The first rays of morning sunlight shone bright red and hot against Geralt's eyelids. Wincing, he stirred and found Amrynn still draped over his side. She groaned softly in meek protest and made herself comfortable when he insisted on bringing himself into a sitting position. Squinting against the sun, he waited until his eyes adjusted, and looked over the floor in search of his clothes.
Kain had been dozing on the other side of the bed and now observed the Witcher, squinting, stifling a yawn. The morning in Passiflora met Geralt of Rivia with weariness and dry mouth, while granting his brother with the same set and a small addition of a heavy head.
"It's like I woke up back at school," Kain rubbed his face and pushed himself to sit up.
Geralt chuckled. "Yeah, brings back memories."
"The baths are refreshed," Fealinn peeked in between the curtains. "Your breakfast is served."
Geralt and Kain picked up their towels and went to the bathtubs. Thaler was snoring quietly on the massage couch; Dijkstra's curtains were drawn and his louder snoring of a bull resonated across the parlor.
"Yes, now the image of School festival morning is complete," Kain remarked, smiling, and stepped into the tub, lowering into the warm water with a sigh of pleasure. He submerged, rubbing his scalp and face under water, washing off the massage oils and incenses.
Geralt made a quick work of washing and drying, and soon enough they sat at the table, quietly to not wake Thaler, and took care of scrambled eggs with bacon and sausages, freshly baked bread with butter and mulled wine. Fealinn helped herself to some bread and eggs, as well, and prepared to leave. She leaned to Kain's ear pretending to say goodbye, and whispered: "Yennefer was here last night. Just briefly."
She pecked his cheek, picked up her bag and left.
After a bit, the witchers finished their wine and followed.
"Hope to see you back soon, boys," Marquise Serenity smiled, fanning herself, and curtsied in response to their head bows.
"We shall have to make time, milady," Geralt said.
"Ah, you, sweet talker," she said, her hand making a dismissive wave. "You certainly shall."
The streets were busy, and already at this early hour the town criers were working their vocal cords off gathering crowds. The witchers maneuvered between people gawking and buzzing with discussions.
"Yennefer's been there last night," Kain said.
Geralt's step faltered subtly; he stared at his brother momentarily, digesting the news. "What for?"
Kain shrugged, "Women and secrets don't mix. I would bet on her intention of checking things out."
"Oh well, I suppose she checked it out to her liking." Geralt's brow furrowed with annoyance, but then smoothened out slightly as he cast another look at Kain, curious. "You know that girl?"
"How you figure?"
Geralt smiled a little. "You don't pass on someone like Ciri for a masseuse or a whore, unless it's pure racial preference. Which I don't suppose mattered much, since I was with the one you could've preferred." He thought about it for another second as an idea came to him. "Did Yennefer use magic? Was that what I sensed…"
"She certainly did to disguise herself. But I sensed it before, too. That girl… she uses magic to conceal herself. She is Aen Seidhe. I do know her, she used to be like me. Perhaps Dijkstra had some secrets of his own, some talisman we haven't seen. But there was magic, yes."
"Strange… she seemed human enough."
"Her magic includes alteration of people's perception – in order to make them see her as human and forget her when she leaves. She kept an extra eye on us last night."
"Were you lovers before?"
"Not before. Not currently, either… not in the traditional sense of the word."
Geralt frowned, pondering, then nodded. "I see. Dijkstra was watching."
"They always do. They always have. Some things never change, Geralt. Just like the places they prefer to meet."
"Mm. Right."
Ciri got dressed, picked up her half-empty plate and the entirely empty wine bottle and headed downstairs. She placed both items on the bar counter in front of a very subdued Dandelion. From the looks of it he had gotten his fair share of drink too and not a lot of sleep.
He grunted in acknowledgement at Ciri. She returned this gesture with a nod of her head. Then she made for the door.
"Seems like we don't have time for Vizima, after all," Kain mused as they were approaching Rosemary and Thyme.
"Maybe tomorrow – if we survive the bridge," Geralt responded. "Or later today to not lose time. There's a ride ahead…"
"Or maybe we should ask Ciri for help with that."
Geralt stopped by the stables, peering at him with both dismay and doubt. "I don't want to expose her to Emhyr before it's her own time when she's ready."
"I didn't say she should take us to the palace. It can be that place where she brought you from the dungeon."
"Hmm. Maybe. We'll see. Radovid's the first on the agenda."
The door opened when they came up, and Ciri walked into them from the inn. Geralt flashed a smile.
"Look who's up so early. Where you going?"
