Chapter eleven

Home is where the heart is

One decade later…

Down in the valley, the land felt a slight depressed—scoured and washed out by the conspiring forces of cold air and a frozen ground. The winter snow coated everything in white from the trees to the walls of the valley but only one path led through it, where the snow was pressed so thin the ground under was barely visible. The small river that flowed through the valley was pushing along chunks of ice as the water passed by toward the lake that also spilled out into a smaller pond. Snow blew from the short mountains in a horizontal blur.

The sky was rather gloomy, yet there was a momentary hint of blue above, with a twinkle of sun and even this bit of light was enough to release a flash of diamonds across the wide landscape of the valley. The flurries soon died down and the sun's direct glare attempted to melt the luscious, pure, untouched or undisturbed surface of drifted new snow that blanketed everything. Boughs of pine trees adorned with thick pillows of white, so fluffy it was as if someone must have plumped them up.

There was soon the sound of boots crunched through the powdered snow, breaking the utter silence. The world around was imprisoned in a glair-white silence. Nothing sounded, nothing stirred, nothing sang. Winters slavering fangs had come and gone. Its lacerating winds had stripped the last leaves from the trees, leaving them naked and brooding in a harsh world. Those very winds would have frozen one's ears had the woman; cloaked in white herself, had not had her hood drawn up to protect herself.

A week ago, a great storm had come screeching through the lands. It had snarled and mewled with its deadly voice, sounding like a wailing specter. It had ripped slates from roofs and its slavering fangs had sent the last of the squirrels into hibernation. Its scavenging skies had compressed down upon the land, surveying it with a deadly malice. The rain it had brought with it was bitter, like ice-silver bullets of spite raining down by the gods' hands. This was the aftershock of that storm. The world was becalmed. The furious winter tempests had given too much of themselves. They were spent and would give no more punishment this winter, or so one would hope.

The young woman could see a group of teens playing on the half frozen pond. They stamped their frozen feet and thumped their chilly bodies to warm up. Their ears caught fire and turned an icy-blue where their scarves couldn't reach. Nose-icicles dripped from their frozen faces. Their wheezy, wind-filled lungs were belching out steam as they itched and scratched at their raw skin. They started skating. They slipped, slid and slithered on the polished ice. Hissing and swishing with their skates, they swooped and whooped across the ice. Then they screamed as the ice broke. It must have felt like lances of fire lighting up their skin as they fell in to the perishing cold water.

Their teeth were chattering when they crawled back out. They followed the oaken oven smells home to warm up. The woman watched them scurry away as she heard the snort of her mare, the wind from the snort brush her gloved hand. She stopped in the ankle high snow turning to the horse and petting its muzzle lovingly, uttering soft words to calm the horse. "We're almost home Silver; almost back home," She turned back and continued on trudging through the snow until she could smell the familiar scents that welcomed her. From the fresh breads and pastries of the bakery to the smell of wood burning stoves and fireplaces that chuffed out streams of smoke into the cold sky, it all welcomed her home from such a long journey. She walked to the home she knew, one she was raised in most of her life. She tied her mare to the post outside, patting her neck and moving to the door. Her hand lifted up ready to knock when it opened making her pause.

"I saw you come up," The young woman lowered her hand with a smile on her face as she instead swept her hood back revealing long dark hair with a streak of lighter hair in the front. Her one eye was completely red and the other a crystal blue. She was taller than the other woman by several inches having to look down a bit at her. "I'm glad to see you home, Kiko,"

"It's good to be home, Mom," Yennefer; the lady of Vengerberg opened the door more and greeted her youngest daughter by choice with a warm tight hug. Kiko taking a moment to bury her face into the curtain of black curls letting the most familiar scent welcome her home; the smell of Lilac and Gooseberries perfume that her mother enjoyed wearing so much. Long had she known the scent to mean protection and a loving home since the day she met Yennefer in the market place when she was only three. It'd been fourteen years since then; fourteen years of being the daughter of Yennefer and Geralt.

