Yennefer was still soundly asleep when Geralt carefully slipped out from her embrace and their bed to get dressed. His time for the banks investigation was running out.
Yennefer had slept light, so, despite the quiet of his movements, she woke up, watching him for a time as he got dressed in the semi-darkness. "Headed back to the bank or to check on Ciri?"
"I didn't want to wake you," he apologized, buckling his jerkin. "I need to finish with the banks, but first I need to speak to Kain." He approached the bed and bent to kiss her. "You should sleep some more. You need it."
He'd been showing her so much affection over the last two days, kissing her without prompting, last night's comfort, she had to wonder if what she wanted to reverse with the djinn was even necessary. Could it be that their relationship could get to a point that was even better than it was before? Or was it that without his knowledge of who she was it was all another lie?
"I will," she assured and reached for his collar, keeping him bent low for the time. "You didn't tell me what happened with the banks yesterday. Is it coming together? Is there anything you need me to do?"
"I have ideas," he said, smiling. "But I need to find the best way to do it. Keep an eye on Ciri," he added, sobering up. "We can't afford any other accidents."
"She's hard to keep track of," Yennefer admitted, fluffing one of the pillows beneath her head. "Like I said last night, I keep saying the wrong thing. She keeps running from me. Kain's back?"
"He should be back by now." He straightened and picked up his sword belt, fastening it. "But if they're at odds, you're the only one to watch her."
"I'll do what I can," Yennefer assured, curling up a bit tighter beneath the blankets, exhausted by the thought of walking on eggshells around Ciri. She didn't like that their relationship had currently reached that point and that there was nothing she could say or do to make it better.
"Once this bank matter is behind us, I'll get to the bottom of what's going on with her," he promised. "I'll figure it out."
He stepped out and closed the door behind him quietly.
She heard his parting words as the door closed, wondering when it had become so easy to trust that Geralt would be able to do what he had vowed.
Was it after the spell broke on the boat? The fact that in spite of all he'd said, what she'd struggled to believe, she had critical proof that their love did exist and that it wasn't some fictitious form or curse he'd bestowed on them to protect her? Was it really that easy or was she just tired of the fight? Of trying to accomplish it all on her own like she had in the past?
She groaned and swept his pillow onto her face, inhaling his scent until she'd calmed her raging new thoughts down and she was able to take his advice and sleep a while longer.
Avallac'h turned in his chair in front of the smoldering fireplace and observed his bed where Ciri stirred.
"It's been a restless slumber," he commented. "Anything bothering you?"
His voice came to her from afar and it took her a moment to register the words spoken.
She opened her eyes and blinked to get rid of the sleepiness, but refused to relinquish her hold upon the pillow she'd been cradling to her chest most of the night.
"Why? Did I talk in my sleep?"
"One doesn't have to talk to sleep restlessly," the elf responded. "What upset you so much that you confused rooms and beds?"
"I wasn't confused," Ciri admitted, watching the elf from where she lay. "Kain has returned. Means there is one bed less. I know you don't sleep much."
Which meant the likelihood of Avallac'h agreeing to lend Ciri his bed for the night was plausible.
"Kainar didn't sleep in his bed last night."
Ciri's cheeks burned with humiliation, pain clutching her heart so tightly it was hard to breathe.
He'd gone back to Fealinn?
"Oh." It was all she managed to utter for a few seconds. "I did not know."
"Wasn't it what he told you last night before he left the inn?" Avallac'h's mouth twitched in mild amusement.
"I left before him," she whispered. "I just assumed he would stay. No reason not to."
"He finds his beast a more favorable company."
Ciri sat up and glared. "Thank you. What a lovely reminder."
She threw off the blanket she'd been sleeping under and got out of bed. This day was already horrible.
"Do you not favor your own beast you named Kelpie?" Avallac'h inquired.
"For years I had no one else," Ciri said, searching for her trousers. "Even before you."
"I believe he has the same story of that bond."
"That doesn't mean I abhor everyone else's company." Not most days, anyway.
She pulled on her trousers and claimed her boots.
The elf raised his eyebrows, "Did he tell you that?"
She shrugged. "He doesn't like being with others. Told me so when we first met. Wanted to be alone. Maybe I should have let him be."
"You've changed since you and I first met. Why wouldn't he? Many things changed since then. He knows it."
Ciri frowned. "How have I changed?"
"You stopped rebelling against me so openly," he smiled. "We have built our trust. Haven't we?"