Ciri paused in her stride, flinching against the bright sunlight while attempting to meet Geralt's gaze.
"Walk," she said simply, shielding her eyes with a hand. "I'll be back in a bit."
Geralt shook his head. "Better not do it alone. This city didn't turn safe overnight. Your hair gets fairer and your scar is there. The flyers with your face are still on the walls."
"I will be fine," she replied, a flash of annoyance making itself known inside her. They were wanted, too, but apparently that didn't matter. "Yennefer is still asleep. Don't wake her. I think she could use the rest."
She let the door to the inn close behind her and brushed past them.
Geralt caught her by the arm, stalling. "I'm serious. Don't do this. Please."
Had it been anyone else, Ciri would probably have ignored their request. But there had always been something about Geralt that made her pause in these situations when she wanted to rebel. Even now that she was no longer a child in need of minding. Respect.
That didn't mean it made her any less frustrated.
"Fine," she said, gently removing herself from Geralt's grasp and making for the stable instead.
"We've got to hurry, Geralt," Kain reminded.
"Yeah. Go, I'm behind you."
Kain went inside, and the Witcher followed Ciri.
"Everything all right?" he asked, approaching.
Ciri headed straight for Kelpie, reaching over the door to her booth in order to stroke her muzzle and rest her forehead against hers. She wanted to be in the forest where it would be easier to find a source of power to draw from in order to heal the burns on her throat, but since that appeared to not be an option, she would have to try and make do without it.
"Everything is fine," she said once she'd noticed Geralt following her, her forehead still resting against Kelpie's. "Just tired of being trapped, is all."
He sighed, feeling both guilty and pained. "I'm sorry, Ciri. The city won't be safe today, nor tomorrow. We're getting closer to the Hunt's visit."
"It will never be safe. There will always be something," she said, brushing her hand along Kelpie's neck. "Doesn't matter. I'll survive."
"Whether the Hunt is there or not, the world will never be safe," Geralt said in a gentle tone. "This world is not meant to be safe for anyone. No mortal world ever is. But you, with your gifts and power, are safer than any people. Nevertheless, there can be things we cannot predict. I'd prefer to keep you safer and watching after people close to us. Maybe you'll have to protect Dandelion and Priscilla."
Ciri shot him a reproving glare, though not without fondness.
"Dandelion and Priscilla's safety is not the reason you want me to stay here. Don't try and make this anything other than it is."
Geralt met her glare with a stern expression as if cut from stone. "I never lie to you. I don't know what happens after we do what Dijkstra wants us to. There is no one else I can count on to make sure Dandelion stays safe."
"Except Yennefer, of course. And Triss. Zoltan," Ciri named, turning to face him. "Don't worry. I'll stay. But I don't have it in me to be happy about it right now."
Geralt's frown deepened. "What's on your neck?"
Her hand instinctually rose to her throat, then to the collar of her jerkin to adjust it. "I made a mistake. But it is handled now."
Geralt stepped closer, concerned. "What does it mean?"
She sighed, embarrassed. "It means I fell asleep last night before I had taken my draught."
"Eredin did this? I'll kill that bastard. The day will come when he'll die before my eyes."
He pulled her into an embrace, kissed her temple.
"You need to be more careful."
"I will be," she promised, though she felt if she had to be more careful she might as well lock herself in her room and wrap herself in a thick layer of blankets. "When are you leaving?"
"As soon as possible." He released her reluctantly.
"How long will you be gone?"
"I don't know. I can't predict how it goes. We'll have to be back today."
She nodded. "You better be. Otherwise I will come for you."
That should urge him to return sooner rather than later.
The Witcher laughed softly. "I know you will. Are you sure you're all right? Anything happened while I was gone?"
"I'm fine. I'd be better if everyone stopped asking me if I am alright," she teased softly, nudging his shoulder.
"I'll stop when I'm dead. Before that, you're the most important part of my life. I'll always care if you're all right."
"But the more people ask, the more I am forced to drudge up everything that is not alright," she reasoned. "Let us keep it to once a day, hm? Keep me sane?"
He gave her a cunning smile. "I'll consider your request."
He gave Kelpie's muzzle a stroke and headed for the inn.
She watched him go, then settled down on the stable floor with her back to Kelpie's door, her eyes closed and her focus entirely on the healing magic Kain had taught her.
Yennefer woke up alone. She wasn't worried. She took her time getting up, making use of the bath that she'd emptied and filled herself, applying her make-up, redoing her hair and pulling on her attire from the day before. There wasn't a smudge on it and what she did happen to spot she used a little magic to clear away.
