Chapter fifteen
The Elven City
-Yennefer-
"Geralt!" the sorceress's voice barked out waking the witcher suddenly from his sleep. He groaned and rubbed his face as Yen paced about the room with a letter in her hands that shook. "Wake up, Kiko's gone!"
"What? Where'd she go? What's the letter?"
"She's gone to Dol Blathanna, to speak with Ida, what I don't get is why she felt need to leave at night," She sat on the bed rereading the letter again. "I don't get why she'd think that Ida would be there," She looked up to see one of her crystals out of place on the megascope. Yen stood and moved over to it picking the green gem off the dresser top and holding it in hand made the last transmissions open up to let her and Geralt see what'd been said.
It was a conversation with Philippa, that had mostly things about her lessons then something a bit about how Triss and Philippa were bedding together which even didn't shock Yennefer at this point since everyone knew how Phil was with her taste for women over men mostly. But what she saw being said next made her almost wish to punch Phil. She'd mentioned Ida and how she was hiding in Dol Blathanna but wanted to speak to Kiko personally. Once she'd seen enough she placed the crystal down and rubbed her temples.
"I think I get why she left at night now," Geralt said pulling on his pants. "We didn't want to her leave without someone with her and she wanted to meet Ida without us holding her hand, so she left a note and rode off. She's got a whole night ahead of us but we know where she'd going and it's close by seeing as Dol Blathanna is a Duchy of Aedirn,"
"I know that Geralt, but what upsets me is she didn't trust us enough to tell us face to face but instead left a note,"
"Perhaps because... we didn't trust her enough," Yennefer sighed crossing her arms.
"Maybe you're right, perhaps for once I shouldn't try to keep her on my apron strings. She's an adult pretty much, and a sorceress in her own right now but why did you grow so protective of her over a vampire when you have a friend who's one?"
"She has special blood which might attract the wrong type of vampires wanting to do her harm, but I see now I might have overdone it. Hmm much like you,"
"I can't help it but... perhaps you're right. We've both been a bit too much; not letting her find her own path,"
"Exactly so let's not worry about Kiko, she can take care of herself,"
"It's not that easy, Geralt,"
"Yen... stop being overprotective momma bear and let the cub wander away from the cave for a time,"
"Fine... but I'll still be worried on the inside,"
"Well I tried," he pulled her closer and kissed her brow. Yennefer rested her head on his chest right before shoving him back onto the bed.
"You could try another way," she said with a subtle purr to her voice.
"Then I think I know exactly what could work," He turned pinning Yen under him kissing at her neck tenderly...
Dol Blathanna
A lovely city hidden away from human eyes, made up of buildings that did not remind Kiko of the dirty slums you'd expect but instead they were clean and made from the best architectural styles and engineering the Elves here could muster up. Each had a way of letting the drifting late afternoon sun, glisten off their clean outer walls being some were decorated with silver or gold trimming. Several pink blossom trees could be seen peeking out from over the high city walls, swaying delicately in the breeze that would cause a few petals to float pass carrying their soft scent on the wind. One had even swept pass Kiko as she caught the subtle smell while Siusan smelt it long before the petal drifted their way.
At the entrance way stood guards dressed in finer clothes but their most vital points were covered in strong looking armor perhaps most likely forged from the Dwarves hands in mahakam. They had the typical war paint coating their faces and the swords at their sides looked of the purest Elven make. The slight curve making them only able to be carried in a certain type of sheathe unlike the ones Kiko's father, the Witcher would use for his own blades. Those who stood above them were the famously skilled Elven Archers with an arrow already at the ready in case they needed to defend the gate. Even they wore armor but it seemed in a lighter quality than that of the swordsmen below them. Perhaps for better movement in combat? It was even said that the Elven Archers were known for how they could shoot a man's eye from many of yards away. They were proud looking too, perhaps because protecting their people and especially their beautiful queen was a high honor all it's own.
