Kain and Ciri emerged from the swirl of the portal, surrounded by the interior of what appeared to be yet another stone tower. It was as empty and sparse as the tower they had just vacated, and yet Ciri immediately felt safer here.
It wasn't the Aen Elle world. She knew as soon as she heard the distant cries of seagulls and the sloshing of water. And once she peered through one of the narrow windows, their location became clear.
"I think we're on Thanedd Island," she said. "Tor Lara."
Kain was looking at the wall where the portal was supposed to be — at something unique he had seen once before: a cavity in the wall with melted stone and blackened patterns as though from a fiery explosion. On the floor beneath his feet was a black distorted silhouette.
"True," he confirmed. "Where Shani and I ended up before. Without Geralt." He turned to meet her eyes, smiled a little. "I guess we made it out. For real."
"So you think it's possible Geralt and Yennefer could have made it out, too?" she asked, looking around as though hoping the pair would suddenly jump out from behind a pillar. "Should we search or take our leave?"
Kain closed his eyes for a moment, focusing on sensing anything. He made a few slow steps away from Ciri, feeling it out, then turned back to her. "I don't think they've been here. A few people have... but not them."
Ciri was disappointed but didn't voice it. She held out her hand to him once more. "We should check Gors Velen. They could have appeared there… somehow."
"If you want to run into Margarita or Philippa," Kain said with a shrug. "Either of them will stall us. But maybe it's best to see our friends in Novigrad first?"
"Triss," Ciri nodded. Triss would help if she could, without need for payment and future promises made. She couldn't say the same for the other sorceresses. "Novigrad it is, then."
She clasped Kain's hands in hers and focused her power. Both vanished in a sudden flash.
"I don't understand," Ciri said, tilting her head back in order to fully observe the giant oak tree she and Kain had appeared beneath. "I was aiming for the inn. For my room."
And yet, she'd taken them to Velen. To the ancient oak tree atop Bald Mountain the locals feared due to its history as a ritual site. A place of dark offerings to the old gods. The very place General Imlerith of the Wild Hunt had met his demise.
Ciri's expression was filled with confusion and concern. "What went wrong?"
Kain observed the sight of the big bonfire left from the celebration night when Geralt fought the elf. The throne Imlerith had sat still held the memories; they were soaked in the ground along with blood spilled here. His body and his monstrous club were gone.
He turned to look at Ciri with a faint wariness. "Perhaps the Tower's magic threw your own off balance. Anything could have gone wrong. And you're tired, too. We never stopped to rest. But even if you didn't bring us all the way home, at least now we're closer."
"Yes," she conceded after a moment. "The Tower must have left me confused." And she couldn't deny she was tired. And hungry. Not to mention worried. "Let me clear my head for a moment and we'll try again."
Ciri closed her eyes and breathed, making sure that Novigrad was the only thing on her mind. When she was ready, she reached for Kain once more and summoned her magic.
The world twirled around them instantly, then settled into a familiar room with a dusty window slightly ajar. Through it, they saw a cloudy sky.
"Looks like the right place this time," Kain praised, smiling.
Thank the gods for that, Ciri thought and breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment there she'd started to worry her powers were failing her.
She released Kain's hands and hurried for the door. "I don't think Geralt and Yennefer would come back here without us, but we have to make certain."
The inn was eerily quiet and unsettling. They checked all rooms and found no residents. Yennefer's room still kept her chests and cosmetics on her vanity table, but her bed seemed made many days ago and undisturbed since.
Trying to step silently, they descended the stairs and looked around at the empty tables. Sad and abandoned. As if they had landed in another dimension.
They turned to the sudden shuffling of footfalls and saw Zoltan emerging from the basement. The dwarf froze in his tracks when he noticed them, his eyes widening.
"Gods!" he gasped and began to grin. "Ciri! Kain! Yer back! Yer really back! Oh gods, what a miracle! Lassie! My lil lassie!" He dashed to her much faster than his short legs implied and she met him halfway, falling to her knees where they locked into a bear embrace. Kain noticed the dwarf was actually spilling a few tears.
Ciri shot Kain an uncertain look before Zoltan finally retreated, still watching them both as if their presence was a wonder. "That was quite the welcome." Ciri couldn't subdue a small smile. "We're just in time for supper, huh?"