When she was satisfied with her appearance she headed downstairs to grab some breakfast.
"We're talking about killing kings, Geralt. Do you have any idea what will happen afterwards?" Dandelion's eyes were widening the more scary thoughts came to his mind. "Panic and slaughter. What will they do about that?"
"There's not much to do until the troops accept the loss of their leader and stop." Geralt shrugged and drank the ale Dandelion poured them. "What is with the dimeritium?"
"Half or so is done," Dandelion said. "Zoltan had to catch some shuteye. Said he'll be done soon."
Geralt nodded. "All right. Ciri said Yennefer is still sleeping. When she wakes, ask her to keep this place protected until it all settles."
Dandelion gave an acidic simper. "I wouldn't talk to her or even near her after last night. Nor would I recommend it to anyone."
"What happened?"
The poet considered him. "You haven't seen her, I take it. But be certain she saw you. And now she turns into a hissing feral cat when anyone reminds her of you."
"Mm. Wonderful." Geralt sighed and drank his ale.
Yennefer spotted Geralt and Dandelion huddled together in conversation, their faces solemn and thoughtful. It hadn't even occurred to her to run in the opposite direction or to give them a wide berth.
"Where's your golden-haired troubadour?" Yennefer asked. Usually Priscilla was pottering around the kitchen, tossing together some kind of meal for everyone.
"Nursing a headache from last night," Dandelion retorted.
"And breakfast?"
Dandelion gestured to the pantry. Yennefer's sighed with light resignation and went to tend to the making of her breakfast, doing a quick scan of what they had.
"See what I mean?" Dandelion gestured after Yennefer when she disappeared. "She's about to breathe fire like a dragon. How bad was it, Geralt? Or, better put, how good was it last night?"
Kain restrained a smile; the Witcher gave the troubadour an ironic look.
"It's Passiflora, Dandelion. How good could it have been?"
Dandelion rubbed the bridge of his nose and drank his ale. "I don't know what you'll do, Geralt, but fix it so she doesn't turn anyone into a toad. I won't make a good toad, Geralt. I don't want to have to make do."
Yennefer threw herself together an omelet with all the trimmings, making it for herself as she'd always done and as if she were at home.
When Yennefer was done she added toast into the mix and carried it out into the main dining area along with some tea so she could sit in quiet.
She needed something in her stomach before she tackled anything today.
The troubadour grew silent and morose when Yennefer returned. They all followed her with their gazes until she settled at the table.
Geralt finished his ale and looked at Kain.
"We better hurry," the latter said quietly.
"If you're scared to talk to mages, stay around Ciri," Geralt said, peering at the poet. "Watch over each other."
A fright reflected on Dandelion's face. "What do you expect his troops will do?"
"At least for a while, they will be fighting. It depends on Dijkstra and Roche - on their men."
"Normal citizens don't expect anything like that to happen," Kain put in. "No one will be ready; there are crowds everywhere. And no one will warn them to hide."
"Gods," Dandelion winced.
"A word, Witchers." Philippa observed them from the stairs and began to ascend. No one had noticed her coming down there.
"There we go," Geralt sighed, getting up. He headed for the stairs with Kain in tow.
Yennefer's eyes narrowed in Philippa's direction when she summoned The witchers and saw them go.
They hadn't cared to fill her in. Didn't matter. If it was of importance they'd be having their group gathering. Dandelion, however, had shifted from behind the counter to move toward the table in front of her.
He usually only approached her if he really needed to.
Yennefer lowered her gaze to her plate, to the eggs she was scooping onto the corner of her dry toast and smoothed with her fork.
"How's your eggs?"
Yennefer locked up, spearing the troubadour with a blank look.
"Better for me making it. Your lady doesn't know how to use spices."
"She isn't a herbalist," he excused with a pinch of antipathy.
"Probably for the best."
Dandelion leaned forward, choosing to overlook the insult.
"You're ignoring Geralt."
"Aren't you observant," Yennefer added dispassionately.
"We'll be going into battle, don't you think that you should talk about it?"
Yennefer cut off the square of toast and egg and shoved it into her mouth, chewing around it, purely remaining silent as she stared at him.
"Fine—but your attitude isn't helping."
Yennefer snorted softly. Dandelion stood and headed back over to the counter.
"What is it you wish to talk about?" the Witcher asked folding his arms.
"Don't ask questions you know the answers to, Geralt," Philippa smirked. "It makes you look stupid."