As Kiko approached on horseback with Siusan holding around her stomach the guards hands instantly went to their blades and the archers aimed down at the pair with drawn arrows. Admittedly Kiko's heart was pounding away in her chest as she didn't know if they'd see her as friend or foe. It was to be expected though... she did appear human and so did Siusan in this state. Everyone knew how the Elves and Dwarves were pushed aside by humans or all together slaughtered for just being different. Humans always had that one poor quality to them so Kiko could understand why they saw her and her friend as a threat. She could see the archers flexing their fingers on the bow slightly to keep themselves steady and she knew they could most likely shoot her before she'd be able to teleport out of the way as she wasn't as quick as her sister Cirilla was in that department.
"Halt dh'oine! What do you seek here?" Kiko pulled the reins back to halt the mare, reaching up to push her hood back so they'd see her face. She noted how one guard gripped his sword tighter ready to wrench it from the sheathe at a moments notice. The young sorceress carefully held her hands up to show she meant no harm; she was no threat to them and she carried no weapons. Then again why would she need one? She was a magic user first off and only owned a dagger with a blade the length of her hand from finger tip to wrist and a fist fitting handle.
"Ceádmil, I seek audience with her grace, Francesca Findabair; Enid an Gleanna," she answered back finally trying to hide the nervous tone in her voice by being as calm as possible but one could understand her fear. There was swordsmen and archers ready to cut her down if she made the wrong move.
"She will speak to no human, begone!" She could hear the archers' bow strings draw tighter as she glanced up at the eyes glaring back. They seemed... deadly and cold which she greatly understood from the many centuries humans had hurt any nonhumans, yet even if she meant no harm they'd remain this protective and alert towards someone who did not have pointed ears like them. "I repeat, begone or earn arrows to your heart, Dh'ione!" The guard started to lift his hand about to gesture to the archers to fire...
"Voe'rle," A calm yet beautiful voice came from behind the gates as they opened revealing that of a beautiful elven woman donning a velvet red dress. Her golden hair was pulled back into large buns held by what looked like woven flowers of white and pink with her pointed ears just barely visible from the sides. Around her neck lay precious stones adorning a silver necklace which complimented her skin. She stepped out and turned her head slightly to peer at the archers above. "Lower your weapons, she is no ordinary Dh'ione but one of those who carry Elven blood," She looked to the guard with his hand up and he started to lower it before protesting.
"But your grace, her ears are curved-"
"Silence," Her voice was stern as her hand held up as if to stop his words physically. Her tone then softened when she turned her head back to gaze over at Kiko and her companion. "Do as I said, lower your weapons at once and let her through, she is my guest; her and her friend behind her," The Elves slowly lowered their guard as their queen turned walking back through the gates motioning a hand over her shoulder for Kiko to follow inside. The young sorceress finally could breathe perhaps a bit easier as she saw the guards stand down entirely even if they still glared at her. Tapping the mare's sides she followed the regal elf through the gates, hearing one of the guards grumble something towards her.
"Behave or I won't hesitate to cut you down, guest or not," Kiko even heard Siusan respond to it with a subtle and almost inaudible growl. She tried to act like she didn't hear what the elf had said as she followed the queen inside until the doors shut and the pair got off the horse; first Siusan who'd hold out her hand to help the sorceress down from the mare's back. Once off Kiko turned patting the mare's powerful neck affectionately, hearing the horse give a small snort and it turned its head to nuzzle her. Francesca turned to the two women and smiled softly.
"Forgive my people if they seem... not so friendly, you understand it's due to the years of suffering,"
"I am aware your grace, and am glad you intervened when you did or I'd have had an arrow to my chest," The queen motioned to a stablehand to take the mare and see she was cared for like one of the queen's very own horses before she'd then take to leading Kiko and Siusan further into the city. "How did you know I was arriving here? Did Philippa contact you?"
"Neén, I could sense you were coming as I was close by. Your magic has... a certain destinction to you as it does for each Sorceress and also Ida had spoken to Philippa some time ago. Seems each sorceress has taken a liking to you and sees great potential in you in restoring people's faith in magic,"
"I don't see why, I'm not even that far into my studies," Kiko did just recently become a full sorceress yet she was still young; too wet behind the ears to be on say the Lodge of Sorceresses level. Now that was a standard she felt she'd never get to but knew with other sorceresses around her she'd probably get there in time with some effort.
