The harsh words she had said to Geralt echoed on her head not letting her sleep. She turned around aggressively in the empty bed, kicking the blankets. The argument they had that night had been so bad that Geralt had opted for sleeping on the guest room. She admitted to herself that she had overreacted but was too proud to apologize.
To her annoyance, once again the witcher was thinking about leaving, despite the long weeks they spent traveling to Kaer Morhen and back to Vengerberg. Now Geralt's thoughts were fueled by a proposal from the mayor of Aldersberg, who had hear about the witcher's arrangement with the aldersman of Vengerberg during the winter. Apparently, creatures that only a witcher could deal with were also pestering the neighbor town.
She could understand now Geralt's motivations, she did not agree with them, but she understood. However, in her selfishness she could not help but feel bothered.
Maybe it will be the best for him… for us. And as long as he stays alive and comes back to me…
She growled, having lost the battle against herself. She got up and quietly went downstairs. She opened the guest room's door. She knew he had heard her come.
"Yen..."
"Hush," she cut him off. She climbed into the bed with him, he was confused but he welcomed her.
"Not so angry anymore?"
"Please, do not say anything," she said and kissed his lips while running her fingers through his hair.
"Yen, I'm tired of arguing so much…"
"Witcher, don't you see that despite my pride I'm trying to apologize?"
"Oh, I'm sorry I interrupted you then," he said displaying a mischievous smile.
"Just be quiet," she whispered softly pulling out her white silk camisole.
The delightful wobbliness she was feeling on her legs was starting to fade away when she decided to break the silence that had been surrounding them for a while.
"Geralt?"
"Yes, Yen?" He replied with a drowsy voice as he shifted to his side on the narrow bed on the guest room. He buried his face on her neck and sniffed deeply her hair, making her shiver.
She wanted to ask him to stay, but despite the times her thoughts were clouded by her selfishness, she understood that Geralt was what he was, she could not change him and she was aware that neither would he change for her on his own. Geralt was a witcher and all the years he had trained in that fortress on the middle of the mountains had imprinted a sense of duty that overcame anything else, even her. She could not ask him to stay.
"Please, do not get killed in Alderberg," she sighed softly.
"Yen, you know I'm perfectly able to take care of myself… I've been doing that my whole life…"
"Oh yes, I can see that," she said running her finger through a remarkably dreadful scar on his chest.
"For someone who gets so annoyed by my sarcasm, you are pretty sarcastic yourself"
"For someone who did not want to fight anymore, you don't seem to be making much effort!" She snapped a little bit starker than she intended.
He observed her in silence for a while, took a deep breath and kissed her lips.
"Hey, what are you doing?" She said gently pushing him away.
"Apologizing."
"You cannot just steal my strategy," said Yennefer amused.
"Why not? I liked it," the witcher mumbled while impatiently seeking her lips again.
"Fine, can we go back to our own bed first?"
"No." he chuckled while running his hands over her thighs making her shiver.
Yennefer almost choked with the apple juice she was drinking. Geralt looked at her startled from across the table.
"What is wrong?"
"This," she said waving a piece of folded paper. "The Chapter is summoning all the mages to a meeting in Thanedd. I feel like those are happening more and more often."
"And that is bad?"
Yennefer snorted. "Not bad, just irritating. It usually ends up being a gathering of narcissistic mages showing off their influence, power and who sucks up more the high council of the Chapter. For what reason are they gathering now? Nothing important enough, even more annoying."
"Then do not go."
"I have to. You would not understand."
"You should stop patronizing me."
Yennefer rolled her eyes. After their discussion and delightful reconciliation, she had promised to herself she would make an effort to maintain peace between them.
"If Vesemir asked you to do something, wouldn't you agree?"
"It would depend on what…"
"See? I told you would not understand"
"Yen," he reprimanded her.
"You should accompany me to the opening banquet," she shifted the conversation topic swiftly to avoid any discussion. "You can take a break from one night. I'm sure the mayor of Alderberg would not mind."
"Sadly, I'm going to have to decline that lovely invitation," Geralt smirked returning his attention to his porridge. "I have my suspicious is not very common for a non-sorcerer to attend these events."