She was alone in the room, and Geralt wondered where Triss and Margarita might have gone.
"What do you want?"
Philippa chortled to herself and went to sit at the desk. "It might come as a shock, given you insist on being slow, but I intend to help, whether you like it or not. I cannot afford you fucking it up."
"What can we fuck up, exactly?"
"Oh, please!" she scoffed. "You don't want to annoy me, I assure you. Stop trying. Whatever you tell Radovid, he won't believe you and will kill you right there. Your pretty brother can sink his ship and men, but that will start a whole new war and hell, and you," she looked to Kain, "as a druid won't like it."
"Have you been eavesdropping?" Geralt gauged her. "I saw no owl, nor any whore of your shapes. How?"
"Water," Kain said quietly.
Philippa's head snapped to him, her lips curved subtly. "I see where the wits went in your family, boys. True. Dijkstra is a grand mind, but when it comes to magic, he never learned."
"So, how can you help?" Geralt interrupted. "Let me drag you through the streets in chains?"
"Don't be silly. I can add weight to your demand." She held out a hand to him, her fingers opened revealing a ring with a huge ruby. "This belonged to his father. He might believe you speak the truth if you show this to him."
The Witcher took the ring and turned it in his fingers pensively. "What's the catch?"
"No catch," she folded her arms. "No more than my investment into the cause. I want him dead that badly."
"Mm," said Geralt, his expression doubtful.
"You may go," she said. "Don't ruin this. Good luck - you'll need it."
The men turned and left her suite, Geralt pocketed the ring as he went.
Before the witchers made it for the first floor, Triss caught up to them on the second.
"Don't worry about anything," she whispered, squeezing Geralt's forearm. "We'll protect this place. Look after yourselves. Be careful."
"We shall," Geralt smiled and pecked her cheek before they went downstairs and Triss headed for the Ruby suite.
It took her quite some time but when Ciri got back on her feet, her throat was all but healed. Satisfied with the results, she headed back into the inn, dreading it. Sitting and waiting had never been her strong suits. Ciri much preferred being in the midst of battle. It felt unnatural to take on the role women usually had in this world – huddled together in fear and wondering if their loved ones would come home.
She found Yennefer at one of the tables and sat down next to her, idly toying with her bracelet as she watched Dandelion go about his work while shooting the occasional glance in the sorceress' direction. What had happened there?
"Have you eaten anything?"
"Not today," Ciri said, tearing her eyes off Dandelion to meet Yennefer's gaze. "Not got much of an appetite, to be honest."
"You should keep your strength up."
Just because The Hunt had given them five days, didn't mean they wouldn't cut short on their time and just show up to do damage.
Yennefer smoothed some more of the omelet onto the second piece of toast, cut it in half and offered Ciri the little bit.
"Thank you," Ciri said, appreciating the gesture even if her stomach was protesting. She took a small bite to satisfy the sorceress' concern. "What are we to do with ourselves while the men are off?"
"Off where?"
"To kill Radovid," Ciri said casually. "That's what they have to do in order for Dijkstra's help."
When the witchers returned to the first floor, Ciri and Yennefer were sitting together as if confiding secrets. Dandelion was finishing something with his books at the bar counter. He shot a look between them over the counter surface.
Yennefer glanced within Dandelion's direction, and then at the stairs when the two witchers appeared again as they headed for the counter. Toe to toe.
Yennefer sighed.
"And this isn't a group scheme, because?"
Ciri shrugged. "Guessing Dijkstra doesn't want us involved. It's the witchers he wants."
"Try to stay indoors, all together," Geralt said, glancing between the women and Dandelion. "You're safer here."
The witchers headed for the door.
Yennefer wondered why that was. He'd never been shy of the sorceresses before, even if he was weary of Philippa.
Before she could ask 'what about them' the two were already headed for the door with a determined stride.
"I suppose we stay here and knit."
Ciri couldn't help a slight sarcastic smile, but when she turned towards the two witchers her expression was genuine. "Be safe. Or I will come fetch you."
"We'll be fine," Geralt smiled over his shoulder, and stepped out the door with Kain following.
Yennefer stared at the closed door considerately once they'd left.
"We should follow them. Provide help where they need it."
"Most certainly not," Dandelion interjected, shuffling from behind the counter as if he expected Yennefer to jump to her feet and give chase.
"You're to stay here. Both of you."
Yennefer speared him with an apathetic look.
"We need you here in case of an attack."
"And Triss, Philippa, Margarita?"
Dandelion scoffed. "I only trust one of those women."
