Chapter Seven
Dream a little Dream

Hidden within Elven Ruins…

"Did you see it? The Eye?" a deep voice boomed from within the dim chamber as Ida walked down the steps. Yet it wasn't Ida, the moment she passed a pillar the person changed into another woman; a Doppler. The woman now clad in a dark red velvet dress stopped feet before where the voice came from. Her amber gaze falling to the shadowed face that sat in a chair before her. She could make out parts of his face but more importantly the scar over his one eye that lay behind an eyepatch. The other eye was a crystal blue color and his hair slicked back was a dark brown with a strip of white on the left side of his head. "Speak,"

"Aye, I saw it. T'was a young girl; just as ye said, name's Kiko too," She watched his hand grip the chair arm, hearing the old wood crack under the pressure of his grasp. "That girl was the one you were looking for right?" He didn't speak, only stood and clasped his hands behind his back moving into the flame's flickering light within the chamber, gazing at the golden fire dance about wildly. He lowered his hand just over it so the flames licked at his palm but it didn't pain him.

"She is; she's the one, her mother thought claiming her dead; abandoning her would keep her from me," He growled, watching his palm catch fire but it didn't spread; remaining in his palm until he clenched his fist. It caused smoke to drift from his hand vanishing as it made its way toward the ceiling. The Doppler raised a brow curiously at the man.

"Why do you need her eye, Malic? She's only a child, only several years old,"

"Her father caused me to lose my eye, right before I killed him. So I will take her eye; something far more powerful than the mortal eye I had," He gave the Doppler an evil grin. "That child's father cut my face blinded my eye but when I found out that his wife was born I swore to her I'd take the child's eye as repayment for the one I lost…"

"You do not plan to let her live either do you?"

"No I don't, I will have the girl's eye to replace my own, and with it I will gain its power," He turned around and moved back to his seat. "The mother also had a ghost eye but the powers never manifested in her, that eye was useless whereas the girl's is not, it was easy to sense the power within the woman's womb before the girl was born, such power; such magic,"

"Aye, you told me about that, you returned to the house where the woman lived to take the child and she nor the young one was there, only a note claiming the girl perished two nights prior,"

"She fled, leaving her child in another city thinking I would not find out, that I would not soon know,"

"Malic, if I may… what will we do with the Ida woman?" The Doppler pointed to said Elven sage shackled with dimeritium to the wall in order to keep her from escaping or using magic. The man turned his gaze onto the elf and smirked.

"She'll remain useful only until I have gained the eye,"

"Very well, sir," she turned passing the pillar once more as her shape changed back into Ida, leaving back up the stairs…

Meanwhile…

You can't scream…

You can't move…

The hands try to push, but you won't budge…

Flickering eyes, begging to open…

Voice feeling raw, nothing to come out…

No one can hear you…

SCREAM!

"HELP ME!"

It was the weekend, the sun drifting over the trees to let beams of light dance into the bedroom window and across the floor. The warmth seemed to place a light kiss upon Kiko's cheek waking; but she quickly sat up with a look of panic or fear only to be calmed by the smell of pancakes; or more precisely blueberry pancakes, wafting up to her room from downstairs. The young girl sat up with her nose high to take a deep inhale before she pulled the sheets off her legs and opened her dual colored eyes with a long yawn. She stood up and stretched her arms up before starting her morning scratches while dragging herself downstairs to find it was her mother making breakfast and what she didn't smell before suddenly caught her attention. It was the scent of hot bacon just removed from the pan and set to allow the grease time to drip off the sinful breakfast item no one seemingly could resist.

Geralt was not in the room but it was easy to hear him outside, sharpening and polishing his blades. He'd often do that; sit outside and do the one habitual thing aside from hunting monsters for coin, that witcher's did. A witcher without his blade was as good as dead; anyone knew that. She saw not only Geralt do that but Cirilla as well which was to be expected from being trained by Witchers how to use a sword and fight monsters or to just tell a ghoul from an alghoul. No matter the profession knowledge always seemed to be the most useful tool before the blade or magic spells came into play. Know what you were up against and you will succeed; fail to learn and your task will become that much harder. Words Geralt one time told Kiko when she was about six.