"Because you stopped blackmailing me into shagging elves," she grumbled, fastening the laces of her trousers before regarding him anew. "But yes, things between us did improve."
"All I've ever done was to help you, Zireael," he said, unperturbed by her biting remark. "As well as now. That didn't change."
She stood, a little saddened by how things had changed between them since they'd reunited with Geralt and Yennefer.
"Because you need me to stop The White Frost," she said, her voice soft. "I know."
Avallac'h stood up and approached her, gently took her chin in his fingers, a warm smile on his lips. "I need you to live, Zireael. I wish the best for you. Not because of the Frost, but because of you."
Ciri looked up into the elf's eyes, searching him for signs of deceit. She was so unsure who she could trust.
"Do you love me?"
Avallac'h smiled and opened his arms invitingly. "Do you doubt, Zireael?"
She stepped into his embrace willingly, wrapping her arms around the elf's waist, her gaze set on the single window in the room.
"Because I am her daughter?"
"Because you're my Zireael," he said, holding her.
Ciri wasn't entirely sure what that meant, but she didn't hate how those words sounded.
Strangely, no one had made her feel as wanted in the last few days as Avallac'h.
"Thank you," she whispered, squeezing him a little tighter before relinquishing her hold. "I should go see if Geralt needs any help."
"Of course," he nodded, letting her go.
She gave him a gentle smile, then stepped out into the hallway.
The Witcher found his brother downstairs sipping water at the bar. He got up when Geralt jogged down.
"You're up early."
"I spent the night with Griffin in the forest," Kain said and waved a hand when Geralt was about to ask. "I'll explain later. What's with the banks?"
"He advised to pin it on the Hunt. But I need proof."
Kain pondered, and looked at his brother, smirking. "We have proof. We merely need to bring it closer. And we need help."
"Whose?"
"Ciri's."
Geralt frowned. "You certain?"
"She's the only one who can do it quickly."
"Very well."
Ciri jogged down the stairs but came to a sudden halt when she noticed Geralt and Kain. After Avallac'h had told her Kain had slept elsewhere, she hadn't expected to see him back so soon.
Inhaling deeply to prepare herself, she took the final step and headed for the bar to find a drink of her own.
"Ciri," Geralt greeted. "Good thing you're up. We need your help."
"Really?" she asked, surprised by that. "What can I do?"
They explained.
"I don't know if I should laugh or throw you out of the damn city," Dijkstra stated. He was scowling at the Witcher from across his desk. "Do you understand how it all sounds?"
"It sounds like what happened," Geralt played back, his arms folded. "Oxenfurt wasn't their final goal - it's rather small for Aen Elle, you do realize it yourself, Dijkstra. They wanted to hit both cities, but something went wrong with their portal. They accidentally got locked on the magic that guards the banks. Perhaps the first place that misguided them was Vivaldi bank. And the rest of the portals locked on similar magic - other banks. The blocks disrupted their portals before they fully established, creating disarray inside the banks and catching the guards in that torrent."
Dijkstra sneered and applauded slowly. "You amazed me today, Geralt. I should admit I haven't expected anything more twisted than a bunch of rogue vampires or mages. But this! This is worthy of a seasoned storyteller like your friend the poet."
"And I thought it was rather interesting," Philippa said from her chair at the desk next to the Witcher. "But even more curious will be to see how you prove it all."
Geralt reached into his pocket and threw something on the desk; the few small things bounced and skittered with metallic clangs. Sigi and Philippa leaned to look.
"What is this shit?" Dijkstra asked, picking one up.
"Parts of their armor," Geralt replied.
Sigi sneered wryly, peering up at him as if the Witcher was attempting a joke. "Is this your proof?"
"Just a part of it. I found them under the furniture in the banks. Some must've been kicked by secret service boots."
"What's the other part?" asked Philippa.
"Outside of the city limits," Geralt said. "It's what Kain's been busy searching for all this time. He found it. And we can show it to you as proof."
"Very well," Dijkstra said, getting up. "I assume you won't object if we bring our head of the secret service and his men to witness it."
"By all means," said Geralt, heading for the door. "When you're ready."
They were ready within an hour, as though the promised proof would dissolve and pass into another world. Geralt brought them into a thin forest south from the harbor of the city where Kain was waiting.
