After watching Geralt leave Yennefer felt exhausted, lonely (more alone than she ever had since she and Geralt found one another) and helpless. She hadn't felt that way since she was a child dealing with her detestable parents and those toad-like people in her township. She'd been beneath them then, barely human, and now—for the first time in what felt like ages—that's all she felt.
Human.
Too human.
Life had been easier when she didn't care, yearn or long for someone's touch or love.
He didn't outright say he didn't have time to be with her, or that he didn't care for it anymore to make an effort to deal with their situation, but her mind kept torturing her with grim thoughts of how it meant he'd die without fully knowing her again – knowing what their life felt like in full bloom.
She could still feel his mouth on her and his hands on her body. She could even imagine that it was done out of love and familiarity.
It wasn't, was it?
Yennefer stared at her face, her lips drawn down with displeasure, a grimace on her features as she sat down at the dresser and proceeded to reapply her make-up. She ran a brush through her hair, made sure that her curls were perfectly shaped and with spring and then slowly got to her feet, heading to speak to the sorceresses.
She knocked once and entered their room before anyone could beckon her from the other side. Philippa was in bed, propped by a dozen pillows, Margarita on its other side flipping through a book. One had sensed Yennefer's immediate presence and hadn't bothered to look up, the other politely welcomed her inside, going so far to close her book, setting it down on the bedside table.
"What is it we can do for you, Lady Yennefer of Vengerberg?" Philippa asked.
"Geralt and the rest of the team are heading back to Oxenfurt to help with the repairs. They'd like you to join them."
"No," Philippa retorted. "We've spent enough time aiding and lending you our resources."
"It wasn't a request," Yennefer snapped.
Philippa looked up then, the bandage she'd been wearing when she first appeared no longer present, just a stare that was as sharp and as restless as two knives.
"Your job's not done," Yennefer clarified.
"Of course it is," Philippa stated. "We said we'd help with The Wild Hunt, and that's precisely what we did. The fact that they weren't defeated changes nothing, but the terms."
Margarita's gaze danced between the two.
"They're stronger than we anticipated," she presented as an excuse. Philippa's gaze snapped to her, lips thinned into an unmoving line of displeasure.
"We can still defeat them," Yennefer entreated, keeping her tone from sounding as though she was trying to beg. She'd never done that in their company (or anyone's) and never would.
"You sound sure," Philippa added. "Too certain. Do you know something we don't?"
She swung her legs off the covers and stood, sauntering toward Yennefer, her head canting to scan her from head to toe as if trying to peer through her layers.
"No, I don't."
"Is this your method of an encouraging talk then?" Philippa asked.
"Something like that," Yennefer supplied.
"It's wretched."
Margarita also got to her feet, coming to stand beside the two women.
"Philippa's correct. It's not your speech, it's The Wild Hunt. Now that Radovid has been taken care of, I need to get back out there, search for any students that may have escaped his pyres and the Witch Hunters, and make sure they stay safe."
"You can still do that," Yennefer added.
"Not if I'm dead," Margarita mused.
"You promised Ciri you'd help."
Philippa stepped in front of her, smiling like a shark.
"She did. We both did. In fact, I think we've more than fairly repaid what we owe Geralt," Philippa stated.
Yennefer wanted badly to fill them with a lightening, char them inside out and be done with them out of mere frustration. It had been hard enough finding them the first time, negotiating some kind of longstanding agreement, but now they were trying to change it up again and bail?
"Far from it. If it wasn't for Geralt, or Ciri, you'd have been tied to a stake and burned—" This Yennefer pointedly directed at Margarita (the more understanding of the two), and then at Philippa. "And you'd still be blind."
"Temporarily," Philippa elaborated snidely, making it clear that in no circumstance did she actually need Geralt or anyone else to help her achieve her revenge. "Our debts have been paid."
Yennefer growled softly, whirling away from the two, intending to storm out so that she could go in search of someone else to talk sense into them. Triss, perhaps.
