The frustrated raven-haired sorceress scratched the back of her neck while she revisited her annotations once more. She had nothing but questions without any answers.
When Geralt had confess to her that his mother was a sorceress like herself, he quickly dismissed all her questions saying that was all he knew about her. He said that he never bother to find out more, neither he wanted to now. Unsatisfied, Yennefer scanned thoroughly his mind in the search of more information, however, the only thing that she learnt about the matter was that he did not lie, he didn't even know her name, nor even he had a single memory of her.
She knew that Geralt only wanted to soothe her by telling her that it was possible for mages to have children, but she could not just sit with this information. She had heard rumors about some sorceress that had succeeded on procreating, but from her intense research never came names or any evidence that those stories were true.
During the last months, she had tried everything that she could to find Geralt's mother, all in vain, as register by her on the paper she was holding. She tried the crystal, metal and stone method but it brought nothing. She even tried with a few strands of Geralt's hair she had taken from his pillow, hoping that the blood connection would lead her, but it did not work either. She concluded that Geralt's organism, resistant to magic, was blocking the spell.
She could not ask for his help, not only he did not want to find his mother he was also worried that Yennefer might do it. However, Yennefer was too close to give up.
Yet, so far, she thought sadly.
To dismiss his worries, Yennefer pretended she had forgotten about the matter, and her melt down had only been a temporally reaction to her unpleasant task. Moreover, she hoped that never mentioning that night would somehow make disappear the way she had made him feel. She could not forget the sadness that she had sensed on his thoughts, all because her selfish confession. She immediately felt regret biting her once again.
She looked through the window of her office and observed the bare chested witcher swing his sword, pirouetting around the patio. He was making a better use of the soft spring sun than she was. The sorceress bit her lip. Once again they had argued that morning, the reason now seemed very futile.
Stubborn witcher, she thought shrugging. I cannot tell him that I'm looking for his mother… we do not need more reasons to quarrel.
And Yennefer was convinced that he had nothing to do with her desire to have a child, as he did not shared it. Geralt was perfectly in peace with the fact that he would never have a child of his own.
She had learnt a great amount of things from reading his mind, although she regretted her intrusiveness. She knew now that he was growing restless because a long time had passed since he had stayed on the same place for this long. She knew that he was divided with the desire to stay with her and his craving to go back to the Path.
Yennefer watched her reflection on the window smile triumphantly as now she had plan that could solve both their problems at once.
"So you want to go to Kaer Morhen?" The witcher looked at her rising one eyebrow, "You should know that the fortress is not much more than ruins now and the path to get there is long and harsh. And you know I hate portals… are you sure?"
"Yes, I expected that."
"I just do not understand why…"
Yennefer held her smile not exteriorizing her irritation.
"Geralt, come on. I know you need to get out of this town for a while. You are running around irritated like a caged wolf. To be honest, I'm also feeling claustrophobic in this place."
"But why Kaer Morhen, Yen? We can go anywhere," he said unconvinced. Yennefer was getting more annoyed at him.
"You know I'm working on a way to enhance the use of magic. I think it will be helpful for my research to see where you witchers went through the trial of the grasses, if you do not mind, that is. I think that your resistance to spells might be the key"
"I do not mind and I do not think Vesemir will either. Maybe it is a good idea to get out of here…"
Yennefer kissed his lips sweetly putting her arms around his neck, "Yes, it is"
From Geralt's thoughts, she had learnt that was the witcher's mentor, Vesemir, who had tell him about his mother. If someone knew more about the sorceress Yennefer was looking for, for sure it was him.
They rode slowly for the path that once brought them to Vengerberg many months ago. She could not have predicted how the things had changed. The last time they rode those roads, Yennefer was determined to find a way to undo Geralt's wish. She still did not completely comprehended what bonded them, but she knew that was not only the magic of the Djinn. She could now admit to herself that she was in love with him. Neither of them had said it aloud as it was not needed. Saying those words never brought any benefit for her before, it would only over dramatized something that did not need to be made complicated.
Nevertheless, the wish that Geralt made to the Djinn had only brought good things to her such as Geralt himself and the possibility of finally having her dream come true. After all, the ghost on her hallucination was right, it was going to be him who would help her to fulfill her deepest wish.
Yennefer looked at her witcher and smiled, never before she was so satisfied to fail at something.
"I'm really curious about what is so amusing to make you grin like that," he teased her.
"I was just thinking about that poor stuffed unicorn we killed," she lied but the memory made her laugh genuinely.
"It was worth the sacrifice."
"Oh yes, it was," Yennefer smiled at him coquettishly, "we should find a replacement soon."