"I know but Ida values knowledge over anything; she wishes to mentor you in hopes you might become something of a sage and not often is there a human sage but you carry elven blood deep in you. Then there is Philippa who wants to see if you can master polymorphy and should you, would make you a powerful and rare sorceress,"
"It's like everyone has some plan for me... Even Margarita wants me to learn more spells akin to healing. Says it'd be helpful in the end if I could do so. It'd help me and perhaps people who just need a bone mended or sour stomach soothed without using Herbs or terrible home remedies," Francesca stopped and reached a hand over lifting Kiko's chin with her slim fingers.
"Sorceresses are that way, Kiko. We from the Lodge have too much... baggage and bad history for some to trust us but a bright young face, someone innocent from sin and burden would stand a better chance. Thus each of us wish to mentor you as you should the brightest potential compared to many others who were students beside you. Where they showed promise in aiding kings and being teachers, you carry in you the promise in changing the world for better, perhaps showing people magic is not evil but a useful tool that can keep things safe," She withdrew her hand cupping it with her own in such an elegant and regal manner before her stomach.
"Yeah I saw what happened to the old sorceress academy,"
"Indeed Aretuza was a saddening loss but with the new city and academy there we've started a new beginning for mages new and old to find safety and knowledge," Francesca looked from Kiko to her companion and raised a brow. "Though I am curious of something,"
"What might that be your grace?"
"Why you are traveling with a Bruxa, and yes I can tell as her species... gives off a heavy sense of magic. Hence why witchers, like Geralt, wear those medallions. They tremble when they are in an area where there is magic. Mages on the other hand can sense it as if the magic in the air was as solid as a you or I. Now do tell me... why are you traveling with a Bruxa Vampire?" Siusan scratched at the back of her head, turning her gaze downward and away from the observant Elf queen who was watching her for a moment before she'd focus back to Kiko's direction.
"I guess you could say she's a friend, she's caused me no harm and vampires are much like us just they have a desire for blood and live long lives or regenerate from bad injuries in moments," Kiko smiled, patting Siusan's shoulder which made the bruxa look up and at the young sorceress with a shocked questioning look on her face.
A friend with a human girl? She'd never thought she'd be considered that since many of her ancestors were not... humanitarians and thus saw humans as a blood filled delicious livestock perfect for drinking from. It reminded her of those old books written when vampires first arrived in this world; it reminded her of the disgust she had in how her ancestors treated people they could have lived along side of peacefully. Even now, Siusan had known of several vampires be them male or female who've loved human people not for their blood but because they truly loved them.
She could even recall one male vampire who-upon losing his beloved human wife-spent his days starving himself of blood or any food as he sat before her grave watching the flower petals slowly die one by one. Or the story of the higher vampire woman who'd loved a man so much that she'd saved him from another vampire costing her dearly. The man had loved her in return so much that even as she lay dying from the fatal blow he kissed her blood stained lips before dying of heart break. Such sad stories they'd been but they showed that even vampires and humans were compatible and friendly.
The thought of being friends with this young sorceress soon turned the look of shocked questioning into that of a delighted smile which did display the slightest hint of her fangs. Perhaps this was all she'd wanted was someone she could actually think of as a friend because the others of her old pack certainly were far from it. They'd not cared when she left and she'd even heard from a raven that most were delighted she'd gone as they disliked how their leader was so obsessed with her more than them. At least with Kiko she felt... accepted and maybe even cared for. It was a nice and heart warming realization to her that someone for the first time cared about her not as property but as an equal.
"A lovely friendship worthy of ballads I'm sure, and from what I know Geralt had a vampire friend himself though the name escapes me," she waved a dismissive hand. "Moving on, come I'm sure you're tired and a bit hungry from the travel here,"
"A bit yeah," Kiko said as the Elven Queen turned leading the way again. Siusan felt the young sorceress grasp her hand without looking and pulled her with as she silently followed along.