"Don't think us unreasonable, Yennefer. We may just be up for negotiation," Philippa said so softly that Yennefer had to pause at the door and fix them with a look, to be sure that she'd even heard her correctly. From her tone, Yennefer knew they were already revisiting an old debate that just would not stop rearing its ugly head.
"Which one are you pressing for this time? Ciri or Kain?"
Philippa shrugged innocently. "Both."
Yennefer stared. So, they'd picked up on the fact that Ciri liked Kain, and were going to use it against her to try and make them have the offspring they wanted?
Yennefer sighed and shook her head, whirling on her heels once more, stepping out of the room, slamming the door behind her for effect, recalling a portal in another instant to carry her toward Oxenfurt.
They left the horses at the hitchrail and went on foot, heading for the Novigrad gate to get out of the city. Both witchers were light on their feet, their pace swift, their breath controlled habitually.
It was dark, and the sky was peppered with stars, a waning moon hung among them spilling pale light over the land. The village across the bridge was quiet, and though some lit windows betrayed the still awake inhabitants, no one was seen outside. Not even any dogs barked when Geralt and Kain passed along the path and turned left, walking along the river bank.
"We should check on the herbalist tomorrow morning," Geralt said. "He must be trying to sleep now. Wouldn't be right to bother him."
"Probably not. Though I would check around his hut to make sure."
They did. And found no traces of elves or their hounds. There was a crackle of fire inside, Geralt heard, be it a stove or a fireplace, but barely any other sounds. There were no bodies around the property, either.
They stalked around the hut once more, then heard a faint snoring from the inside and retreated on quiet feet.
"That time when you found them here," Geralt said when they walked along the shore and past the hill the halfling lived on, "what made you come to this place?"
Kain shrugged. "I was merely doing a recon. I can't sense them like a bloodhound, not until they are near."
"Were they deserters? Escaped from the city?"
The Cat Witcher thought about it. "I don't think any of those who fought on the market square deserted," he said eventually. "Seems like those were outside all along. As backup, more likely."
"Wasn't much of a backup for an army."
"It was nothing like what we had at Kaer Morhen. There were fewer Riders here, and they must have had some plan. But I fail to see it."
"That makes a lot of us." Geralt scowled, keeping a watchful eye around while he contemplated. "Avallac'h was with you when I came."
"He must've followed me. Helped me with a spell or two - same as the one he was using in battle." Geralt peered at him with a mute hunch of suspicion, and Kain simpered, "A stunning-spell. He killed none of them, Geralt. In his own words, he considers them Eredin's accessories who didn't know any better and don't deserve to die for it."
"He told you that?"
Kain nodded.
Geralt mulled it over grimly. "You're telling me that while those Riders were killing people, Avallac'h was sparing them."
"They got stunned and eventually killed by someone's hand."
"But not by his."
"No."
Geralt cursed under his breath. "Who's to guarantee he won't spare his Golden Child when it comes to our final battle. Or any next one."
"His what?"
"What I meant to tell you," Geralt said and shared what Ciri revealed about Caranthir's connection to the Sage. Kain listened attentively, finding himself not surprised.
"Perhaps he's been Avallac'h's backup plan all along," he mused. "It would make sense."
"What do you mean?"
"He merely waits for us to develop a closer bond to use it to his people's advantage. And if that fails, he can always manipulate Ciri into a trade - say, buy my life or yours or Yennefer's for her compliance to get her to go with him to his world where he can breed her with that mage."
Geralt's face hardened in cold rage. "Not going to happen."
"You see, though, why she and I better not be together," Kain said. "I don't want her to feel too much and fall a prey to those feelings."
Geralt had a hard time battling anger in response to what he had learned, but his features softened somewhat when he took a gander at his brother. "What about your feelings? Are you certain of them?"
"I'm not certain of anything, Geralt. There is simply no time for digging around in one's feelings."
"I understand your sentiment, but also know that one's feelings hate to listen to reason."
"My feelings are well trained."
Geralt smirked to himself at the familiarity of the idea.
"What else did you want to discuss?" Kain asked. "Away from Ciri?"
Geralt nodded and told him about Dijkstra and his hints.
