Geralt and Yennefer investigate a pile of corpses. What's going on? Keep reading to find out!

I hope everyone is staying in and staying safe. I'm the circulation librarian at our library so I'm considered an unessential employee and we've been closed for a few weeks now and all I've been doing is plotting chapters and writing outside in this beautiful weather :)

Much love,

MaidenP

I ride behind Geralt, my arms wrapped tight around his waist and bury my face in his back. Ciri keeps shooting me sly grins while Yennefer stares straight ahead, a smirk playing on her lovely lips. Roach ambles on at a gentle pace before Geralt pulls him to a stop. He blocks the sun from his face and scouts out ahead of us, his yellow eyes flitting from one spot to the next. A screech sounds above us and we see buzzards circling the air before landing a few yards ahead. Geralt frowns and slides off Roach. I go to follow and he holds up his hand.

"I want to come with." Geralt hands me the reins and I see Yennefer help Ciri slide behind me onto Roach.

"Stay here with Ciri. Stay vigil." I open my mouth to protest, to tell him I can do what I please, when my mouth is suddenly busy. Geralt fists my vest and pulls me down to crush his lips to mine. My brain short circuits and I find myself lost for speech. Geralt pulls away and grins at me, his tongue slicking out to wet his lips. He pats my jaw and I slide back into place, a dreamy smile on my face. Ciri snorts behind me and I glare playfully at her. Yennefer pats Ciri on the leg and gives her a stern look. Ciri sighs and nods her head, sharing some unheard conversation with Yennefer. Geralt hooks his sword to his back and motions for Yennefer to follow him. I grab his strap and he turns towards me.

"I love you." Geralt's face breaks into a heart stopping beautiful smile. He strokes my jaw and nods before following after Yennefer. Ciri leans against my back and I pat her hand. She props her chin on my shoulder and watches them go into the thicket.

"What do you think it is?" Ciri's breath tickles the hairs by my ear and I scratch my nose.

"I'm sure it's nothing. Geralt wouldn't risk leaving us if he felt there was an immediate threat." Ciri nods and begins to chatter my ear off about a pretty serving girl they met a few weeks ago. I look over my shoulder at her and she shrugs.

"I don't decide to like someone just on their gender Jaskier. I like someone despite that." I can understand that. I motion for her to continue with her story and she launches back into an exciting tale of how she saved her from some drunker patron. I look towards the thicket, praying for Geralt to return soon.

...

Geralt's POV:

Buzzards circle a pile of corpses before screeching and flying back into the air, our presence scaring them away for the time being. Yennefer crouches next to the bodies and waves her hand over them, black smoke spilling out of them. I keep an eye on our surrounding as she works her magic. I sniff the air around us but all I can smell is the rot of the corpses. I do detect a hint of magic that isn't Yennefer's. This magic has the stench of malice. Yennefer hums quietly while she works, her hands moving quickly. I can sense a powerful presence was here not long ago but I don't recognize anything about their signature. Yennefer sighs and stands up, dusting her hands off before sliding her gloves back on.

"What happened here Yen?" She looks around us, her violet eyes searching for something.

"The bodies may no longer be alive but they can still give me some clue about what happened. There is an evil magic here that drained these people of their life force." Yennefer looks down at the body of a women, her stomach distended with child. She grits her teeth and turns away from them.

"There's a village up head. Lets stop there for the night and ask around. Maybe someone will know something." Yennefer brushes the dirt from her skirt and heads back towards the thicket separating us from Jaskier and Ciri. I freeze and tilt my head towards the trees. I narrow my eyes. Someone is watching us. Yennefer pauses and looks over her shoulder at me. Her eyes shine with fury and she hisses at me to hurry up. I pretend not to notice and walk steadily towards Yennefer. I don't want to alert whoever did this horrendous event, that I know they are watching us. We move through the thicket and find Jaskier and Ciri thumb wrestling, their attention completely absorbed in the game. I grab Roach's reins and Jaskier startles, spinning around to gape at me.

"You must keep better vigil Jaskier. I could have been a monster." Jaskier flushes and looks down in shame at my scolding. I sigh and help Ciri down. Yennefer helps her onto their horse and scolds her quietly about being better alert. I know her scolding comes from a place of concern, just like mine does. Jaskier moves back on the saddle and I slide my boot into the stirrup and sling my leg over. Jaskier looks down at his hands and I turn halfway to look at him.

"I only chastise you to make sure you stay safe. I don't know what I would do if I lost you Jaskier." He perks up and smiles timidly at me. I grip his jaw and slant my mouth over his. Our tongues brush together in a sweet kiss and I release his jaw with a soft sigh. Jaskier wraps his arms tight around my waist and plasters his body to my back. I pick up his hand a brush a small kiss to his knuckles.

"So what happened?" Jaskier murmurs quietly by my ear. I look over at Ciri and she chatters loudly to Yennefer and Yennefer looks at me, giving one small shake of her head. I lean back towards Jaskier and lower my voice.

"I'll tell you later tonight. We don't want to scare Ciri if it turns out to be nothing." Jaskier nods and snuggles closer to me. Truth is I'm not even sure what's going on, but if the twisting unease swirling in my stomach is any indication, it isn't good. I don't say that to Jaskier though, I must show him that I can be the strength he needs. He rests his head on my shoulder and sings quietly to me, his lovely voice like a balm to my nerves.