It didn't ever seem like it, but Geralt not only cared for Kiko as much as he did Ciri, he also taught her several lessons. But the one about knowledge he spoke to her about what was sat with her most of all. Sure she couldn't wield a blade, or didn't want to use a weapon like that in general she knew that even while training to be like Yennefer she would need to know what she would take on as a profession in her later years. But every lesson she was taught, she kept it in her mind; she always reminded herself of it.

Shaking herself mentally, the girl moved to her mother's side seeing Yennefer's violet gaze turn to her as she flicked her finger, putting out the fire within the stove. She plated the last bit of pancakes and bacon, handing one to the young girl and telling her to go sit at the table and eat while she brought over her own plate as well as Geralt's. On the table was a pitcher of juice, small container of butter and the metal syrup can. Yennefer stuck her head out the door to tell the witcher breakfast was ready and for him to stop playing with his swords to join them. Geralt only gave a smile, sheathing the blades and carrying them inside to place, leaned against the wall.

Kiko being still a touch short had to hop into her chair as Yennefer and Geralt sat down. The three dined in relative silence aside from the sound of them eating, drinking a bit or the tap of a fork reaching the plate when they pierced or even cut a piece of their pancakes. The smells of butter melting or the freshness of the syrup surrounded them paired with the subtle sweetness of the apple juice within the pitcher. Yet once everyone was done eating, the dishes were placed in the water bucket outside to be washed in a bit by Yennefer. Ever since she retired from the world of politics and high society she'd begun to find herself cooking more and doing house chores but she didn't care how to some it seemed a bit lowered from a sorceress. She could still use magic; even hire a maid but for the last year before the move to this city Yen had begun doing something more to kill time.

"Mom," Yennefer looked up as she was washing the dishes to find Kiko crouched and hugging her knees. She looked to have something on her mind. "I had a bit of a strange dream last night…" With a touch of concern mixed with curiosity, she stopped what she was doing giving her daughter her full attention.

"What happened? Dreams can be very powerful messages,"

"It was weird, I wasn't held down but I couldn't move, yet something was pushing me and trying to roll me over to my side but each attempt failed. I was in my room, I could see everything but when I tried to scream but I didn't have a voice. It kept trying to push me to my side, I gained some movement in my arm and hit the wall over and over trying to get you or dad's attention, even gained my voice for a moment and screamed 'help!' but no one heard me," Yennefer watched her child's dual colored eyes seeing hints of fear and wonder in them. "Then everything went black and I woke up this morning… Mom, what does it mean? I'm scared," Yen quickly dried her hands with a frown.

"I think your dreams are warning you of something, but of what I don't know… perhaps one of the other sorceresses knows an Oneiromancer who can interpret the dream but you're right to be concerned," She quickly stood and pulled her gloves on. "Come we'll go and speak with the other sorceresses over this,"

"Yes mom," Kiko stood and followed after Yennefer as she started off into the city's main square. The sounds of bards; mostly made up of elves, played music and sang while others performed dances or juggling paired with fire breathers. The young girl watched them as she followed her mother running right into her as Yen stopped just outside Triss's home; it was the first on the way. "…Think Triss is home?"

"She should be, she is known for being a late bird on weekends," Reaching out she knocked hard on the door hearing someone or something fall out of a bed upstairs possibly from sheets wrapped around the foot. When the door opened, sure enough Triss was there with her hair a mess from just waking up and still in her sleep wear. She rubbed her eye and yawned loudly before she could focus to see Yennefer and Kiko at her door.

"Yennefer… Kiko…? Why are you both here?" she said through a smaller yawn.

"Sorry to wake you but I wanted to find out if you knew an Oneiromancer and where we could find them, Kiko had a… very concerning dream last night that has her scared and the message might be in it just I'm not sure what it means," Triss's green eyes moved from Yennefer to Kiko before she slowly nodded.

"Yeah I know one, her name is Corinne Tilly and she's located in Novigrad last I knew, she's very famous for her work and if you want to brave going there it's the only one person who can help,"

"I rather know what Kiko's dream was about, it concerns me that in it when she tried to move she couldn't, was unable to scream or get the attention of anyone to save her," Triss's gaze shot back to Yennefer with her own face hinting at some great concern, before she tapped her chin with a finger.