Kain understood the graveness of the situation. "It would be a disaster if the Hunt began to kill people all over the land in her name. Ciri would become an outcast for the whole world."
"It would be a solid plan worthy of Eredin's campaign, wouldn't it?" Geralt remarked with a bitter knowing smile.
"Of course! Maybe it's exactly where they're aiming. To drive her out for certain. As good as smoking out nekkers from their nests. A sure prize."
"How do we prevent it?" Geralt asked. "The only way is ending Eredin. Before we do, his campaign shall continue."
"That means we have to find a way to draw him out to where we want him and not the other way around."
Geralt scratched his head, heaving a sigh. "Easier said than done."
They returned after two hours of absence and booked a room at The Alchemy before checking how things were at the clinic.
Things there were versatile, depending on the wounds. Shani looked tired, darker shadows resting beneath her eyes, but it didn't kill her enthusiasm at the sight of the two witchers.
"I hope you found no new threats," she said, wiping her hands on a rag. "We have barely contained the crisis, we cannot have another one."
"Doesn't seem like you'll have it," Geralt said. "There are no signs of any enemy's reinforcements."
"Ah, good news," she smiled, and waved a hand behind her. "Ciri's been doing very good aiding us. But even if healed, I hope you advise her to catch some sleep. You all need it. Do you need any rooms? We have some guest quarters at the Academy."
"No, thank you, we have taken care of it."
"Ciri does need a room to sleep in," Kain ventured. "If you can..."
"Of course I will," Shani assured. "Would you like dinner?"
They exchanged glances and shook their heads.
"We'll opt for breakfast upon waking," Geralt said. "Thank you. Have you seen Dandelion?"
"I believe he's gone back to the Academy. He's been here earlier, talking to Ciri."
"I see," Geralt murmured, seeking Ciri out among the medics.
Ciri looked up from her work of redressing the wound of an injured elderly man, eyeing Geralt curiously. "Hey. All good on your patrol?"
"Seems that way so far," he said. "Have the remaining sorceresses arrived yet?"
"Haven't seen them." She stood, disposing of the old bandages in a wastebasket. "Stop by Dandelion before you retire for the night. I think he misses you."
"It will take time searching for him," Geralt said. "I'll see him tomorrow. You need rest, too. Don't forget about it."
"I won't. I'll sleep when it's time," she promised with a reassuring smile, drying her hands on a clean rag.
The Witcher smiled, then wished Shani a good night and went out after Kain. They headed back to The Alchemy, both craving a bit of rest.
"I am going to get some shuteye. You should join me in that," Shani said when yet another hour had passed. "My medical students are coming in to help for the night. We take it in shifts."
"Oh," Ciri looked around uncertainly, bloodied washbasin in her hands.
Shani took pity on her, retrieved the basin and handed it off to one of her passing students. "We have a room available for you upstairs."
"Are you certain you don't need it for the patients? I don't want to take away from them."
Shani smiled. "I would not have offered it to you if I wasn't sure. Come on, I'll show you the way."
After another moment of hesitation, Ciri resigned and followed the young medic upstairs to try and get some sleep.
Ciri had not slept much, her mind too preoccupied for that. She'd run out of potions to secure her dreams from Eredin and if he was still isolated on that island, she could only imagine how angry and vengeful he would be.
She got out of bed in the early morning and headed downstairs to the clinic to see what she could do to help the medical students taking care of the wounded.
After Yennefer arrived to Oxenfurt, she went in search of her family, finding them to be all over the place, until in due course they disappeared to get some rest.
She wasn't tired, doubting she could even sleep if she wanted, so instead, until early into the morning, stayed up to help repair the damaged buildings. Yennefer even put extra pressure on herself to make up for where she'd failed in recruiting Philippa and Margarita to join them again.
"Do you need something to drink?" a woman with a nest of red hair asked. Yennefer had heard around that she was named Shani. Shani had recognized the mage, too, from the battle and Dandelion's stories.
"No," Yennefer added.
She didn't smile at the woman. Not because she didn't like her, but because she was exhausted and concentrating on repairing the fixtures of a roof.
