They arrived at the city after a long journey without much talking –aha–. Jaskier was feeling fidgety. He was dreading the arrival, because it would mean the end of his journey with the witcher.

His voice would be stolen from him again. Even though he hadn't used it, he had basked in the feeling that he could, and that this cursed story was long done. He was too scared of Geralt hearing him to use his voice. But his throat wasn't crushed by an invisible force anymore. Jaskier appreciated that. He hated when Geralt walked away to find food. The horrible weight would come back with each step. He had lived long enough with the curse to endure it, but he had only felt it settling in a few times and it was still the most difficult task that was ever asked of him. Geralt would come back to the camp only to find Jaskier tensed with a scrunched-up face, fingers gripping on his lute like a lifeline. He couldn't guess what was wrong.

The city they entered was very small, and far enough from the Pankratz's mansion to not arise attention. Geralt dismounted and headed towards the tavern, hoping Jaskier would follow him. The witcher quickly noticed that Jaskier had stopped at the entrance of the city. He was fidgeting and looking nervously at the ground. Geralt turned around.

"What's going on?"

Jaskier began searching through his bag, and finally took out a purse. He then presented it to the witcher with a bow.

Roach sneered with affront. Geralt was too dumbstruck to even reply. Jaskier was still bowing, but as seconds passed, he looked up at Geralt. The witcher had an unreadable expression on his face. Annoyed, Jaskier straightened and shook the purse.

"Why are you handing me money?"

With an exasperated gesture, Jaskier took his notebook out and started scribbling on it.

"For the help".

Geralt got angry at that. His hands clutched on the notebook without meaning to.

"What?! You think you can ask me something and pay me off when you want to get rid of me? Who do you think I am, Jaskier? Why do you think I helped you?"

Geralt waited for an answer, forgetting that he was holding the only think that would help him getting one. When he remembered, he released his grip and tried to smooth out the pages as best as he could before passing it to Jaskier.

The bard was watching him with concern, but Geralt couldn't decide which kind. His answer had been a bit brutal, but Jaskier's stare wasn't only fearful. Why was he looking at him like that?

The answer read: "You are a witcher. I am paying you for your services."

"Helping you is not my job, Jaskier."

At that, Jaskier looked baffled and a little hurt. Geralt wondered what he had said wrong. He had quickly learned that this version of Jaskier had a thing for interpreting things wrong. That plus his bad habit of not being able to formulate his emotions correctly, was the worst combo. Geralt relented, for now.

"Come on. We're going to the tavern. We are not talking about this now."

Geralt took Jaskier to the tavern and asked for a room. They settled down slowly. They still had a good part of the day left. Jaskier was acting strange. This was obviously related to the money he had tried to give him earlier. Geralt couldn't guess what went through his head. Jaskier had never been that recluse before. In the last days spent together, Geralt had noticed that his friend was oddly different.

The curse might have shaken him up more than Geralt thought, but it made sense. Jaskier's voice was his work and his pride. Without it, he had been forced to go back to his family's house to survive. It was pure luck that Geralt had found him there. Jaskier was not the same and as he was before. Geralt would probably have to speak up to rectify what was wrong.

Jaskier was seating on the bed in front of him while Geralt was leaning against the wall. He didn't really know how to start the conversation, so he had busy himself with everything he could while trying to find a conversation opener. Now though, he was decided. He cleared his throat.

"Jaskier, why did you want to pay me?"

Jaskier frowned a bit but he took his notebook nonetheless.

"For doing your job."

"I already told you, I am no bodyguard."

Jaskier looked lost, as if his whole understanding of the world had changed. Geral wondered how much Jaskier had changed. His reactions were nothing like they were before. He used to be able to read him like an open book. But that was ages ago. No wonder he was so lost now.

"You know that, don't you?" Geralt made sure.

He hoped Jaskier would understand that he had done this for Jaskier, and not for the money. Jaskier nodded. He was staring blankly at his hands, probably overthinking what Geralt was saying.