"You're right to worry about that seeing as dreams are very powerful and knowing Corinne she'll most likely help to induce it again so perhaps you and her will also see what Kiko is dreaming or just be able to tell you what each part means. I mean the immobilization, being voiceless, pushed… it's got to all mean something," Yennefer gave a slow nod before turning to Kiko, who was pondering herself about the dream. The sorceress brushed her hand over the girl's shoulder pulling her attention back to reality. The pair bid a farewell to Triss before heading home so Yennefer could grab her black velvet cloak with the hood as even Kiko grabbed her own hood piece. They prepared to seek the Oneiromancer as soon as possible.

With a quick widening of her hands out to the sides, Yennefer opened a portal in the backyard then walked towards it with the young girl following after her. Entering the portal though, Kiko had her face covered since she was not exactly used to traveling through them yet perhaps or maybe she was somehow like Geralt. He always felt sick like after going through them, which made him dislike such travel methods. When she peeked from behind her hands, the pair stood in the dirty streets of Novigrad.

The free city of Novigrad, or at least that was what it was once called. Once the city was a vast and unbiased place to leave being it never picked a side in wars; forever remaining out of the conflicts that raged outside the city walls. That was until the now conquered Redania and reining Nilfgaard were at each other's throats with swords in hand. They two rulers knew how wealthy Novigrad was; rumor was that it housed not only the world's largest fleet but the treasury was supposedly enough to equip two armies worth. Yet even with that incentive, the now dead king Radovid had sought not only to take the city but burn every Mage, herbalist and Doppler within it. The only thing that stopped his tyrant actions was a blade to the heart from his former tutor, Philippa Eilhart.

He'd sought to find her, torture and burn her at the stake; it was his biggest goal next to beating Nilfgaard in the war. He hated her, grew disgusted at the mere mention of her name. Yet when he found himself trapped like a common rat he grew instantly so desperate to bang upon the final door of the blocked bridge on the left. Only then did he come face to face with his old Tutor who he'd had her eyes ripped out; spooned out as punishment. It was his way of 'putting the fire out in her eyes'. The only problem was… when a sorceress is backed into a corner she can become someone's worst nightmare. She blinded him as settling the score before delivering the stab wound to his heart from the back; a bit of revenge for all the lives he'd taken of Sorceresses.

"Kiko," the girl came back from her moment of reciting within her head what she'd been taught were large events that happened in the city recently. "Don't stray from me, this city is too large for that," Yennefer gave a light scolding. The girl nodded and quickly followed after the older sorceress towards an Inn called the Golden Sturgeon. The place was loud with drunks singing or playing the popular card game of Gwent, while others were brawling in the far corner. The sounds of fists hitting flesh, singing, or the band playing was all one could hear. Yennefer went to the counter as the innkeeper stepped from the backroom cleaning a mug with a small off white cloth.

"What can I help you with?" He asked, setting the mug down, slinging the cloth over his right shoulder.

"Do you know where a Corinne Tilly is? I must speak with her," The Innkeeper nodded slowly. Kiko couldn't see over the counter; blast her being short as she was. She leaned against Yennefer's side feeling her mother's gentle hand set upon her head, brushing back her bangs.

"Aye, she rents a room here, top floor go through the first door and it's the one on the left side, though she might not be here right now. Think she stepped out for a bit, but you can wait up there and when she comes in I'll tell her you'll be waiting," With a satisfied nod, Yen led the way towards the stairs only to stop and wait a moment or two for Kiko who strayed behind a bit curious over the card game the sailors were playing. She watched a card fall from the table and float over to right before her feet. The girl bent down picking it up and turned it over to find it was a card for Ciri. It had a lovely drawing in full color of her battling a large monster and it was a strong fifteen point card with no faction to belong to. Kiko had never personally played the game but she took such interest in the game.

The sailor looked up to see her staring at the card before he cleared his throat. Kiko looked up at him and went to hand the card back but he shook his head. "Nah, you keep it kid," The girl gave a quick thank you and bounded off to her mother's side, tucking the card safely away. They made their way up to the top floor and found the door deciding to sit outside waiting upon two crates. Kiko kept looking at the card, studying the detail of it and wondering what monster it was that Ciri was fighting in it. "Mom, can I ask something?"