"You should eat," Shani suggested.
"As soon as I've finished with the herbalist store."
"This is my clinic," Shani added, sounding grateful, like she'd been worried she wouldn't see it in shape for a while. "I can't thank you enough for doing what you're doing."
Yennefer managed the smallest of smiles, redirecting her magic to a part of the wall that had been knocked out by the Wild Hunt soldiers or their dogs.
"It's the least I can do."
Shani stared at Yennefer a while longer in silence, rising slowly to go in search of her students and to leave the sorceresses with her thoughts.
"One of your sorceresses is outside," Shani informed Ciri just as the latter had finished serving breakfast to the last bed on her row.
"Which one?" Ciri asked, brushing her hair from her forehead.
"Dark-haired. Beautiful. If I remember Dandelion's ballads correctly, she is Yennefer of Vengerberg," Shani said, looking torn between intimidation and admiration. A lot of people felt that way about Yennefer.
"My favourite," Ciri smiled, removing the apron she'd donned while handing out food and stepping outside to find her mother. It didn't take long. Her magical signature was strong, indicating the sorceress was hard at work.
"Are you alone?" Ciri asked, looking up and down the street. "Where are Philippa and Margarita?"
Yennefer nodded gently, keeping her gaze fixed ahead so she wouldn't make a mistake while she messed with the structure.
"They're not coming. They feel they've repaid their debt."
Ciri frowned. "They didn't do anything."
"Not physically. They were on standby, and apparently that was enough."
Yennefer finished with the building, surveying her work a moment longer before turning to Ciri. "They only signed up for one war. Not a repeat."
"Horseshit!" Ciri cried. "We did not recruit them for this battle. The deal was they help us get rid of The Hunt. They have not delivered."
"You could try explaining that to them, but I doubt that they'll care to listen. Margarita wants to get back out there to help who or what might remain of her students, and Philippa doesn't care. She wants to renegotiate."
"Then we'll renegotiate. I'll make certain their pardons are null and void. See how they feel then."
"Might not be a bad idea to remind them of that," Yennefer mused. But it would also go a whole other way. "We don't want to make enemies of them again. At least not yet."
"They are already our enemies. We're all just pretending otherwise," Ciri murmured, kicking at a broken cobblestone.
"We know that and they know that. They could have decided not to help us at all and solely used Geralt's help to get themselves free. I'll ask Triss to talk to them."
Yennefer looked around as if she expected her to appear nearby.
"Where is she?"
"I haven't seen her today. She might be sleeping. It's still early." Ciri gestured towards the clinic. "Come on, I'll show you where she's spent most of her time."
Yennefer swiped her hands against her pants, falling into step beside Ciri, letting her lead her for the clinic. "Did you manage to rest?"
"A little. Though I felt guilty taking up a bed."
She opened the door and stepped inside. A few of the beds that had been occupied the night before were now cleared. Hopefully, they had recovered enough to go home.
"Shani?" Ciri caught the medic's attention while she checked on a woman's stitches. "Do you know where Triss is?"
"She and Fringilla are sharing a room upstairs. I expect they are still asleep. They've been such a big help," Shani said with a grateful smile. "Makes me wish I could always have a sorceress at hand to help manage my patients' pain."
"If you have the right kind of funds, I'm sure that you could," Yennefer supplied. She hadn't meant herself. There were many sorcerers that could be bought.
She glanced at Ciri, gesturing for her to head upstairs with her. Her face would come in handy trying to manipulate Triss into making sure that the Lodge stuck to their deal.
"Excuse us a moment," Yennefer said, grasping Ciri's shoulder gently, directing her toward the first-floor stairs.
"You're using me," Ciri pointed out, though she didn't deny the sorceress what she wanted. They climbed the stairs and knocked on two of the closed doors before they found the right room.
From the looks of it, Triss and Fringilla had only just woken and were getting themselves ready for the day.
"Ciri! Yennefer..." Triss exclaimed upon seeing them. "Is something wrong?"