"You are right."
"And I have a feeling I'd be scrutinized by your confreres, and that is something I do not particularly enjoy."
"Nonsense," Yennefer laughed and did not push further. Maybe he was right again, she was aware that their uncommon relationship had already waken the curiosity of some of her colleagues.
"When are you leaving to Aldersberg?"
"Tomorrow, early in the morning. What are you doing today? I have plans for us if you decide to stay at home," he smiled the mischievous smile she loved so much.
"I'm sorry, there is this king I have to babysit," she said getting up and pecking his lips – "see you at night."
She studied carefully her reflection on the mirror, smoothing an invisible wrinkle on the soft black taffeta. She turned around and looked over her shoulder how the dress' skirt trailed behind her elegantly. That detail had made her choose that dress. Yennefer carefully applied a final layer of lipstick and satisfied with her work she walked to the door of the room she was staying Aretuza for the meeting of the chapter.
She wished that Geralt could see her because he would for sure enjoy the low neckline of her dress. She smirked at the thought and fought the urge to bit her lip, not wanting to ruin her makeup. It had been almost two weeks since the last time she had seen him, and every day that she went through without him, the longing for him hurt her almost to the physical level.
Her high heels clicked echoing through the empty dark corridor she had walked so many times. The school had a precious place on her heart as it had allowed her to become what she was now.
She stopped by the stairs and waited for her mentor, as they had agreed earlier. The list of people for whom Yennefer would wait for was very short and it included the impressive archmage Tissaia de Vries.
"Tissaia," she saluted her former mentor, honestly content.
"Yennefer, I'm glad to see you." Tissaia de Vries looked perfectly groomed as Yennefer expected her to be. Her dark hair combed faultlessly into an elegant bun. The burgundy dress she was wearing was richly embellished with black crystals, making her beauty stand up calculatedly.
"How are things with king Demavend?" Tissaia asked while they walked down the stairs that led to the main hall.
"Very satisfying. The councils are far calmer now, when we signed the treaty with Kaedwen we also got rid of the conspirators that sat among us."
"Making you his main advisor." the archmage stated. "The Chapter is very pleased with the laws that Demavend signed favoring the jewelers' guild. Your doing obviously"
"Yes it was."
"The chapter was also very impressed on how you handled the Lormark affair. You have made me proud, Yennefer."
The raven haired sorceress looked at her mentor surprised, acknowledgments were never part of the education she had gotten from the archmage. They stopped on the corridor that led to the final set of stairs on their path to the main hall, where an intense sound of chatter was coming from.
"However, I'm quite worried about the decisions you are making on your personal life."
There it is, thought Yennefer and looked at Tissaia expectantly.
"I'm fully aware of what you do in private it is only of your concern and it is been a long time since you are no longer my protégée. However, I cannot just watch you take questionable decisions. I see the need to remind you that emotions, Yennefer, are not for us. Leave them to the peasants and the noble women you often assist. We have far more important purposes."
"Thank you for your concern Tissaia. Please do not worry."
"If you please excuse me Yennefer, I have to meet the rest of the council before we join the feast. I hope to see you later." The archmage said while aligning her rings once again.
Yennefer walked the enormous T shaped hall, gracefully saluting her fellow mages, spending with each of her acquaintances just as much time as courtesy demanded. She was pleased to notice that Istredd was not among the present sorcerers that night. She was not willing to deal with him, especially after her chat with Tissaia
"Yennefer! you came! I thought nothing would make you leave your love nest," giggled Coral beckoning her.
"And can you blame her, darling?" said Sabrina elbowing the skelligian sorceress. "If I had a witcher for myself like that, I'd not leave the bed until I was not able to tell apart day from night, I heard they have quite a stamina."
"Did not you bring that witcher of yours, Yenna?"
"Oh no Coral, he has far more important things to do than our silly little feast," smiled politely Yennefer not exteriorizing her annoyance.
"Too bad. I was yearning for something exotic tonight." Coral winkled her eye playfully to Yennefer, who felt an urge to burn her colleague's face to ashes.