Soon Yennefer pulled away holding Kiko at arms' length, noting a scar that was new on her daughter's brow that separated the brow so that the end seemed cut away from the rest. She reached up pulling Kiko's head down without a word to get a better look at the scar; dagger but being the scar wasn't too thick meant it didn't cut deep. Apparently she'd dodged the incoming blow perhaps?

"Mom, what are you doing?" Yennefer snapped out of her thoughts and simply smiled letting her daughter stand back up right.

"How'd you get the new scar?" Kiko's hand mindlessly drifted up to brush her fingers over the skin where the scar laid.

"Oh that," She lowered her hand. "A bandit tried to attack me for the little bit of coin I had left, barely got me before I sent him flying with a simple Aard. I'm shocked you didn't get overly concerned," Yennefer stepped back letting Kiko walk inside before removing her cloak and hanging it on the wall hook by the door. Kiko turned her attention to the fire, removing her gloves, placing them aside and warming her hands near the crackling golden blaze. "Say… where's father?"

"Geralt decided to take on a contract, seems he was bored with sitting around most of the day,"

"And what about Ciri; where's she off to?"

"She's off on her own contract as well,"

"You'd think she'd have settled down by now," Kiko chuckled before moving from the fire to sit in her father's currently empty chair. "Anyway, Aretuza was taken back by the Mages at last,"

"So Margarita was right to have you venture there to assist?" Yennefer sat down in her chair, curious to hear about Kiko's adventure to help take Aretuza back from the Witch Hunters.

"When I arrived all I saw was a small war of magic and blades, using the spells Philippa taught me I was able to summon a few Golems; though unlike Professor Eilhart's they weren't as… stable, I am at least glad they were enough to make the remaining hunters flee. They abandoned their swords and other weapons before fleeing into the woods… woods of which I saw a Leshen lurking in earlier,"

"You saw a Leshen?"

"Honestly I saw it and it looked at me; staring at me for a few silent moments before it just turned and walked away back into the forest," She shrugged. "Perhaps it could tell my connection to the earth and wind?"

"One can never tell with a beast like that, what amazes me is that a pack of wolves didn't attack or that the Leshen itself didn't lash out. Geralt says they only live to kill,"

"Perhaps some are smarter because they are far more ancient…"

"I do not know, my dear, but it's a curious thought," Kiko suddenly stood and stretched her back a bit. Yennefer was silent for a moment before she spoke. "Have you gone to see Margarita or Philippa yet? You have to tell them of the news,"

"Don't really need to,"

"Why do you say that?" Kiko pointed to the window where a snowy owl could be seen perched on the post they tied their horses to. Seeing an owl like that meant only one thing: it was Philippa. She often used that form to escape or eavesdrop on a conversation, Yennefer stood, walked to the door and opened it allowing the Snowy Owl quickly fly in and turn back into the blindfolded Sorceress herself.

Her hair was done in the old fashion look she had, the dual braids. They fell over her shoulder and came to rest just above her bust with one small braid acting like a small crowning going over the front of her head laid just above her bangs that she'd kept swept to the sides. Her dress was lovely crimson velvet with script writing around the dark leather edges which were runes that most sorceresses wore. Her belt around her stomach was only slightly loose enough for one to slip at least two fingers between her abdomen and belt.

Hanging from lower belting was two metals, like armor plates that were smaller than a person's thigh but to the left side on her hip was the famed dagger she carried. It was the one that claimed the life of King Radovid by piercing his blackened heart. She'd gained her revenge for him blinding her and even killing many sorceresses both young students and experienced mages.

"Kiko, it's good to see you've returned. I'm also glad to hear Aretuza is been reclaimed by sorceresses once more," Of course Philippa still wouldn't smile; woman was the queen of scowling, or perhaps she smiled in the secret of her home where none could see her. Kiko simply waved a hand dismissively before Philippa continued. "Will you be continuing your studies now that you've returned?"