"A lot's wrong," Yennefer stated. "Philippa is refusing to rejoin the fight. She feels she's done her job."
Triss rubbed her hands against her eyes, groaning softly as she tried to let go of the sudden exhaustion that had claimed her at the mention of Yennefer's difficulties with Philippa.
"However, she's willing to renegotiate."
Triss met Yennefer's eyes, sensing there was more to come.
"Guess what for?"
Triss's gaze bounced to Ciri.
"And Kain. It seems she wants to breed them like livestock."
Triss grimaced. Fringilla, on the other hand, appeared to be studying her nails.
"What do you want me to do about it?" Triss asked.
"I want you to talk sense into Philippa. Remind her that if it wasn't for Ciri she wouldn't have ongoing freedom and would've found herself in one of Emhyr's enclosures."
Fringilla appeared to flush at the prospect of going back there.
"I've to get something to eat," she interjected, heading for the door, deciding she wanted no part of this discussion, proving that in spite of Philippa's decision she'd be staying.
Yennefer didn't stop her.
Ciri blanched at the revelation Yennefer spoke, remaining silent until Fringilla left and there was room to interject.
"Did she say that? Did she actually say those words?" Ciri demanded.
"Philippa didn't have to. I know her."
Triss even had the audacity to look guilty, giving away her own part in the scenario.
"It was your idea, wasn't it?"
Triss's eyes widened slightly, surprised to have her thought aired out loud.
"I—I mentioned that the two of them were getting friendlier," Triss excused.
The betrayal hit Ciri in the chest like a fist. She watched Triss; that familiar face that had once brought her comfort. Now Ciri felt she did not know her at all.
"How could you?" she asked, fighting to hold back tears. "How could you do this to me?"
Triss immediately stepped toward Ciri, trying to embrace her, to soothe the hurt she'd caused and explain – only she didn't know how.
"Philippa would have found out herself."
Ciri broke away immediately, going so far as to push the sorceress back. "You just wanted to make it easier for her?"
She was seething and, like always in these situations, not handling it well. Her body quaked with unspent energy and rage. "Any of you lay a finger on him, on me, and I will destroy you."
Ciri turned and stormed out. This was not a good place to be at the moment.
Triss looked almost as broken as Ciri sounded. Routine Yennefer knew Triss fell into often – an evasion setting – one she often used on Geralt and Yennefer herself.
"Fix it," Yennefer demanded, leaving her 'friend' little time to think about it, staring her down in warning, her eyes blazing as she moved for the door to catch up to Ciri.
Ciri rushed down the stairs and manoeuvred her way between the beds downstairs, out the front door as quickly as she was able. Her blood was boiling and she could feel a flush of heat attack her cheeks and the back of her neck.
She was so tired of it all – not knowing who she could trust. First Avallac'h, now Triss. It hurt more than she liked to admit.
Yennefer had a hold of Ciri's energy, trailing it like a bloodhound, keeping a solid pace behind her to make sure she had space to vent.
Ciri walked without aim, no idea where she was going. She was not familiar with Oxenfurt and knew none of the streets or alleys she angrily navigated through. But it did not matter. All she knew was that she could not stop. If she did, something awful would happen. Something she'd regret later.
When she eventually made it down to the water's edge where a large merchant ship was docked, she paced the length of the harbour, her gaze set on the shore on the other side of the bay, searching for signs of movement. Drowners. Or a sea hag. She'd even take a kikimore if it came along right now. Anything she could stab her sword into to alleviate the hurt currently clasping her heart.
Despite all the magic Yennefer had already used, she didn't hesitate to conjure up one of the outlets Ciri was mentally craving. A drowner a short distance away.
It was a strange sight – a drowner emerging just as Ciri wished it would. As though she'd conjured it by her thoughts alone. That was a frightening notion. One she didn't have much time to ponder as the creature waddled closer, dragging mud and water onto the docks as it came for her.
Ciri pulled her sword and advanced. She didn't move to kill. Not at once. She wanted the fight to last, to feel her heart pound in her ears and experience that rush of adrenaline. So she dodged and rolled and avoided the beast as it clawed at the air around her, dancing and twirling while the drowner worked itself up into a frenzied hunger. It was a game. One she needed to expel the pain that was so intense it threatened to choke her.