What Dijkstra and his chosen group of authorities found was a clearing stricken by some sort of magic that blackened some specks of grass and broken some shrubbery. There were several bodies that looked like broken toys thrown around in a fit by a child. Some belonged to the Riders, some burnt bodies in broken armor belonged to the bank guards. A few dead hounds lay among the men and elves.
"Remarkable," Ebert Graf, the head of the secret service, uttered, dismounting. He and a couple of his subordinates moved around the scene carefully, crouching here and there for a closer look. Dijkstra didn't bother, staying on his horse, pressing a perfumed handkerchief under his nose. Philippa was smiling.
"I apologize, my lords and lady," Ebert Graf said, returning from his examination. "But the group of intruders seems too small to have been planning to assault our grand city."
"And there are only three guards," one of his subordinates added. "Where the rest?"
"Apparently the rest of the portals shot onto the sea," Kain said, and waved a hand to the seashore beyond them where the waves rolled in and out and clashed against the rocks. "We found one more body of a bank guard in the sand. The others, I'm afraid, are lost to the waves and sea monsters."
"Well, that solves the riddle," Philippa commented, turning her horse around. "I shall remove myself, if you allow. You shall do with it without my aid."
"Not before I get my reward," said Geralt.
Philippa cast an ironic gander at him over her shoulder, then looked to Sigi. Dijkstra cleared his throat.
"Yes," he said with visible distaste, "this clears the name of Yennefer of Vengerberg. I suppose you shall pass the news to her, witchers."
"We shall," said Geralt, performing a bow. "What are we to do with the bodies?"
"The guards shall be buried with honors for defending our city," Sigi ruled. "And the sodding elves should rot with their bloody hounds."
"We will burn them," Kain said. "Their bodies shouldn't remain in our ground."
"True," Dijkstra nodded. "Do it. The city thanks you for the service."
"Indeed," Ebert Graf smiled and mounted.
The witchers stood and watched the procession ride away.
"One problem less," Geralt sighed, leaning against a tree to rest.
"There's something I need to tell you," Kain said. "About Ciri."
"Fine. Tell me while we sort the bodies and burn the elves."
As they did, Kain told him about the night before and Ciri's conclusions.
Ciri would have liked to have joined the witchers during their display of proof but understood it was in their best interest she stay behind. After all, to prostrate herself in front of Dijkstra and The Secret Service would only give them a reason to remember her potential part in the whole ordeal.
And truthfully, after all the teleportation she had done that morning, collecting corpses from both the bog and ocean floor and transporting them where they needed to be, Ciri was tired.
Zoltan had served her breakfast when she returned and she was just about to tuck in when a thought occurred to her.
"Is Yennefer still in bed?"
Zoltan shrugged, wiping down a new keg from the cellar with a rag. "Don't know, lass. But she hasn't come down yet today."
That was worrying. Ciri vowed to investigate further. After she'd had her breakfast.
Yennefer supposed she should have got up as soon as her eyes had opened a second time, headed downstairs, and sought out Ciri, but she knew—from last night—that the girl was around and had even felt for her distinct energy. Yennefer didn't want to intrude any more than was necessary and drive her away again. If she could sense Ciri close by, know she was under the same roof, then Yennefer was content to play a shadow. And she had. At least for a couple of hours.
She had nodded off again, and when she woke up a final time, she was happy to find that Ciri was still around. She'd slipped from beneath the covers, sought her clothes, and sat down at the vanity, taking her time with her hair and make-up.
Thirty minutes later she was downstairs and had moved to take a seat across from Ciri at the table, only she wasn't very hungry, marginally nervous about what was going on, and unsure why.
"You look exhausted. You didn't sleep last night?"
"I did, but not well, apparently," Ciri replied, scooping a forkful of eggs into her mouth.
"You? Too busy reuniting with Geralt to sleep?" She tried not to look too mischievous but knew she was failing.
"Something like that," Yennefer retorted, tickled by the look on her daughter's face. "Have you been busy this morning? Zoltan making use of your free labor again?"
"Geralt and Kain have. They're busy clearing your name as we speak."
"Don't suppose you've heard if they've had any success?"
"Not yet," Ciri admitted. "But I am not worried. Their plan is decent."
"They've told you the plan? Lucky," Yennefer commented, sitting back in her chair to glance at the windows before getting to her feet. "I need some tea."
"I am sure they will be back soon enough," Ciri said, continuing her meal with less enthusiasm than before. "If not, I will take you away from here."
"And where would we go?" Yennefer asked, her lips twitching with amusement as she headed into the back. When she returned two minutes later, it was with a warm mug in hand.
