lungs as she enters the quaint building, she clears her throat getting the smith's attention, he turns to her as she retrieves her worn armour from her satchel, "I need armour like this, please" she speaks up, she'd rather suffer being polite to those who wouldn't return it than not get her armour. "It'll take about a week, and cost three hundred Ducat" he says roughly, it's an overcharge, she knows it but she planned for this, people think women are stupid when it comes to a 'man's' profession, she rolls her eyes.
Not many people in Cintra will know the currency of the north, it may sound like more but it is less than half of what he asked "Will a thousand Bizant do?" she asks putting on an innocent voice and just as she thought hearing the thousand has completely frazzled his brain - he doesn't care what currency, it sounds like more, he nods trying not to seem to eager and make her suspicious. Retrieving some parchment he writes out a receipt and gives it to Nessa, she thanks him then heads towards an inn further down the street.
She's starved, the inn is quite large but dark and musty, it's old. Aware of the stares she smooths her hand over her hair, making sure that her ears are covered, out of all the features to get from her mother she was bestowed with her ears, elven ears - in Cintra where their own Queen ruthlessly hunts elves. She recalls once entering a tavern, completely unaware of her hair being up in a braid, and the tavern owner threatening her, calling her a dirty elven whore, there they were threats here would be worse, much worse.
She strides confidently up to the bar, she can't show weakness "Could I have a room please, for about a week", the woman at the bar looks gruff and haggard - she's probably worked her whole life at this inn and never left Cintra. "Twenty Ducat a night" is all she says, Nessa nods and reaches for her satchel pulling out the required amount of coin, she actually exchanged some of her Bizant for Ducat before travelling to Cintra.
Accepting her key and heading upstairs to her room she sighs, the mage that Borch mentioned worries her, mages don't usually leave their positions within kingdoms to escort knights, Nessa has warned Borch to not underestimate her but he seems so unconcerned, it unnerving.
Next chapter it gets interesting. Love Liya xx