"What is it?"

"What monster is this on the card?" Yen glanced over at the image and responded.

"Basilisk, it's like a weird cross between an overgrown chicken and lizard; not to be confused with a Cockatrice, we'll talk more about those in the academy but that's more of a higher class level," She smiled softly leaning back against the wall. "Seems you're interested in the game of Gwent,"

"It looks like fun and strategy,"

"You always were one for using your head, I know Geralt used to play; not sure if he has the cards anymore but I have my old deck hidden away,"

"You play Gwent?" Yennefer nodded.

"So do the other Sorceresses, it's a way to pass the time and see who can plan a perfect strategy with the cards she's given,"

"Who wins a lot?"

"That stands at evenly between me, Fringilla and Philippa," The dark clad sorceress couldn't help but chuckle, some would call Gwent a child's game but there were several sorceresses who found it amusing and a joy to play. It was the only time the women could really relax and since it was all about planning out what cards to play and when, it was the perfect game for them. Yen got lost in thought for a moment before feeling Kiko lean against her side. "We might be waiting for a bit…"

"Then can you explain how Gwent works while we wait?"

"Of course,"

Meanwhile…

Triss sat by the fountain, reading a book or at least that is what she wanted people to think as they passed by. She wasn't though because what she was doing was watching Geralt, shirtless and chopping wood while Yennefer and Kiko were out in Novigrad. Her green eyes couldn't rip themselves away from the scars decorating his flesh; scars she once hand traced her fingers over pondering what monster had inflicted the wound to leave it. How she wished deep down inside he'd chosen to be with her, but he went with his first lover; his real lover.

What was Triss, but a fling; a web of lies that unraveled so fast she couldn't keep it woven after sometime. She could never understand it; what she saw in him, and why she felt so jealous that her friend was with him. Shouldn't she be happy Yennefer is happy? No, instead when she saw them together she'd glare, internally snarl and have to turn her gaze away. When Yen and Geralt kissed she felt a burning ache in her chest. The burning ache was not only jealousy but a hint of pain. She couldn't get over him. Even after all they said, the promise to just remain friends, she still burned with a passionate fire that desired the witcher.

How she missed it all; his touch, the way he made love to her, caressed her curves. But now she had none of that, because Yennefer had it all now. He loved her more; he chose to be with Yennefer and remain with her alone even when other women cooed and purred at him, Geralt didn't bother with them. Why would he when he had a lovely dark haired, violet eyed sorceress to call his own?

"Merigold," Triss jumped giving a little 'yip' as she snapped the book shut so hard it sounded like she broke something. Turning around it was none other than Fringilla behind her. "What are you doing out here?" Fringilla hadn't yet looked up but when she finally did she knew why. Poor little Triss, she still had a thing for Geralt yet he'd chosen to be with Yennefer. Fringilla slowly shook her head.

"I was reading," Triss tried to cover up that she was watching Geralt at work being sure there was firewood for the house to stay warm during the chilled nights. She couldn't help but watch him; his toned strong body glistening in the sunlight from the sweat bathing his scarred skin—no bad Triss; bad. She sighed and set the book aside. "I'm not fooling you am I?"

"Not one bit, Triss you have got to get over him, hell I bet he hears us talking right now,"

"Then do me a favor…"

"Which is?"

"Shut up," Triss snatched the book back up and quickly made a b-line towards her house with her head down, hiding the tint of pink to her cheeks. But Fringilla was not yet done with teasing the fiery haired sorceress. She followed after her and quickly moved before Triss's front door. "Fringilla, move,"

"I was serious, Merigold you have to get your mind and heart off of the Witcher, he chose to be with Yennefer not you," Just what she needed… a reminder that Geralt might have had feelings for her but ultimately his love was Yennefer. And Merigold hated that fact, she envied Yennefer so bad that seeing the two kiss made her blood boil. Perhaps it was because before she met Geralt, she; just like Yennefer had danced from lover to lover only for sexual relief and self-satisfaction not love. Triss had even dated a few mages, whose egos were so big that it would swallow up all of Nilfgaard when the bastards would fluff out their feathers and strut like arrogate peacocks.