Ciri had ample time to consider her answer but she couldn't really find a good one.
"Anywhere those horrible people were not. We'd be banned from the major cities, but that is alright. I much prefer nature, anyway."
Yennefer couldn't imagine herself living in the sticks amongst the animals. No cutlery? No civilization, and dirt that would grow thick beneath her nails and cling to her hair. There was a reason Yennefer bathed as frequently as she did and why she needed a vanity to apply her makeup, why the mere thought of being seen without rouge or liner on her face made her insides turn cold and hard. Nothing of what she owned could fit on her hips on a belt or on her back in some slapdash shoulder bag. As free as Yennefer's back was of that deformity that had haunted her as a child, there was still a lot she needed her psyche wouldn't allow her to live without unnecessarily.
"Ciri! Yennefer!" Triss was descending the stairs. She cracked a brilliant smile at the sight of them. "Any news on the banks? I was delayed in Oxenfurt."
"None," Yennefer replied. "You're looking livelier. I guess working with Geralt yesterday, trying to keep my name from being muddied has added a little rose to your cheeks. Why were you in Oxenfurt?"
"Geralt needed to meet Kain there," she said, settling with them, and poured herself some water from the pitcher. "And we had a nice evening with Dandelion and Shani. The witchers left earlier, though. They rode here."
"Lovely," Yennefer commented. "Glad you found time to have such a decent affair while I worried about the state of my life. Were you of any benefit in yesterday's banks endeavor? What were you to do?"
"Yennefer!" Triss chided. "I was trying to help. I did what Geralt needed me to do, and afterward, I wasn't needed to bring him back here. He rode Dandelion's horse." She drank and looked between Yennefer and Ciri. "I suppose Kain assisted him with searching for the answers."
"So Ciri has informed me as well," Yennefer replied, sipping her tea.
"I wonder what the solution is," Triss mused. "Scarcely he would go with what he decided earlier."
"What's to decide? I'm innocent," the raven-haired mage stated, setting her mug down on the table, wondering how much Geralt had shared with Triss. Yennefer had advised him to keep the truth close to his chest.
"We knew that," Triss said, throwing back her chestnut hair. "But we had to come up with a guilty party, and it wasn't going well."
"Did you speak with Philippa about it? See what nodes of wisdom she might have had to share?"
"No, of course not! It was solely between me and Geralt." Triss considered her and leaned in. "What do you think could've done such a thing?"
Yennefer thought it over.
"A gang or anyone in desperate need of coin. After what you've seen yesterday, what or who did you think could have done such a thing?"
"With how the banks are protected and with the guards in each, I was at a loss. Four banks in one night - it makes it utterly incredible." Triss turned to Ciri. "What would you say, darling? Any ideas?"
"Not a clue," Ciri lied. "I know of no person or monster capable of pulling off such a thing."
Lies came easy to Ciri now. It should have frightened her. But instead, she only felt smug satisfaction.
"That is true," Triss nodded. "It's a mystery." She stood up and went to the kitchen to see about her breakfast.
Not long after, Geralt and Kain walked in, both looking tired.
"Oh, here you are!" Triss greeted them with a charming smile. "Come, sit, eat with us."
"Any news?" Zoltan asked, setting a pot of tea and a pitcher of cider on the table.
"Yennefer's name is cleared," Geralt said, pouring himself some cider. "We found dead Riders with their hounds outside the city, some dead guards with them. The Hunt's attack went wrong, and the dwarven banks' magic blocks disrupted their portals and shot them outside the city and into the sea."
Triss gasped. "Oh, gods! Is this possible?"
"It was a lucky outcome for the city, but an unfortunate turn for the guards. All of them died."
"Oh, it's horrible," Triss sighed. "They will be buried with honor."
"That they will," sighed Geralt, and drank.
"Darn shame about the lads, aye," said Zoltan. "But had they attacked, we'd be in so much trouble. Sodding elves! I wish we could squeeze them out of our world once and for all. Damn!"
He went to the bar, grumbling. One of the maids went past him from the kitchen with breakfast for the witchers.
Ciri leaned forward, elbows on the table. "So Ebert and his men will back off?"
She really had not liked that old creep.
"They said so," Geralt nodded. "It's done."
Yennefer was trying to wrap her head around the plan they'd come up with. Where had that particular story come from? How'd they even manage to make Philippa and Dijkstra believe it? She couldn't imagine it and yet Geralt had said she was in the clear and that half of the nightmare was over.