Though now she mentioned it, it occurred to her that there was a distinct lack of pleasant aromas from the kitchen where Zoltan normally had several pots going over the fire. A bad sign. Had Dandelion's cabaret been a failure?
"Where the hell have ye been?!" Zoltan exclaimed, staring wide-eyed between the two newcomers. "We've been worried sick!"
"We tried to find Geralt but ended up in the Tower near Tarn Mira," Kain said, gripped by a foreboding of what Zoltan hadn't told them. "We couldn't find a portal there to get out. It eluded us. Did Yennefer find Geralt?"
Zoltan kept gaping at him for a long moment, digesting, then his face fell from anxiety to forlorn sympathy. "Aye, well... ye see..." He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck, directing his pitiful gaze to Ciri. "Ye see, lassie, no one knows where Geralt is. Triss and that Vigo witch were searchin restless, for days and days on. It's been fourteen of them days, lassie. Yennefer turned up about ten days ago in Skellige. Them witches took her to Emhyr's palace. "Dandelion's been stayin there most the time, keepin her company. I'd dropped by once as well, but shortly, for someone has to watch the inn." He spread his arms in a brief gesture of how-unfortunate.
Ciri stared, half expecting the dwarf to suddenly reveal it was his attempt at a not-so-amusing joke. But his demeanor never changed.
"What?" Her insides turned cold again, as of someone had plunged her into the unforgiving Skellige waters. "No, we were gone a day at most!" She turned to look at Kain for confirmation but he said nothing. "Yennefer took a portal to Skellige?" It didn't make sense. And Geralt's whereabouts were still unknown?
A fortnight.
Ciri clutched her head, trying to absorb all this horrible information without losing her wits.
"Why would Yennefer be taken to Emhyr? What does he want with her?"
"Nothin bad, lassie," Zoltan said, his face a mask of helpless suffering. He didn't know how to ease her shock. "It was that Vigo witch and her connections. She said Yennefer needed to rest and recover. Emhyr got the best means."
Kain wrapped an arm around Ciri's waist to keep her steady, his own spine turning cold at all the new details. Geralt was still gone, and Yennefer was still unwell. That was the blow Zoltan was trying to soften.
"We have to go to Nilfgaard," Ciri told Kain. "We have to see what we can do to help Yennefer, and figure out if she ever managed to find Geralt."
"Aye, it's for the best," Zoltan said. "Them sorceresses will tell ye more… they're in Vizima, lassie. Just don't pop there with yer magic. Yer fa— ehm… the Emperor is plenty strict about portals, apparently. So if ye do yer thing – aim for outside the gate."
"That man continues to be a thorn in my side," Ciri murmured before turning to Zoltan one last time, squeezing his shoulder with a hand. "Stay safe until we return." And then her attention was back on Kain. "Are you ready?"
"Let's get the horses," he suggested. "We might need them."
"Aye, better be prepared," Zoltan agreed. "Be careful, and give Yennefer and Dandelion my best."
"We will," Kain squeezed his shoulder, regretting to have to leave him behind. The dwarf nodded, and Kain followed Ciri to the stables.
"It'll take too long," Ciri argued, even as she was placing the saddle on Kelpie's back. "Vizima is a full day's ride."
"Use your power, if you can take us to that place outside the city, remember?"
"I remember." Ciri was simply worried her power had not yet stabilized. What if she sent them into a ravine? The ocean? An active volcano?
At least Kain can't chide me if we're both dead, she thought. That was a comfort.
She led Kelpie down the stable to where Kain was tending to his own horse and offered him her hand.
He regarded her closely, then let on a small smile, taking her chin in his fingers. "It's going to be all right," he said. "You're exhausted and anxious. We'll find a way to help both of them. You have to believe it." He lowered his hand to hers, taking it with a gentle squeeze.
She nodded, choosing to believe him in this.
His trust in her was not mistaken; they arrived with both horses outside Vizima's Dike, conveniently shrouded by tall grass and shrubbery. The gate that would lead them to Vizima was open and several merchants were currently showing their papers to guards in order to set up their stalls. Kelpie stomped her front hoof, eager to move and already beyond ready to get out of the shrubs that poked her legs and belly. Ciri led her towards the road with Kain in tow and eventually climbed onto the mare's back.
"You don't think he's here, do you?" she murmured to Kain once they were shoulder to shoulder. "Emhyr?"