When they reached the place where Francesca resided, guards were of course glaring at the girl as she passed and even shook their heads at Siusan. Francesa, though if she spotted their looks she'd shoot them back a darkened anger like glance that was shocking. How someone so beautiful could appear so dangerous in an instant was scary. The guards would lower their gaze and head as though they meant to say a silent 'forgive me' before the Queen's gaze turned bright again and she ventured on with her guests.
"Your grace might I ask where Ida currently is?"
"I am not sure, the sage moves about as she pleases and often does so. I will have my guards seek her out and tell her you've arrived," She motioned to two nearby guards who'd heard her words. They bowed their heads and quickly departed just before the Elven Queen opened the double doors she came upon revealing a long lavish table covered from end to end with cheeses, bread, and fruits. Bottles of wines of Elven or Dwarven make sat in the center near the dim candles flickering light upon the food covered table. Francesca walked in and took a small handful of grapes for herself, popping one into her mouth. "Do help yourselves, there is plenty,"
"Thank you, your grace,"
"Dear Kiko, just because I am a Queen doesn't mean you need only refer to me as such. We are sorceresses and thus are equals in that very sense. Call me by my Elven name or that of Francesca,"
"I will your-I mean Francesca,"
"You have not rubbed elbows with many royal figures have you?"
"No not yet,"
"Well you are an adopted sister to one are you aware?"
"I know, Cirilla is the daughter of Nilfgaard's Former Emperor but she chose the Witcher's path over ruling a nation under the 'great sun',"
"She was to rule over much of the world in truth, Duchess in some places, princess, queen or Empress if you will, but she chose her own path. Yet have you chosen yours?"
"I..." She never exactly thought about it when it came to what she'd do in her life aside from being a sorceress but there was more to it. Her mother had once been among politics and later removed herself from it. She had tired of that life after being amongst it for so many decades but Kiko never once gave thought to what she'd do. Advise a King? Teach young willing mages? The thoughts never occurred to her. "I do not know yet but it's hard to decide when everyone has plans for me without so much as asking how I feel,"
"But that is where you're wrong, Philippa did not force you to study polymorphy did she? Ida is extending a hand to mentor you and you can decide to grasp that hand or shoo it away,"
"I guess... you're right about that,"
"Perhaps fate brought you to Yennefer and Geralt, perhaps fate chose you to be gifted in magic. One cannot say but what you can say is how you will walk it, you decide your steps and follow that path," Francesca went silent and turned her head as a pair of doors opened to reveal Ida walking in behind a guard. Kiko had only met the doppler who'd taken Ida's form when she was younger but to actually be able to sense her magic was almost awe inspiring. She knew the elf was a sage who prided herself greatly upon knowledge of magic as well as her powers. It was rare to ever hear of human sages but much more common to hear of Elven ones.
"Ceádmil Kiko," Ida said with a nod of her head toward the young sorceress.
"Ceádmil Ida Emean aep Sivney," Kiko bowed her head slightly while lightly crossing her arm over her stomach in a polite manner. "I'm glad to finally meet you properly,"
"Likewise," Ida glanced over to Francesca. "I am sorry to ask, your grace but could you leave me and Kiko to speak?"
"What about me?" Siusan finally spoke up after being pretty quiet the whole time. Ida's gaze moved back to the Bruxa before she raised a brow.
"A sorceress befriending a Bruxa? Unique friendship you have there, Kiko but she's powerful and appears to trust you. She can stay if she wishes unless she doesn't feel the need to hear magic talk and other matters between sorceresses,"
"I think I'll stay..." Siusan stepped behind Kiko even though she was a bit taller but she was grabbing an apple from the tray upon the table. Francesca though had left with her guard following behind, shutting the doors behind her. Ida cleared her throat and focused on the young sorceress.
"I heard what you did at Aretuza, helped reclaim the ruined academy from the witch hunters. But most don't know the whole story; only what we've heard. What I heard is the scar you're hiding,"
"Who told you?"