"Thank you," Yennefer responded when she finally found her ability to join in on the conversation, her heart feeling more afraid than it did relief.
She knew that a big part of what Geralt had done the following days had been for Ciri, but at the same time, she believed—despite the inner voice that told her not to be too excited about all the effort he'd gone through to help the situation—had been done for her as well. It had been Yennefer's neck on the line.
What did it mean and how much of it stemmed from affection? Love?
"What of Dijkstra? How hard did he fight against that outcome?"
"He doesn't care for as long as there is an answer for people," Geralt said. "He got his proof and a few bodies to bury. He was content."
"Guess that's it then. We're able to dust our hands and move onto more serious matters. Like the Wild Hunt."
And Ciri.
"There are still a few things to clear in Velen," Kain said. "But I can do it myself and join you in Skellige."
"I'll stay, too," Geralt added, and looked at the women. "Only for a few days. You can go to Skellige with the Lodge and Avallac'h."
"If you have business elsewhere, we can all wait," Triss reasoned. "In case of a more successful attack and merely to get our wits together and decide what is next."
"Philippa's on our side? I would have thought she'd be reluctant to leave Novigrad presently when she's carved herself such a cozy title of power."
"We are all interested in ending this elvish threat," Triss said. "Philippa, as well. Besides, it would take all our joined efforts to locate Sunstone."
"Convenient," Yennefer chimed. Only a day ago Philippa set her free for whatever means while her ex-lover was vying to burn Yennefer alive. Ciri had also yet to interrupt or make her own suggestions on what she wanted to do. Strange considering how vocal Ciri usually tended to be.
"Doesn't Avallac'h know where it is?" Kain asked.
"Apparently there are many possible locations, but no one knows for certain. It is a legend, after all."
"And where is it best to search for legends than at a nice library?" Fringilla added, approaching, and winked at Geralt. He smirked knowingly. "I shall depart to Toussaint and make use of the books there. I'm sure Yennefer has lots of books she could leaf through on her own. There is a massive library at the Oxenfurt Academy."
"Which has been sorted through many of us before," Triss responded.
"They pride themselves in obtaining many new and old and lost volumes every year," the black-haired sorceress added and gave Yennefer a mysterious smile. "Our dear Yenna also has a friend who would be more than happy to enlighten her on so many things he's learned of elves and their legends. The land he resides in is cold, but not as severely while it's summer."
Ciri didn't say anything at all. She was curious to see how events would play out if she did not offer her input. Would they even notice?
Geralt and Kain obviously couldn't get away from her quickly enough, they were so eager to return to Velen. What was it that lured them back there?
She would find out before they could leave. She also had a few other questions to ask, but could not utter them in the company of everyone else.
Fringilla's elusion to Istredd hadn't gone unnoticed, but for a time Yennefer had decided not to give in to the enticement or reason for the subtle commentary. Yennefer had thought of visiting Istredd from Nenneke's temple a week ago, intending to figure some things out, but all that had changed. She wasn't eager to depart from either Geralt or Ciri. Not even for a week or two.
A lot could happen during that time and she knew neither would be eager to join her there. It would also be mightily uncomfortable.
"I'll make use of the library in Oxenfurt, the Troubadour can put himself to some use too and make work of reading someone else's writing for a change."
"My cousin the Duchess would be thrilled to receive the news of Ciri being recovered," Fringilla said, smiling at the girl and the Witcher. "If you wish to join me and tell her the story yourself, she would be happy. And even more so if she meets Cirilla now that she is a grown woman and not the little girl she remembers from her visits to Cintra."
"I'm sure it would be a lovely visit," said Geralt. "But it would hardly make a good time for us in our haste."
"There is no haste until we find the stone," Fringilla reminded and peered at Ciri. "What do you say, Ciri? Would you like to visit Toussaint? It's especially magnificent this time of year."
"It will still be magnificent when we're done with war and can rest," Triss grumbled.
"We don't have time for pleasantries," Ciri said in response to Fringilla's offer. "The Hunt could strike again at any moment and we must be ready. It would be greatly appreciated if The Lodge could put their infatuation with Geralt aside while we fight for the world's survival."
She shot an unimpressed look in Fringilla and Triss' way and stood. "The stone is our main priority."
With a nod of her head, she gestured for Geralt to follow her outside. She needed to talk to him.