Ciri hadn't noticed her in the background and Yennefer made no attempt to make it so, watching as she toyed with the conjured beast. Prepared to summon another as soon as she'd rid herself of it, intending to do it over and over until she could feel Ciri's anger begin to abate and that the girl'd had enough. Ciri had a lot she needed to work through, and if this was the way it was to be done, then Yennefer would aid her until she couldn't, anymore, or both of them were spent.
"You seem preoccupied," Geralt noted, fastening his sword belt.
Kain rubbed his face and put on his jerkin. "Had some jumbled dreams about that swamp... where the Crones lived. Where the remaining one lives."
Geralt frowned subtly. "Is that important?"
"She's still in cahoots with the Hunt," Kain reasoned. "She is the Weavess. I'm not certain of her ability to spy on us, but she has my blood, and she can plot. It's in her nature. Who knows whether her sisters' talents have passed to her after their demise."
"You implying she has been the one keeping the Hunt updated on our plans?" Geralt asked. "I thought she lost her power after she lost her sisters. Their magic was intertwined. If she got stronger or-"
"Perhaps she's not stronger but weaker," Kain mused. "Though in either case, she hasn't abandoned her wish for revenge."
"In that case, we have to finish what you and Ciri started," the Witcher concluded.
They finished their breakfast quickly and went for a patrol. People were back on the streets helping to get the market square to work again. Many students and professors from the Academy were working hard along with the citizens.
Ciri continued her dance, twirling and feinting as the drowner attempted to catch her with teeth and claws. It dawned on her how unusual it was for one of them to roam alone. They usually came in packs, these monsters. Were the others lingering nearby waiting for a prime opportunity to attack?
But no others came. Not while Ciri continued to toy with her current opponent.
She was starting to become bored until one of the drowner's claws slashed across her collarbone. She felt the heat of pain immediately and found herself to be smiling. Though blood did not well in abundance, it was enough to drive the drowner's hunger to a new height. He fought harder, wilder, and so she was forced to move faster to dodge his attacks.
When this, too, became dull, she countered the beast's attacks. Its head soon fell from its shoulders and rolled towards Ciri's feet, its face permanently frozen in a look of fury.
The moment it ended, so did the relief she had felt while fighting. Nothing but a temporary comfort.
As soon as the drowner's head hit the ground, momentarily displaying its last end, it vanished in a cloud of nothingness. It wasn't hard to read Ciri.
"I thought releasing your energy would help. You still seem wound up. What else can I do?"
Ciri turned to see Yennefer and sighed, sheathing her sword. She should have known. "Nothing. There's nothing to be done."
"I could conjure up something larger. Deadlier. Eredin?"
Yennefer could feel the magic taking its toll, but did it anyway, summoning up the figure in full regalia as she'd last seen him in their fight. She'd heard and seen enough of him to understand and replicate his mannerisms, although, they were sluggish.
"Philippa?"
Another figure beside him, almost hand in hand, each there for the taking and to help Ciri execute more of her frustrations.
Ciri's breath caught in her throat as the black-clad elf of her nightmares rose from the ground like a ghost. Just the image of him made her feel small and useless. Like a mouse.
She didn't even notice Philippa's form beside him.
"Make him go away," she demanded, and when Yennefer didn't comply quickly enough, screamed: "NOW!"
Illusions though they may have been, both Eredin and Philippa's eyes filled with blood, soon turning both beautiful faces into monstrous masks. Trickles of blood also erupted from their nostrils and ears.
Ciri did not know if she was responsible or if it was Yennefer's doing. All she could focus on was the sudden piercing ringing in her head that made her clench her eyes shut and grasp her temples.
Whatever Ciri had done had hit straight through the illusion, cutting Yennefer's magic off at the knees with a ringing so loud she could swear she was going deaf, producing blood from her ears and nose in much the same fashion it had on the figures she'd been opposing.