"What little left I have before the final exam,"

"Good then I expect you in class tomorrow," Philippa stated. Kiko didn't respond verbally but decided to simply nod. "As you know Triss will be overseeing your examination—,"

"Phil, I thought I was going to," The blind Sorceress turned her simulated gaze towards Yennefer and shook her head. The look upon Yen's face was of both frustration and disagreement. "She's my daughter, and I've been her head mentor throughout her years of training!"

"Which is exactly why you aren't overseeing her examination," When Kiko saw her mother's one hand tighten into a fist, her own hand shot up snatching Yennefer's wrist as she stood, pulling her mother back to possibly keep her from trying to blast Philippa out of their house.

"Mom, it'll be fine. When I pass I'll be a full fledge sorceress," Yennefer's hand calmed and she relented, once she'd calmed down Kiko released her mother's wrist. She saw yen's gaze soften and felt the velvety gloved hand lightly touch her forearm. There were so few who could actually calm Yennefer down when she grew angry and the people who could were of her small yet unique family; Geralt, Cirilla and Kiko.

"You practically are already, Kiko. You handled nearly everything at the old Academy as if you'd been one of us for years. You're a prodigy child when it comes to magic, similar to when I was younger," Yen said softly. "I was always in the advanced classes,"

"An aptitude for magic," Philippa added in before she turned to the door. "I'll see you both tomorrow, I'm betting you want to rest after a long trip, Kiko," and with that the blind sorceress departed from the house.

"I wonder what will be on the examination anyway…"

"It changes depending upon the level of standing in the classes, being you are more advanced than other students your age, your test may be a bit harder than most others but I believe you'll do just fine," a completely red eye peered over to the dark haired sorceress as she sat down on the stairs. "How's your eye been?"

"I haven't need to stop or manipulate time if that's what you mean,"

"I do,"

"Well, all that's happened is me seeing some past events still. Barely anything future or present related," She knew why Yennefer was asking, the warning she'd given them ages ago about overusing the time manipulation of that one eye. Now everyone worried but Yennefer was the one who showed that worry the most but perhaps that was because she is a mother. And yet as soon as the slight silence was broken by Kiko growling stomach, Yennefer smiled from pure amusement.

"Sounds to me like someone's hungry," Kiko could feel her cheeks pink a touch as she wasn't meaning to have her stomach show just how hungry she was. She'd not eaten in the last day because she just wanted to get home from the cold by Aretuza. At best she'd had cups of tea and enough rest but for food it was mostly berries and grains she gave to her beloved mare over herself. Yennefer stood and walked to Kiko hanging cloak taking it down and tossing it to her. "Come, we can eat at Saskia's tavern,"

"I take it you're buying?" She joked putting her cloak on while Yen did the same then just step outside. Many didn't know it but compared to most wealthy sorceresses, Yennefer was probably one of the wealthiest with not only having been an advisor to kings for a time but for all being court sorceresses which was a slightly lowered ranking than advisor but she owned a very successful business back in Vengerberg that sold beauty creams and oils as well as perfumes for women. Being women had such a thing for looking and presenting themselves as beautiful they often would buy out the creams and oils as if they would perish without them. It was that success that made Yennefer so wealthy that if she wanted to she could retire and not worry about money for several centuries. "Take that as a yes,"

"Of course I'm buying, I prefer you eat before your stomach complains for hours on end,"

"It wasn't complaining…" Kiko shut the door behind her and followed her mother through the city streets. The city in the last few years had expanded and was soon rivaling even Novigrad in not size but proclaiming literal freedom from rule. It governed itself well as more of a vast community and center of trade so much so that most major cities sought out this place now dubbed 'Abb Gleanna' or 'Escape Valley' by the Elves. So it seemingly just stuck and anyone now calls this city by that name. The name was mostly due to elves, human and dwarves escaping persecution for being different. In this city, buzzing with life, were elves both young and old, hardworking dwarves, humans who worked as healers and herbalists, farmers and other jobs of all kinds.