Geralt had not lied when he said that the way to Kaer Morhen was long and harsh. Took them a couple of weeks to cross the kaedwenie country. Once they reached the Blue Mountains where the Wolf School lair was situated, Yennefer could only hope that they would arrive soon, however they had been riding for almost two days in a trail that meandered between cliffs and mountains. The sorceress was tired and her whole body was sore, but she did not complained aloud, the trip was her idea and she did not want to show any sign of weakness.
"It must be impossible for an outsider to find the way to the fortress," wondered aloud Yennefer after they had entered a path between two cliffs that looked exactly like the one they had entered before.
"Generally it was."
Yennefer observed in silence the skeletons laying between the rocks that lined the narrow path that they were following. She had heard about the massacre that happened here some time ago. She could remember perfectly the noise it had caused among the Chapter due the involvement of mages on the attack to the witchers of the Wolf School.
"Soon we will arrive." informed Geralt pathing Roach on the neck as the horse struggled to climb the steep road. The sorceress nodded relived.
A grey haired man awaited for them at the gate of the fortress. Geralt immediately jumped out of his horse and walked to the man.
"Geralt," the witcher who welcomed them and Geralt hugged brieftly patting each other on the shoulder. "I did not expected you, especially this late, you know, winter is already over."
So that sense of humor is apparently a witcher thing, thought Yennefer dismounting her horse.
"Vesemir, this is Yennefer of Vengerberg," introduced her Geralt, to what the grey-haired witcher bowed his head politely on her direction.
"A sorceress," he said almost like a question raising an eyebrow to Geralt.
"It is very nice to meet you, Vesemir," she said. Yennefer knew that there was not much love between witchers and mages in general. She could not blame him.
"I'll take the horses to the stables." Geralt said taking the reins of the two horses.
"Where are my manners? Yennefer I'll lead you inside, come please," the sorceress followed him. They walked through a dark patio lined by the tall ruins of a wall. She could feel that the older witcher was curious about her presence there, but she decided to remain quiet and let Geralt clarify to his mentor why they were here. Vesemir seemed to agree as he did not ask her anything.
"It is a long way from Vengerberg to Kaer Morhen," smiled the old witcher sympathetic.
"Yes it is, it would have taken me at least two portals to cover the distance."
"Why did you come riding then?"
"Geralt insisted," Yennefer answered as they entered the old fort, welcomed by a dim fire light.
Not long afterwards Geralt joined them, they sat by the fire and Vesemir listened attentively to the news and stories that the younger witcher told. Yennefer drank silently the apple cider that she was offered.
"Did Lambert and Eskel leave long ago?" asked Geralt stretching his legs.
"A couple of weeks ago. Eskel went to Poviss, there was a rumor of a plague of kikimores on the region. Lambert had planned to go to Skellige. How about you Geralt?"
"I have not decided yet what I'm going to do, there will be time to think about that. Are you going to stay at the keep this year?"
"Yes. Many things need to be done around the fortress. It is actually very nice to have you here you can help me. Which brings the question: what are you doing here at this time of the year?"
"Yen asked if she could see the laboratory." She noticed a strange exchange of looks between the two witchers.
"Yes, yes. Of course. If someone can find something useful on those ruins, must be a sorceress. I just have to ask you to keep absolute secret about whatever you find there"
"Yes, do not worry. I'm here only because personal curiosity," the raven-haired sorceress said smiling graciously.
"Then, please be my guest. If Geralt trusts you, then so do I."
"You cannot say that I did not warn you about the conditions of the keep," said Geralt rising an eyebrow as he closed the door after him.
"You did," Yennefer said sitting on the old bed, almost the only piece of furniture on the simple room. It was not much different that she had expected to be a witcher's bedroom.
"I can arrange the bedroom on the tower, if you wish"
"Maybe tomorrow."
He leaned and kissed her forehead lingeringly.
"Thank you, Yen."
"What for?"
"I did not notice how much I needed… fresh air," he said while gently tucked a black curl behind her ear. She looked up at him and smiled sadly. He responded kissing her lips tenderly. She let out a soft sigh and with her arms around his neck she pulled him with her as she laid down on the bed.
They laid down entwined together, satisfied by their lovemaking. She could feel his warm breath against the skin of her chest, where his beard tickled her ever so lightly. While she observed the stone ceiling faintly illuminated by the moonlight that entered thought the open window, Yennefer could not help but pick fragments from his thoughts, as the over sensitive state she was in would not allow her to keep the mental barrier up. He was remembering the loneliness of roaming the world, without a destination other than the next insignificant town where he would be welcomed with frightened gazes and antipathy. He thought about how Kaer Morhen was the only home he knew then, the only safe haven for him in the world and how that changed when he met her, and everything had changed so much. Laying like that on her arms, no matter where, it felt like home for him. All the roads in the world would always lead to her now.