"STOP!" Yennefer hissed out, directing a rush of magic toward Ciri once she was able, not enough to hurt her, but to knock her off-kilter and hopefully distract her from another full-fledged meltdown.
Something hard and solid collided with Ciri's side and knocked her off her feet. The painful ringing instantly disappeared, which was a great relief to her mind, making the discomfort of being tipped over entirely worth it.
She breathed, pushing herself up from the cobblestones. Eredin's image was no longer there. Nor Philippa's. But Yennefer was still there and she looked like a nightmare.
"No," Ciri murmured, guilt and fear clenching her stomach like a vice as she hurried to the sorceress' side. "I didn't mean to... I'm sorry, I..."
Her voice fell away. As did her hands, scared to touch Yennefer and inflict further pain. Or what she truly feared – rejection.
The witchers went through the market square into the docks and that was where they found Yennefer and Ciri: the girl was facing the sorceress that looked like something big and angry ran her over.
They hurried up to them, jogging along the shore.
"What the hell is going on here?" Geralt demanded.
"Ciri," Yennefer began, refusing to remove her gaze from the girl as Geralt and Kain appeared. "We had an incident. It wasn't Ciri's fault."
It truly hadn't been. Yennefer took full responsibility for that. She also didn't want Ciri to run because of it.
"I was just stupid, I shouldn't have – I'm sorry."
Geralt regarded them intensely, scowling in worry as he studied Yennefer. "What exactly have you done? Are you injured? How bad?"
Ciri couldn't tell if Yennefer was still bleeding or if it had abated. Couldn't even tell if the sorceress was in pain. But Ciri was. She couldn't believe she'd hurt Yennefer.
"I lost control... I didn't mean to..." she whispered, her gaze dropping to her feet, completely ashamed and currently loathing herself for what she had sworn never to do.
Yennefer disregarded Geralt's questions, focusing solely on Ciri who was being uncharacteristically demure. She was the one in need of comfort right now – not him.
She crossed the small distance between them, purely attempting to touch a hand to Ciri's shoulder, hopeful that she could soothe over their escapade.
"I know you didn't, I didn't mean to set you off like that, either – that was my fault. All my fault."
Yennefer touched an index finger to Ciri's chin, making sure their eyes connected.
"Do you hear me?"
That was not how Ciri saw it, but she nodded nonetheless because it felt like what Yennefer wanted.
She was acutely aware of Geralt and Kain beside her and felt even smaller than before. Maybe they had been right in wanting her to stay behind at the inn? She silently prayed Avallac'h would never find out about this incident, lest he lock her away somewhere as punishment.
"I need some space," Ciri breathed, slowly backtracking to get away from the harbour.
Yennefer wanted to insist that she stay, that she not run away, but there was absolutely nothing she could say. She should have known better.
"Geralt, go after her," Yennefer stated in a low beseeching murmur, hardly tearing her eyes off Ciri as she started way.
Only to glance at the two as they silently communicated.
Geralt glanced after Ciri, conflicted, then caught Kain's eyes and nodded toward her subtly.
Kain understood but hesitated by the Witcher's side. "Do you need healing?" he asked Yennefer. "You look rundown."
"Go, it's all right," Geralt said quietly. "I'll deal with this. Ciri can't be alone now."
Kain obeyed and jogged away.
"What did you do to provoke her?" Geralt asked again, examining Yennefer, then picked her up and headed back through the arch into the city. "What happened between you two?"
"I'm fine," Yennefer said, although it was unnecessary, Kain was already heading after Ciri and Geralt had scooped her into his arms. "I was trying to help her work through her frustrations. I—I went a bit too far with my illusions."
Yennefer wanted to be in his arms and yet somehow she wasn't taking as much solace in her position.
"You can put me down."
"I'll put you down at the Clinic," Geralt said. "Tell me what illusions you mean, Yennefer? Why would she do that to you?"
"I can walk," Yennefer said stubbornly. She didn't resist his hold. "I was trying to help her. I made a mistake. I nearly broke our girl."