"Fortunately, they are serving plenty of exotic treats on the tables, you will have to settle with that tonight." Yennefer forced a smile. "If you excuse me, I just saw Philippa and Triss. Always lovely to see you both."
"Please Triss, please. Do not ask me about Geralt," sighed Yennefer after saluting the enchantresses whose company she actually enjoyed.
"Why? Did you break up again?"
"Oh no, no. I just cannot stand any more questions about him. What is it with all these sorceresses? I thought my relationship was old and forgotten news."
"Oh Yenna, they are just trying to divert the attention from themselves," said Philippa getting them glasses of wine from the server who walked by.
"I have no idea how Coral and Sabrina brought themselves the courage to show up." Triss nodded agitating her beautiful auburn curls that contrasted exquisitely with the deep blue dress she was wearing.
"Look at us, gossiping like those vipers," chuckled Yennefer drinking some wine. "Damn it, now I'm curious."
"I've forgotten how alienated from the rest of the world you get yourself sometimes" – giggled Triss.
"It is called being busy, Triss, you should try it," teased Yennefer making her friends laugh.
"Anyhow, Coral and Sabrina were up to no good when they were tinkering with an artifact supposedly belonged to an Aen Saevherne."
"I do not understand how they got away with it before the Chapter. They should have turned in the artifact." said Triss raising one perfectly groomed eyebrow.
"Unless, of course, someone from the councils was also involved," guessed Yennefer drinking her wine.
"My money is on Vilgefortz. He must be furious the story leaked," shrugged Philippa glancing at the mages around them.
"Nevertheless, the tower exploded and sadly they teleported out in time. The magical signature on the ruins was so scrambled nobody could make anything out of it."
"If I were Vilgefortz, I'd do exactly the same," Yennefer stated observing her friends.
"He was smart enough to leave no physical evidence of what happened either. Not even our dear friend mister Codringehr would find a trail to follow there."
"There were rumors that the ritual they were doing involved an orgy. Way juicier gossip than Yennefer sleeping with a witcher for eight months," Triss and Philippa chuckled but Yennefer was not paying attention to her friends anymore. The name mentioned by Philippa took her thoughts elsewhere.
Yennefer walked the busy streets of Dorian, quickly meandering through the other by passers. She had been there once before in an assignment of the Chapter however today she was looking for her own interests.
The enchantress had a good memory and found her way easily between the narrow streets. It was drizzling quite heavily and she was eager to arrive to her destination because the sky was getting darker with storm clouds. She went through a small gate, completely ignoring the humble house she walked straight to the back, and climbed a set of wooden stairs impatiently. Yennefer knocked on the door and stepped back. She knew there were magical traps assembled to protect the door and whoever was responsible for them had done a poor job.
"Lady Yennefer, what a pleasant surprise," said the short man known as Codringehr. She was not sure that was even his real name but she did not care, he was a skilled detective and lawyer, and that was all that mattered.
"How are business doing, Codringehr?"
"I cannot complain, in this world there is always problems to be solved. We probably have that in common, don't we?"
"Probably," she smiled politely sitting on the stuffed chair in front a heavy wooden desk covered with papers, books and feathers. He sat across her and with his fingers entwined under his chin he looked attentively at her.
"I'm honored with your presence here in my humble office. Nothing brings me more joy than hosting the stunning Yennefer of Vengerberg. However, it is never a good sign to have a mage sitting across me. I have a very good memory, you know it's a requirement for this job, and I remember perfectly the last time you were here you brought me such a headache."
"I'm sure you also remember that you got paid extra for the trouble," said Yennefer forcing a smile, "but please, worry not. I'm here for personal reasons."
"Anything for you, my beautiful madam"
"And for a small fee, am I wrong your old penny pincher?" The sorceress said with a amused tone.
"You know our modus operandi," smiled politely Codringehr.
"That is the exact reason I'm here. I need your complete discretion."
"And you know that is our main policy. What can we do for you?"
Yennefer leaned back in the chair and took a deep breath, admitting failure was not easy for her.
"You should know that I'm here because I exhausted all my other resources. I need to find someone, who everything indicates that doesn't want to be found. I've tried everything in my power and it was all in vain."