But Geralt had been different to Triss, and that is what she liked most. Not just that he was a good lover in bed but protective, caring and devoted to friends and those he loved. That difference is what made Triss cling, pray and hope he'd return to her. No, he decided to be with Yennefer and what did she get? Jealousy, anger and loneliness; that were her reward, aside from keeping his friendship after it all. Though Yennefer seemed to still not trust her around Geralt; even stopped calling her a good friend or even old friend. Triss lost all of Yen's trust. The words she once screamed at Triss were still to this day echoing in her mind…

"Enough of this damn talk," Yennefer screamed. Never before had Triss heard the dark clad sorceress use her voice in such a way. It was raw with anger; boiling with frustration. The sound alone made Merigold jump and even flinch back. She saw the color of purple mix with red in Yennefer's eyes, the clear indication she was not playing around. A black gloved hand pointed an anger strained finger towards her face as Yen's voice quieted a touch but the harshness was still there. "No more humility you arrogant wench; he is my man, he is mine, mine, all mine! Do you get it?! You need to stop talking about it, you need to stop thinking about it, and you need to stop being dazzle by the nobility of his character… right now and from now on!"

"Triss, wake up,"

"Huh?" Triss mentally shook herself and looked up at Fringilla who had a brow raised at her. "Sorry I was thinking… what did you say?"

"I asked what you were planning to do before I caught you…"

"Nothing, what could I do? Seduce him and then Yennefer see the event? She'd not only have his ass but be after my head," Fringilla sighed and patted Triss's right shoulder as she passed by her.

"If you ask me, I'd say you need a new hobby; in fact focus on your students and work, not about the cock you miss ploughing you in bed," With that Fringilla left a very flustered Triss. Her face was burning hot not because she used fire magic but because of how the Nilfgaardian Sorceress was always so damn bold. Nothing escaped her and nothing was ever left unsaid with her around. And that was what made Triss blush so hard right now, because Fringilla said exactly what the others must be thinking themselves. She clenched the book in her hand before entering her house, slamming the door shut behind her…

Back in Novigrad

"By what you say happened in the dream I am not surprised of your concern, I believe there are messages within the dream. Pieces that match to the unseen hands pushing her to move; roll over, her inability to scream for help, and that she could not move," Corinne stated glancing from Yennefer to Kiko. "The best I will do is help us all to see the dream and see if we can't find out what it all means,"

"We're willing to do whatever it takes to understand the dream," Yen responded. Corinne stood and motioned to Kiko. She followed with and was instructed to lay and relax on the bed in the room while Yen sat on the bed holding her hand.

"Now just relax and close your eyes," Kiko gripped her mother's hand firmly before she closed her eyes diving into the dream again…

She was in her bed, in her room and it was dark; barely able to see anything in front of her. Her body was stiff, unmoving even as she wanted to. She could feel the muscles twitch; aching to move but still they remained. Kiko kept glancing around the room and didn't see anything out of place. Yet her body; the joints and every single one of them was on fire. When she went to close her eyes in the dream, the unseen hands started to push her from the right side. Trying to roll her over but the stiffness in her body would not allow for it to happen. Panic gripped her tight as she opened her mouth, trying to scream but there was no sound; not even a peep. Her throat felt raw as she tried to scream for her mother, but still nothing came out. The hands pushed harder without success but what she'd not heard in the first time she dreamed this was a voice call out in the distance saying: 'Trust none!' then she woke up.

Kiko shot up from the sound sleep, her face was drenched in tears as Yennefer pulled her closer trying simply to calm her down. Corinne Tilly had a hand over her mouth watching Kiko before taking a slow breath.

"Your dream doesn't bode well, the inability to scream or talk means you're not in control of something. Being unable to move means something is going to hold you down while the hands pushing you are trying to save you from something, to push you forward,"

"What does it all mean?" Yennefer brushed her hand over Kiko's head as she had her face buried into the sorceress's chest.

"Someone or something is coming to harm Kiko; to pin her down and give her no say but the hands pushing her are trying to save her; protect her, I have a feeling whatever is going to hurt her will be something you and the Witcher Geralt will have to keep her safe from, if I were you I'd be on guard," Kiko could feel Yennefer tense up; a protective arm refusing to let her go. Corinne glanced from the frightened young girl to the dark haired sorceress. "You mentioned before… Kiko possesses something called the Ghost Eye correct?"