Yennefer shrugged.
"I promised Geralt I would stay. So I shall," Ciri said, though she wasn't happy about it. "We should ward the inn, just in case." She looked at Yennefer expectantly. "Teach me how?"
Yennefer probably would go if they didn't come back in time but she hadn't bothered to announce that.
She picked up what remained of the other half of the omelet and stood.
"Come. We'll use charms to do so."
"What kind of charms?" Ciri asked, her attention immediately drawn to the task at hand.
"Black Tourmaline. It'll block negative intention and any psychic attacks should Radovid get any idea to use of his prisoners against us."
Yennefer led Ciri upstairs to Geralt's room, moving to her haunches beside her magic-chest, reaching inside for the two stones she knew were safely tucked away. Yennefer kept a strictly up to date with everything she had and would need – never leaving much to chance. Along with it she removed an added rope they could weave to fit around them in order to make pockets for them.
Yennefer showed her how to do the one and let Ciri do the second.
Ciri took a seat on the floor next to the chest, busying herself with the crystal and thread Yennefer had tasked her with. "Do we have to enchant them?"
Yennefer nodded. "With a simple incantation. Are you able to use your magic for such tasks? Have you tried?"
"I haven't tried an incantation for a while," Ciri admitted, holding up the crystal for the sorceress' approval. "I've only been using my mind."
Yennefer inspected the thread, the way it hugged the stone, making sure that it matched her own and then held them side by side.
"You're more adapt at learning than you were when you were a child." Yennefer hadn't meant that as a slight, either, but as a praise. "Would you care to try?"
Yennefer held out one of the stones toward her.
"Well, it helps knowing Geralt has not sent me away," Ciri smirked, taking the crystal back. "What do I do?"
Yennefer returned her playful sentiment and then rose, letting her carry one of the stones as they moved toward the doors.
"We're going to tuck them somewhere around the doors. You need find a spot to conceal them, so that they won't be easily discovered at first glance."
Yennefer started on the back, on the second door that lead into the inn and was mostly used by the few staff and stable hands.
"Amddiffyn y rhai o dan y to hwn," Yennefer said, punctuating each word, keeping it clear so Ciri wouldn't have a hard time remembering it when it came to her turn.
The stone flashed brightly as if imbued with light and then disappearing, humming with energy you could only feel if you knew what you were looking for.
She dropped it into a basket filled with grain at the door, pushing it to the very bottom so even if it was searched or ended up spilt it wouldn't be quickly discovered.
"Now you. Front entrance."
Ciri watched her teacher carefully, trying to memorize the incantation used. When it was her turn, she strode into the front room and searched for a spot near the entrance where she could tuck the crystal. In the end, she settled on a crevice in the wall just above the doorjamb.
Holding the crystal in her hands, she cast an uncertain glance at Yennefer and invoked her magic, trying to imbue the charm with all the protection she could muster. "Amddiffyn y...rhai o dan y to...hwn."
With Yennefer's look of satisfaction, Ciri rose onto the tips of her toes and stuffed the crystal away from sight.
Yennefer brought her hands together and gently clapped. "You're so much stronger than you were before."
The sorceress wasn't usually the type to hand out praise, but she hadn't seen the girl in so long and given all that Ciri endured, and would bear, it didn't hurt.
"Soon we'll be able to form our own society."
Yennefer smiled, pivoted away from the entrance and headed to finish the remainder of her tea.
Ciri smiled, but it faded slightly as she watched Yennefer walk away. Their own society. Even with Yennefer at the helm, that scared her. She understood the need for sorceresses to join together. Strength in numbers. But Ciri wanted no part of it. It all smelled too similar to The Lodge.
She wiped her hands clean on the thighs of her leggings and cast a glance out the window. So far, it was quiet.
"We should've left the swords someplace to pick up later," Geralt mused while they strolled along the docks toward Radovid's ship. "They'll take the swords and hardly return them."
"Had we left them behind, it's obvious how we come prepared," Kain said. "Though I feel your pain."
"Mm. My sword and my horse."
Kain smiled. "If you think it's easy to take Roach from you, you're as naïve as Philippa accuses. She gave me hell back at the keep when we went to get the foglets. Your horse has no tolerance for any hints of your profession."
"None of them ever tolerated my profession," Geralt said with a small dreamy smile creasing his mouth.
"You should consider getting yourself a griffin sidekick."
"Mhm, why not a wyvern?"
"No loyalty."