Geralt sighed with mild annoyance. "Can you be more specific? What mistake was it? You're lucky she stopped. Were that a fit she threw back at Kaer Morhen, you'd be dead along with the rest of the city."
"You think I don't know that?" Yennefer asked, glaring at him with mild annoyance of her own. "I… does it matter? I managed to stop her."
Yennefer also knew that it could have gone the opposite way, which is why Ciri looked lost and forlorn. Yennefer hated being the cause of that. She began to wiggle in his arms, attempting to becoming aggravating enough so that he'd set her down on her feet. She suddenly couldn't stand the fact that he was cradling her.
"Stop behaving like a child," he reprimanded, holding her in a firm grip. The Clinic was two buildings away. "And yes, it matters to know what exactly sets her off and makes her forget who she is dealing with."
Yennefer hissed like a snake in a trap, and then relented once more. She could make him set her down, she knew that, had done it to multiple men. She didn't want to take her rage out of him, though – not anymore.
She fell silent, her eyes lifting to see the looming clinic.
"I conjured up an illusion of Eredin and Philippa for her to take her frustration out on."
Geralt shot her a shocked look, then let out a long exhale, ruling down his emotions, and said nothing until he was inside the clinic. There, he put her carefully to her feet and proffered a meek smile to Shani who approached.
"Oh gods, what happened?" She looked at Yennefer with wide eyes. "Are there more out there? You got attacked?"
"A minor magical accident," Geralt said. "No elves involved."
"Let me wipe the blood off and see if we can aid you?" Shani asked Yennefer, smiling with warm friendliness and a slight trepidation one has dealing with something unearthly.
"I'm fine," Yennefer stated begrudgingly. For the first time in her life, she didn't care about her appearance. "This is really unnecessary."
"Nonsense," Shani chided, pressing a hand to her shoulder, practically shoving into a chair so that she could inspect Yennefer from head to toe.
Yennefer sat down, enduring the physician's fussing and wet cloth as Shani wiped the dried blood from her ears and nose.
"Do you have a headache?"
Yennefer shook her head. She was lying. She'd pushed herself repairing buildings, then aiding Ciri, the latter of which had taken it out of her as if punished.
"I'll live."
Shani ignored Yennefer's glib answer and proceeded to check her over. When Shani finished her appraisal, she left, sensing the two had a bit more to talk about.
"We've a few days at our disposal before The Wild Hunt resurface. I think… that it's best if I go away for a bit, give you time to help Ciri, keep her mind – calm."
The Witcher folded his arms, watching her with a stern frown. "It's like you're fleeing after making a mistake with her. We don't know about the Hunt and when they strike again, but we do know how Ciri will immediately think you abandoned her after she accidentally attacked you. How would that make her feel, do you care?"
"Of course I care," Yennefer snapped defensively. She met his frown head-on with a glare of her own, jerking to her feet. "You'd know that if you knew me, and not for one second would you ever fathom to question me about it or make me feel guilty for it."
She already felt remorseful. As well as Geralt for asking something he already knew. It wasn't fair to take his worry out on her, he realized, but both Ciri's outburst and Yennefer's injuries gave him a scare.
"She can't keep living like this," Yennefer lamented. "You should take her somewhere. Let her rest, let her try and recuperate so that when The Wild Hunt appears again she'll be in more control of her emotions. What she's dealing with is too much. It's too much for anyone and there's no possible way for us to get close enough to understand it, but we can manage it."
"Where am I supposed to take her?" Geralt spread his arms. "Somewhere to lock her up? Like Mother Nenneke' Temple? Ciri will want to stay where her friends are, where she can do something for them - where she is now."
"No," Yennefer retorted and sighed. "Take her somewhere beautiful, somewhere she can feel free and enjoy her life for a while. Where she can continue to practice. You're telling me that in your travels you haven't come across such a place?"
He squinted ironically at her. "Why don't you go and offer it to her? I'm not leaving for anywhere beautiful until I find out whether the world is safe."
"Fine," Yennefer said, smoothing her hands against her sides, turning her back on him so she could head out of the medical center in search of Ciri.