"Do you have any information about this person?"
"Not much. I know she is a sorceress and her name is Visenna. I do not even know if she is still alive. From the Chapter's registers I only discovered that long time ago, she was assigned to the druid's circle in Mayena. That is the last record of her. I know, also, that sometime after that she was for a period at the temple of Melitele in Ellander. That is all. "
"Well, dear Yennefer, I can reassure you that everyone leaves traces behind. Even those who do not want to be found. I've been in this business for many years and I've never failed in locating a missing person before."
"That's what I expect. So much, that I've had already had the Vivaldis transfer the usual fee to your account, plus a little extra as proof of my good faith in you."
"That is why I appreciate doing business with mages"
"I thought a mage sitting across you meant a bad omen." said the sorceress raising an eyebrow.
"No, not a bad omen but a challenge." Smiled confidently the man sitting across her.
The first thing she heard when she emerged from the portal into her office was a female's laughter she could recognize anywhere. She quickly realized it came from the kitchen.
"Yenna!" Her dearest friend Triss Merigold ran to her and hugged her. Surprised by the gesture Yennefer patted her back. She could smell the vodka on her friend. "You said I should come visit and here I'm."
"I'm happy to see you Triss, even if it seems you started to celebrate without me," smiled Yen amused by her friend's soft blush obviously induced by the alcohol.
"I had to keep her entertained somehow."
"Of course, I knew vodka was your doing, witcher."
"You should know Yenna, that Geralt has been a wonderful host," Triss giggled beautifully.
"Oh, I can see that," Yennefer sat by the table next to Geralt and across Triss. She glanced at the witcher with the corner of her eyes while Triss was telling the eventful story of her trip from Maribor to Vengerberg. Triss had an adventurous spirit and for her travelling with portals lacked of the excitement brought by travelling horseback across the mountains and forests, meeting new people and places.
The auburn haired sorceress was many years younger than Yennefer, her naïve and idealistic character only made that more evident. The honest lightness of her personality made her different from all the other sorcerers Yennefer had meet and made her company pleasant. The same lightness translated to her outer looks, Triss had a unique kind of beauty, true and pure that came from inside of her. A kind of beauty Yennefer knew she did not possessed herself.
She could not help but feel a hint of jealously, especially now when she knew that her witcher was also admiring her. Triss had that effect on men and she was completely aware of that.
"Had you told me your witcher was so fascinating, I would had come sooner," smiled Triss blinking an eye adorably. "Tell me Geralt, do you have brothers? I'd love to meet them."
"I have two, Lambert and Eskel, not blood brothers but brother nevertheless. If you go to Kaer Morhen next winter you will probably meet them."
Are they flirting? In front of me, just like that? Thought Yennefer feeling the jealously bit her harder. She ran her hand possessively over Geralt's thigh.
Triss' crystal laughter reverberated on the kitchen stone walls.
"Maybe I'll go visit uncle Vesemir," smirked the auburn haired sorceress, she drank a small gulp of vodka and winced. "Before you arrived Yennefer, I was telling Geralt about this other witcher I knew, a good friend of my father's when I was a child. Can you believe my father witcher friend was Vesemir, who also happens to be Geralt's mentor? How small is our world!"
"There is not many witchers left, so the coincidence is not that surprising," said Yennefer dryly.
"Triss was telling me about the time he killed a basilisk in Maribor. Of course I've heard that story many times from him, it was interesting to hear it from another point of view."
"That always was one of my favorite childhood memories! The basilisk was terrifying but Vesemir faced it impressively. Since then, I have to admit that I've been somewhat fascinated by witchers," giggled the obviously tipsy Triss. Geralt responded with his husky laughter that Yennefer adored so much. She leaned into him, possessively pressing her body against his.
"I'm glad you gave up pursuing a way to break the Djinn spell, Yennefer," said Triss sweetly, "you two are adorable together."
"Triss, shut the fuck up!" Yennefer shouted on her mind to her friend, but it was too late, she felt Geralt tensing up next to her. The questioning look he gave her was fierce enough to make her freeze.