Radovid kept an excessive amount of guards on the shore around the ship, but most of them were bored out of their skulls to stand for days and nights and do nothing. No people or mages were bold enough to venture any ill plot, and the Redanians trudged around the docks like forlorn ghosts armed with pikes and shields with the white eagle of Redania plastered on them.
"Witcher Geralt," the Chief of Royal Guard acknowledged lazily, his eyes flicked to Kain scanning from head to toe. "What brings ye with this… who's this?"
"It's my fellow witcher," Geralt said, casting a quick glance at his brother. "We bring news on Philippa Eilhart."
"The two of you?" the Chief looked disdainful. "In that case, surrender your weapons and follow me."
They did.
There was quite a number of guards on the deck, as well as Witch Hunters. All were staring at the newcomers like hungry jackals ready to snarl.
"Your Majesty, it's the Witcher… um… the witchers. About Philippa Eilhart."
Radovid sat on a tall chair adorned with red velvet, looking both bored and disgusted as if constantly smelling something foul. He squinted at the witchers, looking from one to another as if they had already failed him.
"I hope you brought something better than empty promises and sheer nothing, Witcher," Radovid said. "Who's that? Your extra tongue in case you forget what to say?"
"No, sire," Geralt said. "Since your task you've entrusted me with was Philippa, I decided to play it safer and wiser and accepted my friend's help. Together we managed more than I could do alone following her ever changing and entangled trails."
"And what is it you've learned?" Radovid drawled, rubbing his forehead as though the sole sight of Geralt gave him a migraine.
"I know where she is. Her hideout is right under your nose, sire. She prudently considers it to be the safest, for no sane man could think she would be so reckless having already lost so much by your hand."
The King considered it carefully, studying Geralt and Kain, stroking his chin. "And where would that hideout be?"
"There's a house on the bridge that leads to Temple Isle. The very last door on the end of it. She hides there, and no one bothers her."
"Why wouldn't you bring her here how I ordered you to do?"
"But, sire, it's one of the most powerful sorceresses, and I'm just a witcher. Even the two of us can merely track her down without engaging a fight to destroy a whole part of the city. Plus, we do have some magic in us, which makes it easier to get alerted to our closeness. We managed to steal this ring to provide you the proof – to not insult your intelligence by demanding you trust our word." Geralt produced the ring and handed it to Radovid.
The King studied it a moment, turning it in his fingers. "It's my father's ring," he said pensively. "Philippa used it to stamp her decrees and then distributed them as the word of the king." He looked up at the Witcher, squinting with a small, unpleasant smile creeping onto his mouth. "Do you fear her to dare attack? And instead you crept into her hole to snatch a trinket like you were a rat."
"No," said Geralt, frowning as if insulted. "But I do believe you wish to kill her yourself. I didn't want to spook your prey, merely found the location."
"And you need a second one, why?"
"Back up is never a bad idea when dealing with mages, sire."
"It took much less time to follow all the leads and puzzle them together," added Kain.
Radovid was still sneering lopsidedly, toying with the ring. "I see. Very well, but you're coming with me. Hubrecht!"
"Yes, Sire!" responded one of the Hunters.
"Gather the men. We're going witch-hunting."
"How many, Sire?"
Radovid got up from his chair and smiled like a shark. "All of them."
Yennefer and Ciri sat in silence after they'd put the wards in place, drinking mead, contented to just be in one another's company.
"It's taken long enough but I can finally see the family resemblance," Dandelion pointed out, shifting to the opposite side of the table to join them. "You're brooding."
Yennefer didn't bother trying to deny it.
"You're not going to even glare at me?" he asked, his features that of amazement.
Yennefer shrugged and downed the remainder of her drink.
"This is pitiful," he emphasized, getting up, moving toward the counter to refill the mead and to bring another for himself.
"What do you usually do when your loved ones are in potential danger?" Ciri asked the bard, following his progress to and from the bar with her shrewd gaze. "Dance on the table?"
"You would prefer me to panic and cry cowering in the corner?" Dandelion looked at Ciri with ironic inquiry. "Who would that help and would it at all?"
"Well, it might be entertaining," Ciri shrugged and hid a smile as she drank from her mead.
Yennefer's fingers tapped the side of her mug, listening to the two converse, her lips twitching into a semblance of a smile.
Triss and Margarita descended the stairs and approached the table.
"Are we disturbing?" Triss asked, looking directly at Yennefer. They hadn't spoken privately since she'd heard Geralt spent the night in Triss's room.