"Yes a power that allows her to see visions of the past mostly, only if she touches a person though,"

"Interesting, but something tells me her eye is stronger than that… perhaps that dream was a subtle demonstration of her power in a subconscious way, I'm not certain but I am taking a guess," Kiko lightly pulled away and hopped off the bed. The older women remained silent watching her as the girl staggered woodenly towards the door before turning her head, glancing at something Corinne had been knitting as she dreamed.

The long pause of silence was mind numbing, but she stared at the item intensively feeling the women watching her. Kiko reached out picking it up to study the pattern within the fabric. She tilted her head slightly before finally breaking the silence with a question. "You knit the emotions of the one dreaming?" Corinne seemed slightly taken aback from Kiko seemingly understanding why she often knitted while someone in her care dreamed. It was to map out feelings and emotions she herself felt echoing from the person in their dream state.

"Yes but… you're the first to have noticed and asked that,"

"The black you used… means for fear or panic, red for the frustration within the hands pushing me…" Yennefer stood and made her way over to Kiko who stood staring at the fabric. When she glanced at it there was an image there among the mostly black and grey. The red within the fabric had formed that of an eye; Kiko's very own eye. "The dream has to do with my eye more than you guess…"

"By what I knitted… yes I do believe it has a lot to do with your gift,"

"Just like Ciri…" Kiko whispered, so that only Yennefer heard what she said. She was right though, as Ciri had been hunted for years because of her gift and now… was it Kiko's turn to endure such a damned fate? A life always on the run, hiding, fleeing to avoid capture… the very thought of it made Yennefer's head hurt. Mikka fated Kiko and Ciri to meet; an oath in blood, but the true meaning was their fates would intertwine together. So did that mean that Kiko had to suffer similar things as Ciri?

It made Yen feel a bit sick thinking how fate cruelly whipped Ciri, leaving her with more emotional scars than most others her age had. But now Kiko who was not even a teen for several more springs was fated to something; that someone was after her for her power; her gift… her curse. How long had Cirilla run? Six or seven years, with the Wild Hunt always on her heels and they had been slaughtering anyone who was simply in the way. Trying to avoid them every time was hard for Ciri, but each moment made her stronger and yet she was a woman. Kiko was only a child, a young sorceress in training.

The news that Kiko could be in danger; now confirmed, would need to reach the other sorceresses and quickly. They would have no choice but to plan for her future and safety but mostly, to protect her; that was clear. They'd already sworn to protect the girl but now they needed to know so all could be on guard and ready for something to happen. They had to be ready to move, or even hide Kiko. Geralt would have to know and when Ciri returned she would need to be informed as well. Yennefer inhaled slowly and gently put a hand on Kiko's head.

"Come we can rest at the Chameleon," Kiko glanced up with a questioning look. "It's a cabaret, owned by your father's good friend Dandelion; a very mouthy Bard,"

"Don't all Bards talk too much?"

"I believe they just like hearing their voice," Yen opened the door letting Kiko walk out as she mouthed a silent 'thank you' to Corinne just before closing the door behind them. They made their way out of the establishment and pulled their hoods up heading through the mild crowds of the Novigrad docks towards the Cabaret mentioned earlier. What amazed Kiko about Novigrad was the fact that so many people could be seen working hard yet not having much money as evident of the many beggars they passed by on the streets.

Some beggars had no legs and were seated in a tiny card as their only means of getting around while others had an arm in a sling, holding the other out asking for change or that he was dying. Then you had the rich folk strutting around like peacocks during mating season. With their chests puffed out and their left thumb tucked into the belt they walked with an 'I'm better than you' ego oozing off of them. Kids played in muddy water puddles as their mothers were washing clothing by a well and yet the clothing remained looking filthy as they had when they started. Other children were playing with sticks acting as if they were swords or bow and arrows.

The thought that Kiko never got to play with kids like that made her a touch depressed. Most kids her age were all too busy with their studies trying to become mages themselves, but most of all they all seemed to be trying to outdo her. Kiko was the golden child and everyone wanted to be better than her, so no one talked to her, and none were her friend. She only had the older sorceresses; Including Yennefer, Geralt, and Ciri as friends but they were not her age. That was her life but she made the best of it, she loved her family and really Kiko couldn't see herself playing in mud puddles, water or with sticks.