"Margarita, the one who helped you to conceal it with magic that you use daily to hide it," She walked forward and reached up placing a finger upon the sorceress's brow. "It's here is it not?" Kiko reached up as Ida's hand moved away, removing the spell that hide the scar she'd gotten from the blade of a Witch hunter. It was jagged cutting from the mid area by her hair line down into her right eye brow. Even Siusan leaned around seeing the scar that was now on show. "Tell me the whole story first,"
"You know if my mother saw this she'd have freaked out,"
"Yennefer is just that way, now tell me everything,"
Most of the school had been burned down, brick rubble littered the grounds with smoke chuffing out of the ashed parts of the building. Large bonfires made up of burning books from the libraries were spotted around the destroyed building. Kiko was crouched in the bushes with several elven and human sages alike nearby as well as a few Dwarf mercenaries with swords and those large hammers they liked to use. To think though a young sorceress, perhaps the youngest there was leading this attack to at least remind the witch hunters who they should not mess with as well as avenge the many who fell to their blades and fires.
They'd wait until the clouds covered the moon before she'd send the elves and dwarves in with her letting the other mages act as barriers to keep any hunters from escaping. Yet everything went wrong when a hunter spotted one of the Dwarves beating the head of one hunter in with his hammer declaring loudly it was for his beloved elven mage they'd slew; for her honor. Once the others were alerted they came out in waves practically only being kept at bay by the Dwarves and spells of the mages. Yet the only one of the mages even using magic was Kiko who'd taken a witch hunter's blade from a dead hunter and used it just as her father had shown her but she was not as skilled as him or Cirilla.
The battle there seemed to last for ages with the wails of the injured or dying as well as the clashing steel against steel or hammers breaking bones with loud grinding snaps. Kiko had found the hunter commander and being her sword skills weren't that grand, several of his hard swings knocked her off balance then smashed the sword from her hands letting it glide several yards away over the muddy ground. When she turned back towards him his blade came down readying to finish her off but it seems good footwork her father taught her came in handy but she was still too slow. The blade had missed cutting her in two but caught her on the head with the very tip of the blade cutting a jagged mark over her brow.
The blood spilled down blinding her as she'd stagger back trying to find where she was; dazed and injured. The commander was closing the gap quickly readying his blade to strike again when she opened her other eye not covered with blood. Kiko's hand shot up and blasted the commander back in a wave of harsh wind. When the commander slammed into a brick wall his sword sputtered away from his hand as Kiko walked towards him. One eye blinded by blood and the other blazing with anger as she unsheathed a blade from her belt; a short dagger with a wolf bone handle decorated with Elven runes. The commander held up his hands pleading for his life, declaring he'd had a wife and child.
"You slew hundreds of mages and non humans who also had families! Why should I spare you when you did not spare them?!" She was getting closer, hand clutching the blade as she grabbed his throat. "YOU DON'T DESERVE MERCY WHEN YOU GAVE NONE!" Her voice roared before she'd plunge the blade into his chest and giving it a harsh twist. "Mortals have judged you, now the gods will do the same. Rest in peace, cocksucker..." She shoved the blade harder as the commander gave a blood gurgling choke before life faded from his eyes and his hands grasping at her shoulders fell to his sides.
When she stood wrenching the blade from the hunter commander's chest she felt a flake of snow; winter's first snow kiss her cheek. It was like a cold frozen thank you from all those who'd died by that man's hands. She looked over to see several Elves and dwarves, even humans piling the hunters bodies to burn them. One elven sage touched Kiko's shoulder whispering that they should tend to her wound and that the fight was won even if Aretuza was destroyed. They'd waged the war needed and won the first battle...
"You were sent there for the few books though,"
"Couldn't get them with a bunch of smelly hunters walking around,"
"So you attacked them got the books that survived and left back to the small town you were residing in?" Kiko slowly nodded. "You are as fierce as your mother and the witcher, you even somehow share the same wild eyes as Cirilla. While she is the lion cub, you are similar to that of a tiger. A calm person until provoked then you pounce,"
"Well now you know everything,"
"Indeed and now I want to extend my hand to mentor you. We all see great potential in you, Yennefer, Triss, Philippa, Fringilla, Francesca, Margarita and myself,"
"I am aware, and I'll ask simply to think about it. It's also that I'm growing tired and my mind wishes me to sleep," Kiko's hand quickly covered a light yawn that decided to overtake her final few words she spoke a moment before.