Yennefer made no gesture for Triss to sit, but she did anyway, Margarita slipping onto the bench directly in front of Ciri. Both women smiled at Dandelion who clambered to his feet and went to get them each something to drink, insisting that since the crowd had grown and there was little much else to do that he should serenade them with his latest work in progress.
The lyrics had to do with the white wolf obtaining a blood brother, of spells gone wrong and memories lost yet again along with love.
Triss and Yennefer's gaze locked and acknowledgement dawned on the redhead's face. He hadn't told her as Yennefer suspected he would or might have.
"Enough of your prattling," Yennefer stated, directing a hand gesture at the troubadours lute. The instrument soared from his hands in an arc, and he dove for it, catching it before it could land on the floor and rise in a dust of splinters. Yennefer was almost impressed by the speed he displayed. He glared at her, his mouth open with indignation.
"Hurt me," he snapped. "But don't hurt my lute!"
The atmosphere became noticeably more tense once the two sorceresses joined them, and Dandelion did not help. Ciri had never truly witnessed Yennefer and Triss argue, but she knew enough to be aware of the bad blood between them. Even if the redhead seemed eager to pretend otherwise.
Ciri couldn't understand how Triss was able to pretend to be Yennefer's friend while attempting to seduce Geralt behind her back whenever she got the chance. It did not make any sense to her and she wondered if the two had always been rivals of some sort.
Margarita was staring at the front door with a mild smile, then eventually looked at Ciri. "Your work?" she asked kindly, gesturing in the direction where Ciri had hidden her protection charm earlier.
For some reason, Ciri felt abashed. But she nodded. "Yennefer taught me."
"Very impressive," Margarita said, her curls bouncing around her head. She looked much better now than she had when she first arrived. Like she'd been healing. Just as Triss had been.
"Thank you," Ciri responded politely, unable to help glancing at Yennefer to gauge her reaction as well.
Yennefer averted her gaze to examine Margarita. All magic had a signature but for her to recognize it so quickly was troublesome.
"You're practicing more?" Triss asked, tearing her gaze away from Yennefer, looking more jovial as she focused on Ciri.
Ciri nodded. "A little bit. When I'm able."
Triss beamed. "That's wonderful. Do you like it?"
"I always enjoyed it. I just haven't had much of a chance to experiment. Not with The Hunt tracking my signals."
"And you can now?" Margarita asked. "How's that?"
Yennefer sat back on her chair. Dandelion had drifted off to the side to make sure that his lute hadn't been knocked out of tune.
"They already know I'm here," Ciri said, shrugging. "It gives me another day or two to practice."
Triss looked forlorn but Margarita looked hopeful.
"If you were with us," Margarita began gently, tentatively, testing the waters, "we could find another way to help with that."
Yennefer stared. "That's why you're here."
"Considering how well it went the first time," Triss interjected. "Not to say that we're hoping for the worst outcome, but if for whatever reasons we aren't able to stop them in the next few days, she should be given the best opportunity to survive."
"And that's with you?" Yennefer asked sarcastically.
Triss pondered it a moment and then nodded.
"I appreciate the offer," Ciri said, though even if Philippa was not present, she couldn't help but think the sorceresses had ulterior motives. They always did. "But my place is with Geralt and Yennefer. If you wish to remain with us should we be on the losing side of this battle again, that will also be appreciated. But I am not leaving my family."
"No one's asking you to," Triss inclined, taking over for Margarita. "But it may have to be something you have to think about. What if we don't defeat The Hunt?"
"We will," Yennefer added with a tone that was akin to a growl.
Margarita hardly responded and Triss remained unconcerned.
"Have you considered that? What you'll do?"
"She doesn't need your pessimism," Yennefer interjected
Triss opened her mouth to further argue.
"She needs to think of the future," Margarita offered helpfully.
"Those were your terms before," Ciri pointed out. Not Triss' personal terms, of course. But the Lodge's. "No more Geralt. What has changed?"
She chose to ignore the other topics, for now.
"Everything," Triss added.
"We've lost in numbers," Margarita mused thoughtfully. "We no longer have any room to make demands or negotiate inhumane terms."
Yennefer snorted. The only reason either was saying that is because they'd managed to convince Philippa to leave the negotiation to them. That would change. How else would they keep her influence?
"It was never inhumane," Triss argued, glancing at the woman beside her. "It was strategic."
"You tried to make me your whore!" Ciri leaned forward and fixed both women with an incredulous look. "You were going to send me to some princeling to be his mistress, to give him children, in order to give you a way into his court. To influence his mind. You did not ask whether this was something I wanted. It was something you expected. Something you demanded. Pardon me if I find that very hard to let go of."