The city had even recently seen more Halflings arrive and settle here using help from dwarves to build more homes, expanding the city slowly. And those who know knew the city even housed a dragon who appeared towards many as a human, Saskia. Abb Gleanna was a city of equality and those who were racist were often the only ones not welcomed. Retired soldiers even lived there, and even some young men built up an army that would defend and protect the streets to keep them safe for people who lived there. Seeing as there were many sorceresses too kept those who'd see harm come to the city at bay only because no one wants to deal with an angry sorceress let alone perhaps a handful to many a hundred of them.

"Kiko," The young sorceress snapped out of her thoughts when her mother called to her only several paces a head of her. She smiled and followed after Yennefer to Saskia's tavern that like always was alive with music and some people in the back dancing or singing to the band or bards playing. Others within the establishment could be seen either eating and drinking or even playing Gwent for fun; others for coin. Saskia, the tavern owner and once revolt leader was behind the bar counter wiping it down while serving some drinks. Who knew a dragon was good at being a bartender.

Yennefer walked over to the counter as Saskia looked up. The polymorphism enabled dragon smiled before leaning upon the counter with her forearms, the towel draped over her left shoulder. "Hey Yennefer, what brings you here?"

"Just a day out to lunch with my daughter," The dragon slayer looked over to Kiko and chuckled.

"My goodness she's certainly grown over the years, I remember seeing her when she was barely to your hip now she's practically Geralt's height," The comment made Kiko rub the back of her head looking away just a bit bashfully. Saskia had lived in the city for some time and been able to watch Kiko grow from a little girl to the young woman she was now. "Anyway what can I do for you two?"

"We're just having a mother daughter outing,"

"Starting with lunch," Kiko added, stepping around to Yennefer's left side, resting her forehead on her mother's shoulder. Yennefer lifted a hand and petted her daughter's head.

"Alright what sounds good for your lunch?" Saskia motioned to the nearby empty table.

"Ham steak," said Kiko's partly muffled voice from behind the older Sorceress. Of course Saskia still heard her and nodded.

"That sounds good for me as well with some wine for us both," Kiko peeked up raising a brow, this was literally the first time Yennefer ever really let her drink any alcohol be it wine or not. Perhaps it was because she was not only getting older but she'd matured over her time assisting at Aretuza. She wasn't exactly the little girl she'd adopted from the market place so many years ago. Kiko was growing into being a young and talented sorceress just like Yennefer and with the help of the other sorceresses too. Hell every time Kiko saw the sorceresses they were often drinking wine, though sometimes she saw Yen drinking apple juice especially if she'd overdone it the night before with the booze.

Kiko could only recall one time that Yennefer was drunk, but not that stupid stagger type drunk. No when her mother was wasted she'd come home reeking of alcohol but be almost singing and saying she loved everyone over and over until she passed out in her chair only for Geralt to carry her upstairs or she'd get up in a half sleeping state to stagger up to bed. Yet in the morning she'd wake only to need apple juice and silence.

The young sorceress was soon pulled from her thoughts when a black velvet gloved hand reached up and lightly touched the side of her head. Yen moved over to a table sitting down with Kiko following sitting across from her mother.

"Are you nervous?" Yen asked.

"What?"

"About the examination; are you nervous about it?"

"A bit but with everything I've learned I'm sure I'll be fine. Philippa and Margarita will watch the Exam sure but Triss will be the one overseeing what I am to do and see if I meet the standards of the Academy," Magic was never easy for most people, hence why only so few could do it. Mostly women sure because they seemingly just have the natural talent but in some cases some were prodigies like Kiko. It came naturally to her over time and she excelled in using more advanced spells long before others of her age could. Philippa even told her that once she graduates she may even try to teach her the polymorph magic she uses to become a snowy owl.

Just that very thought of becoming an animal had Kiko wondering what would suit her. The owl for Philippa suited her because she was wise like anyone knew owls represented but the wide eyes were observant like she always is. People never expected an owl to eavesdrop on their conversations; spying for important information. That's what made that magic so challenging though as not every sorceress; perhaps none other than the Queen of Scowls, Eilhart could achieve it but Philippa seemed determined to teach Kiko one day.