"Oh, but it has little to do with Geralt, albeit charming and desirable," Fringilla said with another wink directed at the Witcher, "and so much more with the Sunstone myth. Why not combine a little pleasure of a hearty meeting with the necessary research?"
"We shall discuss this a bit later," Geralt said, getting up. "Excuse me, ladies."
"Of course," Fringilla nodded, and watched him follow Ciri out, then cast a curious gander at Kain. "What about you, White Cat? Do you ever travel apart from the Wolf, anymore?"
"When I have to," he responded, returning the smile.
Triss rolled her eyes and sipped her tea.
Ciri turned on Geralt the moment they were outside and the door closed behind him.
"What's in Velen?"
He raised his eyebrows and hands, surprised by her ardor. "Beasts were attacking the villages after the Crones' demise," he said. "We were trying to figure out whether they and their magic are truly gone and what was causing the attacks."
"And did you? Find out?"
"There was no time - the incident with the banks happened."
"And you think this is worth our time?" she asked curiously. "Drowners and hags attacking small settlements?"
It cut him how dismissively she viewed it. "One village has already been destroyed, people died," he said. "I need to help those that still live. It's my duty."
"Alright," she mused, deep in thought before lifting her gaze to the witcher again. "Where did the hounds come from?"
Fringilla's bold attempts to dismantle her family by including Ciri into her pursuits of Geralt made Yennefer's insides turn to frost and anger sweep through her. As did the waves of envy sweeping off Triss.
Yennefer was sitting right here amongst them. What right did either have to boldly revel in their disappointments and hopes? Was she not the one sharing his bed?
As quickly as Yennefer had been against the idea of seeing Istredd—of avoiding that complication—she had to wonder if it was the best course of action.
How much had Geralt told them about what happened with the Djinn and was that why both of them were clawing at him as if he were an exposed bone?
She excused her from the table and moved to join Ciri and Geralt outside.
Geralt's eyes flicked to Yennefer momentarily before fixating on Ciri again. "From a portal," he replied. "Around the same time as the Riders you killed."
"There were more of them?" Ciri was surprised. "Riders as well? Did you have to fight them?"
"No, just those you killed and the hounds that were left alone. They were roaming the bog and attacking people."
"How strange," Ciri muttered. "They were not part of my vision. I did not see them."
And she felt angry at herself for that. She had thought she'd finished the job. Clearly not.
"Vision?" Geralt frowned. "You had visions?"
Ciri nodded in regards to Geralt's question. "Yes. I felt them coming. That's why I went to the bog in the first place."
"Even the most adept clairvoyant can't see every corner of the world, Ciri," Yennefer put in. "You've had a lot on your mind."
Ciri looked to the sorceress. "It wasn't every corner of the world. It was the very same one. I should have picked up on it."
"Don't judge yourself too hard, Ciri," Geralt said, squeezing her shoulder gently. "You're not supposed to see them every time they choose to arrive."
"Geralt's right," Yennefer added. "Any corner that's not in your surrounding vicinity is part of the world and unless your main function is to follow their energy I wouldn't be as concerned. It wouldn't be possible anyway without a device to help."
"We have no devices but our own eyes and ears," Geralt said. "Therefore it needs to be looked into personally. Which we're going to work on with Kain during the next few days."
"We?" Ciri asked Geralt. "Including me?"
"What do you mean?" Geralt asked.
"You said we are going to Velen with Kain. We."
"I meant Kain and myself," the Witcher clarified. "You showed no interest in people that are not yours."
"That's severe, Geralt. Ciri has always cared – does care."
"I merely repeated her own words," he retorted.
"You are mine," Ciri said, cold and unflinching. "Or have I misread that connection as well?"
Like she had her and Kain.
He frowned, "As well?"
"Never mind." She brushed the sentiment of Kain aside.
"You are mine." A statement, not a question. "So I care."
Ciri had been possessive of Geralt as a child and Yennefer has seen it expressed with a lot of ferocity, but she'd never sounded so challenged about it.
Geralt and Yennefer exchanged a brief bewildered glance, and the Witcher asked, "You want to partake in this contract to help people in Velen?"
Ciri shrugged. "I'm sure I could be of use. And it would be quicker than if you do it alone."
"I agree," said Yennefer. "Time isn't on our side. Three pairs of hands and eyes would make for lighter work. I could assist as well."