"It would be a shame for power like that to go to waste, Ciri," Triss stated absolutely and with little apology. "Mating with someone of similar breeding, with your power and his influence. You'd have been an unstoppable force."
"I don't want to be an unstoppable force! I just want to be left alone to live my life the way I want to. You have all beaten the desire to have anything to do with royalty and political organizations right out of me." Ciri emptied her mug and stood, striding over to the bar to help herself to a refill.
Yennefer didn't like where the conversation had gone but there was little she could do to stop it, knowing that this battle Ciri needed to fight alone.
Triss and Margarita communicated in silence and then the redhead stood, trailing behind Ciri, her innocent puppy expression in place.
"I understand," Triss stated. "You're young, it's hard to see the bigger picture and Kain is blinding you. There will come a time when things like seeking love will be secondary to that of preventing a war or ensuring peace."
Ciri whirled on the redhead, her eyes blazing. "You need to stop talking now, Triss. Enough."
It was so strange to fight like this with someone she cared about. Someone she had cared about as a child. Why couldn't Triss see Ciri's point of view the same way Yennefer and Geralt did? If she truly loved her, as she claimed to do, shouldn't she?
"When do you suppose we should talk about it? How long can you keep running, Ciri, before it becomes too much?"
Ciri moved very close to the sorceress, meeting her gaze head-on, only inches separating their faces. "We have talked. You just refuse to listen. Because my answer is not the one you want."
Triss narrowed her eyes. "Remember Kaer Morhen, Ciri? Remember that talk about neutrality we had with the witchers? Do you remember how you thought about it back then? How you agreed that when one can do something good for the realm, one has to act and not cower beneath a neutrality banner while watching the lands burn and people die?"
"I never said I was neutral. I said I want nothing to do with your Lodge, nor the Emperor you now all want me to return to. I am done letting people use me for their own gain."
"What about the world, Ciri? You want to bury your gifts in your own selfish gains and do nothing for the people that perhaps that gift was given you for? Perhaps you were meant to be the savior of people - those people who fight for their freedom and peace when there is nothing to hold on to and hope for the best? You could bring peace. Would you not want to?"
"Or perhaps I was meant to be their destroyer. The prophecies can never quite get that clear, can they?" Ciri sneered. "I will help this world and the people in it. But not by being anyone's puppet. I will find my own way. Think me selfish if you wish. I don't care. I did not ask for this curse."
"No one ever asks for any curses or powers that come beyond what people can learn," Triss said. "Gifts are never meant for just one person, and your power is not a curse. It might seem like that to you, but only because you haven't used it enough to help those in need of freedom, health and a peaceful home for their children. You would be viewing it in a quite different light then."
"You speak as though the only chance to do good for this world is by joining The Lodge. You are wrong. There isn't even a Lodge left to join! I will find my own way. My own way to help people. Now I am done with this conversation. Respect that."
"I wasn't talking about the Lodge," Triss said.
"There are other ways," Margarita put in gently. "Those that are open solely to you - the place where you could change a lot for many people. Your legacy. Let Emhyr denounce his reign and take over after him. That is how you can save all of us and all of those you wish to save. This is how you stop running and take your power in all senses of the word."
Ciri brought her hands to her face in frustration. "Emhyr is not stepping down as Emperor. He merely wishes to use me to placate the people he has thoroughly wounded and angered. You are both fools if you think he has any intention of giving up his power."
"You are your grandmother's girl, Ciri, a queen she wanted to make out of you," Triss said. "You can take that power, and no one will stop you. He has no power over you or your decisions. If it were Calanthe with your gift, she would be the sole ruler. Not many might have liked her reign, but no one would ever dare step near Cintra with weapons bared.
"And you, my dear Ciri, you are wonderful. You underestimate yourself greatly, but you could be the best ruler this world has known for ages. Under your hand, the races would finally come together as allies, the peace could come for all. Finally. Do you believe this world hasn't bled enough?"
"I believe blood does not make me qualified to rule," Ciri said as calmly as she could muster, but she was still seething. "And certainly not qualified to make decisions on behalf of other people. You think peace and blissful harmony will come that easy? There will always be bloodshed. Always be cruel and ignorant and power-hungry people who will destroy everything in their way. I cannot change that. And it is unfair of you to put that responsibility on me. I am no one's savior. You've got the wrong girl."
Her refilled mug left untouched, Ciri brushed past Triss and up the stairs, her hands trembling and blood pounding in her ears.