"I won't leave you there, Jaskier."

He heard Jaskier struggle to catch his breath and with the lack of answer, it became clear to Geralt that something was definitely wrong with his bard. And it was not only about Jaskier's muteness. It was about their friendship. He had to go back to the basics.

There was a lot of animation in the tavern tonight. Geralt made sure that no one had followed them before taking the bard downstairs to have diner. Jaskier had been thinking a lot since their little conversation earlier. Geralt had known the bard as thunderous and eccentric, but this Jaskier was small and quiet. Not what he was used to.

Geralt's plan was to eat and apologize for the mountain as soon as they were alone again. The Jaskier he knew would never have believed anything of what he had said on the mountain but... maybe, just maybe... this Jaskier had. That would explain the bard's behavior. Muteness can only do so much to a man that spent his whole life being loud. Now though, even Jaskier's actions were punctuated by a hesitancy that was surely not what the witcher was used to.

They ate quickly and left, but before they could enter their room someone stopped in front of them.

He was a tall man in armor with a smile. But, as if it wasn't suspicious enough, he had the Pankratz's family coat of arms. Next to him, Jaskier slightly jumped. The man was looking directly at him. Geralt didn't have his swords with him but he would not let that go. He stepped in front of Jaskier to catch the man's attention.

"What do you want?" Geralt asked.

The man –a guard?- turned to him. He looked pretty fearless for a man meeting a witcher alone.

"You're not as perceptive as I thought you would be."

"So you're really here for Jaskier?"

Geralt thought this man's attitude was a bit too relaxed to be true. He must have brought reinforcements with him. With shame, Geralt wondered how many have gone unnoticed.

"Yes, of course. It's my job. And what a stupid job. One day, a hobo breaks into the house, the next one you're supposed to be his nanny."

"If you want to keep your teeth you leave those nasty words in your mouth."

But Jaskier was battling other demons. He took his book and started writing furiously.

"You're the one that met with mother in the corridor the day before I escaped!"

The guard looked suspiciously at the book, but seeing that the witcher was not attacking yet, he took it and read it. He seemed surprised that Jaskier knew that.

"Indeed, I am."

Jaskier grabbed his book again. "What does she want with me?"

"Later, bard."

The untrustworthy smile was back and this time, Geralt had enough of it. He pushed Jaskier closer to their bedroom's door without daring opening it. There were probably more man waiting right behind it. All his senses were awakened and he was on edge. If anything came his way, he was prepared.

"Enough. We are leaving."

The guard was smart enough to let them pass without making any fast movement. Now though, Geralt had another problem. Their stuff was inside their room, and there was probably a handful of man to welcome them. He hesitated apparently too long, because the guard started talking again.

"Oh, are you expecting an ambush? Don't worry, I came alone."

"Yeah, that's not suspicious."

However, he sniffed around and found that the guard was right. No one else was in there. But that didn't mean that the man was clear. He could be a mage, or he could have put poison in their drinks, or maybe only Jaskier's drink... Everything was possible. Geralt didn't lower his guard.

"I told Jaskier that I would not leave him and I meant it. Whatever you want, say it. I'm not changing my mind and I don't have all night."

He could hear Jaskier's pulse accelerating. The man seemed to think it over. He smelled faintly of fear, which meant that Geralt had all the chances on his side.

"Well, as you can see, I am alone. I stand no chance against a witcher. But you, on the other hand, stand no chance against the whole Pankratz forces."

Jaskier was trying to interfere, but it was really not the time. He pushed the man behind him again.

"Not now, bard."

Jaskier hit his shoulder in reiteration.

"I know. Let me do the talking for once."

The guard was smiling now, but it was much fonder than before. Less threatening. When Geralt focused his attention on him again, he moved past then. He opened the door, showing the witcher than no one was inside. Geralt relaxed, only just a bit. They were ready to talk it out.

"Let's talk inside. I have a proposition for you."