"Very well, we can certainly talk more about this tomorrow. Francesca even had a guest room within her residence readied for you,"
"In her palace?"
"Where else would she put her guest?"
"Right... still not used to being around royals..."
"I'll leave you and your companion be, I should tell Francesca we're done talking for now," With that Ida left through the double doors, shutting them behind her. Kiko sighed resting her hands on the table before grabbing a goblet of wine quickly drinking it down. Her mind was all over the place about much of what she learned today. Each of the Sorceresses saw some potential in her to be some sort of new age leader for Mages to reestablish themselves as typical people among the masses. Yet she'd not been told of anything nor asked if she'd want that.
Her hand lifted up to trace the scar on her brow before it'd vanish under the disguise or masking spell she'd been using for ages now. Unlike Cirilla who wore her scar with more pride, Kiko couldn't do the same and kept hiding it away whenever she could. It was why she slept with her covers over her head in case the spell wore off or something. She didn't need her mother or Ciri to see it especially. They'd simply go back to babying her all over again and that was something she rather avoid.
"Can't you magically heal it?" Siusan said through a mouthful of apple being she was on her fourth one by now. Seems she enjoyed that fruit a lot.
"I don't know, I only asked Margarita to help me conceal it not heal it and make it gone forever," She looked up and found Siusan eating one apple with another five cradled in her one arm. "What's with all the apples? You going bobbing for them?"
"No, I just have this... appreciation for them I suppose,"
"You have an apple-addiction? A vampire not addicted to blood but apples?"
"Vampires can have strange addictions just like humans can, it's what makes us similar to you,"
"Well except for-"
"For the many centuries we can live, need for blood, super speed and strength... I know,"
"Maybe I should plant an apple tree, so when it grows I could probably find you sitting in the tree munching apples and dropping the cores down to the trunk that way more trees could grow into an apple orchid," Kiko chuckled, leaning against the table with her backside now, crossing her arms. "Imagine the cute romance ballads Bards would make of the 'Appleseed Bruxa',"
"Long as I get apples I'd be happy,"
"Still amazing how a Bruxa could have an addiction to apples," Siusan shook her head and leaned on the table beside Kiko. "But I find it adorable, makes you seem to have a soft side..." She yawned then playfully nudged the Bruxa's side before resting her head on Siusan's shoulder.
"I might be the thing that 'goes bump in the night' but I do have more human like qualities about me," she paused. "Francesca's coming, guess she's going to be taking us-" when she heard a small snore Siusan stopped talking before she peered down to find Kiko was already asleep leaning against her. She put each apple down on the table before carefully and very easily picking up the sleeping sorceress into her arms. When the Elven queen opened the door she glanced from the Bruxa to the young sorceress.
"She fall asleep that fast?"
"It would appear so, you can lead me to the room. I can carry her,"
"I'm not surprised you can, follow me," She turned and started to walk down the hall with Siusan carrying the sleeping young woman in her arms. Kiko's head rested on her shoulder almost cuddled into her neck, lightly snoozing away. Guess she really had been tired from the journey and everything tossed at her all at once. When the queen opened the door to the room, Siusan stepped inside finding two lovely dressed beds sitting among fine wooden dressers; one for each of them, even with a mirror on the top. The curtains were drawn open letting the soft moonlight drift into the room and dance along the red carpet.
Francesca left the two women alone, closing the door behind her as the bruxa placed Kiko on one of the beds watching the young sorceress turn over with her back to her cuddling a pillow close to her face. Siusan sat on the bed edge and looked out the window up at the cresent moon there accompanied by little glittering stars. She'd look back now and again to check on her friend, deciding she'd simply sit there acting like some protective guard dog over her while she slept peacefully there...