"I'd rather you assisted with what we can't do at the moment," Geralt reasoned. "With the elven legends. And Ciri will aid us with Velen if she wants."
Yennefer opened her mouth to argue that fact, to remind him of the bank episode and how much better it was for all of them to stick together, but she had no idea how to do that in Ciri's presence.
"Then it is decided," Ciri said. "When do we leave?"
"As soon as we're capable. After a short rest on my part. You can prepare your horse."
"And where shall we meet when it's done?" Yennefer asked. "Back in Novigrad? Skellige? How long will this mission take?"
"Back here is a good place," he said, waving a hand at Rosemary and Thyme. "If we sail to Skellige, it's from here that we do."
"I will go tend to Kelpie," Ciri said, heading for the stables with that mission in mind.
"Wonderful," Yennefer mused as Ciri headed for the stables, reaching for Geralt to keep him from heading inside and waiting until her blonde head was out of sight before speaking again. She turned to face Geralt slowly once they were alone. "If it wasn't already clear inside, I wanted to make it known how grateful I am for what you did with the bank for me. It doesn't sound like you had it easy."
He smiled and stroked a finger along her cheekbone. "I had to save you from that unfair charge, there was no other way. Now, however," his smile dimmed, "we have Ciri to save. I don't know how, but I'll have to find a way."
"We will find a way," Yennefer added factually. "We can't afford to do that separately, Geralt. You heard what happened and how swiftly it changed."
Yennefer wasn't going to elaborate since she hadn't spelled the space they were in outside and there were a bunch of sorceresses who liked to feed Philippa information inside.
"Are you still wearing that trinket I gave you and you used at the Bog to summon me should any misfortune arise?"
She scanned him in search of it.
"I still have it. And I'll have Kain. We'll manage. Riding around the bog and searching for monsters is not for you, Yennefer. You can rest and see if you find anything useful in your books."
"I don't doubt for a second that Kain and yourself are capable of killing monsters or saving the intended village. Ciri is a different issue altogether. Take my advice and tread carefully."
That was all she'd say on the matter. Yennefer still hardly knew what that matter was.
She drew close and pressed her mouth to his, considering whether or not to bring up her earlier doubts, feeling them slip from her tongue even as she pulled back and prepared to break away.
"Have you told my fellow sorceresses of your mental ailment?"
He scowled, "Of what?"
"Playing stupid is beneath you, Geralt," Yennefer chastised without heat, tapping the side of his head gently with her index before gesturing to herself. "Fringilla and Triss were fighting over you like a slab of marinating meat. Like they have something to compete for."
He frowned, displeased. "I told no one of my ailment as you put it, for I have none. I'm perfectly fine. Whatever happened to my memory is not a damn ailment, and you're aware of it."
"You never learned the art of subtlety," Yennefer countered, a matching frown on her face. Her gaze darted over his shoulder toward the door as if she expected it to open. "There was a reason for my choice of word that had nothing to do with trying to insult you. The last time you lost your memory Triss jumped you like a desperate hungry wolf. I get the distinct impression that others might be eager to repeat that."
His mouth twitched in an ironic sneer. "And what of it? You expect me to eagerly aid anyone willing to bed me, and wish to warn me against it because with my ailment I won't be able to think for myself?"
"No. I wished to warn you because you don't remember the first time."
And because it had hurt.
She had found the twist of his mouth and general look on his face enough to keep her from wanting to air it out loud. This was not the time for this conversation anyway. She knew that, only now, she'd wished her brain had before it had bubbled from her lips with so little control.
"I should get going, those books aren't going to read themselves. Take care of yourself and our girl."
With that, she'd turned away and prepared to head back inside.
He watched her retreating back pensively, trying to sort his irritation and bewilderment. He had found comfort in her arms and the need for it inside his heart, and yet it somehow wasn't enough. There was a faint feeling of familiarity with this urge of possession he read in her, and he couldn't place it. He nearly growled in frustration: it was impossibly disturbing to sense memories instead of having them at his full disposal. It was incredibly nasty to be unable to fully trust things he remembered.
Fringilla was saying something that made Triss giggle when Yennefer walked in. The sorceresses and Kain looked at her with inquisitive attention.
"Everything all right?" Triss asked. "You look a little flushed."
"It's hot outside," Yennefer explained indifferently. She hadn't been prepared to extend any goodbyes to those in the dining hall and was less inclined to make small talk. "I'm off to Oxenfurt."