"You'll do fine, you're not just any student, Kiko," Hearing her mother giving her encouragement made Kiko smile. Yennefer always believed greatly in her daughters, both her and Cirilla.

"Sometimes I don't get it…"

"Get what?"

"Why people say you're cold hearted… there were some sorceresses and sorcerers who said 'Yennefer of Vengerberg is better known not only for her raven hair and beauty but that she's colder than ice on the mountains of Skellige'. They don't get who you are ever; they don't see the Yennefer I've been raised by…" Yen kept silent, she knew what people thought of her honestly and now she'd heard that people said that even in earshot of one of her daughters. "They don't know anything about your past and so they judge…"

"Your powers let you see my past, hmm?"

"Yes and can I say that your father was a complete ass while your mom wasn't a true caring mother?" The fact that Kiko seemingly didn't like how Yen's own parents treated her as a child made her chuckle a bit. "Because of how they treated you… it makes you guard your emotions most times, but being a sorceress like many; and yes even you mom, have a superiority attitude,"

"Hmm… I suppose you're right about that,"

"You used to hate yourself as a child didn't you?" Yen's lips pressed into a thin line as she casted her eyes aside. At times she wished a past could be erased but it still lingered there reminding her that was what she was. The horrible torment she suffered didn't help either. Being once a hunchback she was mocked, chased by kids throwing stones and while at home it was even more hell. Father called her a creature more than a person while her mother sat idly by without saying a word. Even when he left she still said nothing, no comfort. It always seemed her mother blamed her instead. "Mom,"

Yen looked up to find Kiko had moved to sit beside her and had taken her hand. The sorceress gave her daughter's hand a firm squeeze. "I'm alright,"

"Liar, you're remembering what happened back then,"

"A bit,"

"Mom, you've grown far past that. If your parents saw you now they'd regret everything they did,"

"Here I am a grown woman getting comforted by my daughter," Yen couldn't help but give a small smile, leaning over to place a kiss upon Kiko's brow. No matter how old her daughter's got she'd always act motherly like that to them but it didn't bother Kiko in the slightest.

"Love you mom," The smile upon Yennefer's face grew more hearing that as Kiko rested her head on Yen's shoulder and resting her eyes just letting the scent of her mother's perfume comfort her like always. She always associated the smell of lilac and gooseberries to the comfort of home since she'd met Yennefer in that market place. She remembered how the ride from that market place was peaceful, mostly silent but she'd ridden with Yen letting her cuddle into her stomach the whole way which let her get some sleep and become custom to the scent so much. Now it was a calming smell and a reason why she liked being home.

Kiko had her own favorite perfume as well but it wasn't the same, sure it was of Rose water and Orange Blossoms which made her smell like a small garden but the scent was subtle; not as dominating in scent like Yennefer's choice.

"Why?"

"Why what, Sweetie; what do you mean?" Yen asked peering down at Kiko. The young sorceress sat up.

"Why do you wear a scent of Lilac and gooseberries? Your perfume… I've always wondered why you chose that,"

"As Geralt would put it, it… shows a bit of my personality. A tart scent of the gooseberries shows I'm not always some sweet small woman, that I have a bit of 'bite' to me, while the lilac shows that beyond that tough exterior I'm I guess a bit of a softy; that I'm a sweeter, kinder person,"

"I guess that works well—say when Geralt and Ciri come home maybe we could go on a family picnic like we used to, I miss those,"

"We'll see," She said softly as Saskia walked over serving them their lunch. Just the smell alone was nearly making Kiko's mouth water. Her stomach gave another subtle rumble which made Yen laugh shaking her head. "Now eat, your stomach keeps talking,"

"Yes mom," and without another word Kiko picked up her knife and fork to eat so she could spend the rest of the day with her mother and without a growling stomach…

Kiko's all grown up but her adventures as well as adventures of the Witcher Family are not over yet.