"How much further until we arrive and why is it called the Chameleon?"

"I can answer only one of those two questions; the Cabaret is right there and as for why the name, that only Dandelion can tell you about," Kiko smiled seeing the building, and noticed that outside was a band of Bards playing music and dancing; inviting people to come inside, relax and have something to eat. It was easy to see that at least three out of four of the bards were elves. Two she-elves and a male elf; the male banged on the drums as one female played the flute and the other danced around singing and smiling merrily. The sight of the band having such fun brightened Kiko's smile which made the dancing she-elf twirl and stop smiling back at her, giving a wink and continuing to dance as she sang.

Yennefer led the way inside as a Dwarf wearing a green tunic turned around and gave a chuckle putting his meaty small hands on his hips. "Dandelion, get your head up from behind the counter, Lady Yennefer's here," After announcing Yen's arrival, a man poked his head up from behind the counter. From what Kiko could see he was dressed in fine purple and blue silk with many dazzling designs over it. He had a white cloth tied around his neck that fell a bit onto his chest and under it was what seemed to be a bit of jewelry; fine gold. He had jaw length brown hair with a well-groomed mustache and goatee.

"Yennefer, it's nice to see you—wait Geralt's not with you?"

"No he's back at home, I brought my daughter; one you haven't met yet, Kiko," She motioned to Kiko beside her as the dwarf walked over. It was amazing, such strong little men who were only the side of children at best but they were known for working hard and enjoying to work with their hands, even fighting seemed to be their thing.

"Well nice to meet ya little lassie, name's Zoltan," The dwarf extended a hand. When Kiko took his hand she could feel the many rough callouses that lined his skin; most likely from using that rather large axe that was on his back. "And as ya heard this here's Dandelion, owner of this here establishment,"

"Delightful to meet you, Kiko,"

"Nice to meet you both as well… Mom says you're the mouth Bard," Dandelion's mouth partly dropped open as he glanced at Yennefer who'd turned her head away to hide the slight laugh. Zoltan though; bursted out in laughter, clapping his hands together.

"That he is; that he very much is," Zoltan scratched his beard. "Hmm… you know the name Kiko means rejoicing child,"

"It does?" she asked curiously.

"Aye, from what I know that's what it means,"

"And what's mine mean?" Dandelion jokingly asked, crossing his arms.

"That you're a fuzzy weed," the dwarf snorted, and once more Dandelion was left speechless and embarrassed being the butt end of a joke he put his self in.

"Now gentlemen, though I find it amusing about the war of wits and words, I was hoping Kiko and I could rest her for a few hours, get something to eat then we'll be on our way," Just as Dandelion was about to respond a beautifully accented voice came from behind Yennefer and Kiko.

"Of course you two can stay rest and eat, you're friends here," When Kiko turned around she found a beautiful blonde woman with deep blue eyes, dressed in a green and red outfit that looked like she was a performer of some sort. She had a warm smile caught on to her lips as she continued. "Isn't that right Dandelion?"

"Oh yeah right I was about to say that," he chuckled. "Say Zoltan, mind taking our two lovely guests to an open room? Uh, anything you want brought up Yennefer?"

"Just some apple juice and sandwiches, something light; like ham sandwiches should do. Kiko's stomach isn't exactly used to teleporting yet and something too heavy might… come back up,"

"Understandable, now you ladies go and rest I'll bring up everything momentarily," Dandelion chuckled as the Dwarf led the way upstairs to a cozy midsized room with two beds in it. The room was nicely clean and felt inviting as Kiko leapt onto one bed curling up in a ball on her side, quickly falling asleep. Yennefer on the other hand sat on the other bed staring over at the young girl while she rang out her hands. What Corinne Tilly spoke of had her still feeling so uneasy; so much so that the feeling was nagging at her. Who would want to hurt her? Why would they try to hurt her? So many questions buzzed like mad in her head as she watched Kiko breathing calmly in her sleep.

If Yennefer didn't blink hard she could have started to sob…