Without waiting on them to react she began to climb the stairs to their room. Before she made plans to leave she needed to gather together a few of her belongings and some coin.
Ciri made sure Kelpie was receiving enough food and water to allow her to make the first stretch of the journey they were about to embark on. She would have preferred to travel by magic to save time, but apparently, neither witcher enjoyed that means of transportation.
Once finished, Ciri headed back for the inn. If Geralt was to rest before they went, she didn't want to spend those hours in the stables.
"Cirilla," Fringilla called when the girl entered. "Have you changed your mind about visiting Toussaint? I've almost convinced Kain."
Triss scoffed and Kain clicked his tongue, hiding his smirk behind his cup of water, taking a sip.
Ciri shook her head, coming to a halt beside their table.
"I am joining the witchers in Velen." She eyed Kain out of the corner of her eye, curious if that would disappoint him.
"Aww," Fringilla drawled, her expression vividly disappointed. "That's a shame. Maybe once you're done with your witcher games. We might need a pair of fresh eyes to look through books."
"I'm sure you can manage," Triss said dryly and regarded Ciri and Kain. "Is it a contract? Something bad enough for three witchers?"
"We hope it's nothing too bad," Kain put in. "But it takes time and distances to cover to find out."
"Oh, of course," Triss nodded, sighing.
Ciri assumed Fringilla had not heard about the last time she and Geralt had visited Toussaint. If she had, she may not have been as eager to invite them back. Not that Ciri or Geralt had been in the wrong, but Dandelion had managed to insult the duchess in a most grievous manner and, as they fled Toussaint, she'd gotten the impression most of the residents loathed the witcher and his ward simply by association.
That had been a long time ago. Perhaps Dandelion had been forgiven?
"I prefer the sword to research," Ciri revealed. "Fear I won't be much good in a library."
"Don't demean your brilliant mind, darling," Triss argued. "You're most wonderful with books. A habit like that doesn't die."
"We'll finish with our Velen problem first and then we shall see where our help is needed," Kain offered.
"Fair enough," Fringilla said. "Though it's still a shame to be buried in the books on my lonesome." She poured herself more cider.
"You could always bring Triss?" Ciri suggested innocently.
"I have my own business and research to tend to," Triss retorted. "We'll need to search in different places if we hope to collect all pieces of this puzzle."
"As far as I understand, that elf of yours is not eager to help?" Fringilla asked.
"He helps in his own way," Ciri said. "If you wish to question him about his knowledge, however, feel free.
"He probably won't indulge you," she amended a moment later, casting a look towards the stairs. "I think he sometimes feels guilty. Betraying his own kin."
"And yet he's here and not with them," Fringilla pointed out, sipping her cider lazily. "Isn't it pointless to regret a decision made?"
"I suppose you can take it up with him," Triss gave her a mocking smile.
Kain got up, "I'll have to prepare for the ride. Bid you farewell, ladies."
"Hopefully not for long," Triss smiled. "Be safe."
"And come back soon," Fringilla added with a cunning smile, drawing inspiration from Triss's annoyance. They both watched him go for the door.
Ciri's eyes narrowed in pure loathing at the way the sorceresses ogled Kain when he got up, but they were both far too busy watching him to notice.
"He's young enough to be your grandson! Gods!" she scoffed and headed up the stairs. She needed to fetch her sword from Kain's room. She wasn't sure what other preparations Geralt and Kain needed to make, but Ciri was ready to go.
Kain found Geralt in the stables brushing Roach. He seemed to be deep in thought.
"You sure you can ride now? You have to rest."
"I'll be fine," Geralt replied. "Besides, I doubt the first place on our list we have to ride to. I met that girl in Oxenfurt. She told me where we can find them."
"And you think... portal?"
Geralt sighed, "Better than spending five days riding to and five back."
"Fair. Who?"
"Triss or Fringilla."
"And which one you trust more?"
"I'd say Triss, but... Fringilla and I-"
"Yes, I figured. She's still with the Lodge, though. Why not ask Yennefer?"
Geralt scoffed softly. "She's being... edgy."
"She's been under pressure lately, it's not surprising."
"Right, and I've been enjoying a dreamland and courtesans instead of trying to save her."
"Women never think about it, Geralt. They care about what they do though. Just ask her to help you. Pick her and it might matter."
"I've been picking her and it hardly matters."
"It should. Doesn't always work, but... Well, just do it."
Geralt went back to the inn and his room where Yennefer was packing for her leave.