Yennefer hold him tight in response of his thoughts. She knew it was not a fair trade for her to read his mind, as he could not know what she was thinking too. One of the reasons why she could not stand being with Val for so long, even with what was between them, was because of the lack of privacy of her thoughts. Val read her like an open book and it quickly became tiresome to be careful with her thoughts all the time. She felt terrible guilty for doing the exact same thing with Geralt.
She could feel him cringe when they entered the cave, it was dark and strangely dry. A faint magical aura could still be felt, lingering in between the ruins. It smelled like a strong mix of dust and an unidentified combination of herbs.
"When was the last time you were here?" She asked curiously.
"I was here only once."
The enchantress did not say anything and she casted an orb of light. She walked carefully among the ruins of what looked like a laboratory.
"So, there was a resident sorcerer that administrate the trials?"
Geralt nodded clearly uncomfortable. She concluded that the memories and the pungent smell were perturbing him.
"You know, you do not have to stay if you do not want to."
"I'm alright," he said briskly, she shrugged and walked to what remained of a desk. The enchantress casted a spell that gently lifted the heavy wooden top of the table revealing a dusty box filled with papers. She kneeled down to examine their contents feeling Geralt's gaze on her. She let out an annoyed sigh.
"Really, I'm fine on my own."
"I can see that."
"What do you mean?"
"Why are you asking me? Why don't you read my thoughts already?"
"And see what? That you do not trust me? That even if you want to get the hell out of here you do not because you do not think you can leave me alone?" Yennefer said annoyed. The witcher looked like he was about to say something, but instead he remained in silence. She growled exasperated.
"I'll wait outside. I do not want to be here," the witcher snarled and turned around, leaving her alone in the remains of the laboratory.
The sorceress shrugged and opened an old dusty book she found on the bottom of the box. It belonged to Dagobert Sulla. She had never heard about him before but she could conclude he was the last resident sorcerer in Kaer Morhen.
Yennefer was sitting on the patio of the fortress reading the old book on elder speech she had found the day before at the cave that Geralt had shown her. The cold mountain air was bothering her, piling up her annoyance.
"I hope you have find something useful on that pile of dirt, nobody has been in that cave for a really long time," said the old witcher sitting next to her.
"Yes, these annotations in particular are very interesting," said Yennefer, "I'm having some problems translating some of the ingredients… I've never seen some of these names…"
"I wish I could help you, Yennefer, but I can barely brew my own potions. On the good old days, before the attack to the fortress, I was a fencing master, I never thought I'd have to learn about the trials…"
"Well, letting me roam around here is helpful enough," smiled Yennefer trying to win the favor of the old witcher. "When I decipher this, I could help you to restore the Trial of the Grasses, I can make these mutagens for you…"
"I appreciate it but the world does not need more witchers," Vesemir interrupted her. "There is no reason why we should put any more children into that suffering, for our vain cause. Cities are growing and monsters are hiding on the forests and mountains. You know, there is many people who do not believe in banshees, for example, because they had never seen one. When I was a young witcher, I remember it was impossible to roam a swamp without facing one. Those were dangerous times. Now, the biggest menace to humans are themselves. There is nothing we can do against the common folk. They have to solve their own problems. "
The enchantress looked at him in silence and nodded, she did not want to discuss with him.
"Do you know where is Geralt?" Vesemir broke the awkward silence.
Yennefer shrugged, "he said something about going up in a trail…"
The old witcher nodded and got up after patting her softly on the arm.
"Vesemir?" He turned around and rose his eyebrows expectant, Yennefer took a deep breath and continued, "Geralt told me about his mother…"
"I do not think that subject concerns you, Yennefer," he said very protectively.
"It is just professional curiosity," lied the enchantress. "It is rare for a sorceress to bear a child."
Vesemir looked at her suspiciously.
"Geralt told me that he was submitted to more trials than the normal, and that he recovered quickly from the mutagen's effects… I wonder if it was because of his mother"
"Dagobert knew nothing about Geralt's origin," said Vesemir sitting next to her again. "But I suspect that is true. I knew he was different from the first time I saw him. His mother was also different from the rest of you sorceress, with no offense. We met in Ellander, in the temple of Melitele. She handed me her child and said that she could not think of any better fate for him. It was not my right to convince her otherwise"
Yennefer bitted her lip, she could not understand why would someone abandon a child, put him in the hands of witchers, knowing the chances that he would survive the trials were low. Yennefer felt anger building inside of her, she did not know who Geralt's mother was but she already despised her.
"Do you remember her name?"
Vesemir hesitated for a long while, Yennefer picked up on his mind that he was deciding if he trusted her. The sorceress looked intently at him, she could just get the information out of him either he wanted or not, but she wanted him to tell her on his own, she liked the old witcher. However, she would get to know the name anyway, and he knew that.
"Yes I do, Yennefer," he finally said. "Her name was Visenna."