"I don't think he's got anything more interesting going on back in Nilfgaard. He probably wants to be closer to where you are."
"He's going to use this against me somehow," she replied, riding past the guards and towards the city gate. "As though treating Yennefer comes at great cost to him and the realm. I'll be in his debt even further."
"Do not skip ahead of time and let your bitter feelings rule your judgement. It's not helpful, and we need a colder mind."
Ciri couldn't help but smile. "Have you met me? A cool mind is not one of my descriptors."
He glanced at her with a playful smile of his own, "It's never too late to learn."
They picked the least busy streets through the endless markets of the trading zone of the city, trotting towards the high wall circling the Royal Quarter. It took them a bit of effort in navigating even after they were allowed to pass — the castle sat further on the western side of the district. Even though they were in a hurry, neither could resist gawking around at the beauty of the noble houses surrounded by their perfectly kept yards and the buildings of state now passed to the new Temerian Council. The streets here were clean and not as boisterous. A few nobles strolled, some rode on horseback or carriages. It didn't resemble Novigrad with its ever-noisy streets filled with common folk.
As soon as they approached the palace, the guards lowered their heads in a show of respect. A gesture Ciri knew was well-intentioned and yet had her feeling awkward. It didn't get much better when servants shot out of the stables once she and Kain rode into the courtyard, clambering over themselves to aid the two in putting the horses away. Ciri attempted to not look as out of place as she felt, reluctantly parting with Kelpie after thanking the servants for taking care of the animals.
"I'll never get used to this," she muttered to Kain as they slowly made their way up to the palace, absentmindedly trying to smooth her wrinkled shirt.
"It's been your habitual life once," he said. "You could remember that habit if you needed it. You'll never cease to be a princess, Ciri. It stays with you wherever you go, whatever you wear."
Unless I abdicate, she reasoned in her own head. There are others who want the throne more.
"We need to find someone who knows where Yennefer is," she said, climbing the stairs to the giant front doors. "We could wander this place for hours if left to our own devices."
"Not a chance," he responded, amused. "I bet they knew about our arrival before we crossed the Trade Quarter."
As if in confirmation of his statement, two guards that had been standing like two frozen statues on either side of the entrance moved to pull the heavy doors open. They bowed as Ciri approached.
Behind the door, two more men were waiting. Ciri recognized Morvran Voorhis, the young Nilfgaardian general and confidant of the Emperor, accompanied by the Imperial Chamberlain. She didn't recall the name, nor having learned it during her previous visits.
The Chamberlain executed an elegant low bow appropriate to greet royalty as they approached, and Morvran moved to meet them halfway, wearing a brilliant smile.
"It is my greatest honor and pleasure to welcome you to our Imperial residence, Your Highness Princess Cirilla," he said, accompanying his greeting with a brief bow meant for showing respect between noble equals. "His Majesty our High Emperor and all of us in his service were worried gravely about your safety, and we're most happy and grateful to the Great Sun to see you alive and well." His eyes, sharp and strikingly blue, shifted to Kain, his smile unfaltering. "And you must be Kainar of Lyria. My greatest pleasure to meet you, and our most sincere gratitude for keeping the Princess company in these dangerous times."
"The pleasure is mine," Kain said, flashing a smile of his own along with a bow executed so professionally that the Chamberlain's expression of stony respect betrayed a flicker of surprise. He still recalled Geralt's stubborn inability to pull anything remotely resembling it. Apparently, not all witchers harbored equal disdain towards manners.
Ciri stared at Kain as though he'd just grown horns, utterly surprised by his ability to play so well with the nobles. She performed an awkward little curtsy on return, too worried about Yennefer to truly care whether her behavior was considered rude.
"Where is Yennefer?" she asked Morvran, not subduing the urgency in her voice. "I need to see her."
Morvran turned his attention back to Ciri, his grin dimmed to sympathy.
"To my deepest regret, it's my duty to inform you that up to this day, we haven't discovered the whereabouts of Geralt of Rivia. However, our relentless search shall continue until we find out exactly what happened to him and where he might be.
"As you might already know, Lady Yennefer is in our care since about nine days ago. She is alive and recovering well. I'm certain you're most eager to see her, however, there are certain peculiar matters of her well-being I have to inform you about before you do. If you please follow me to a quiet place where we can discuss it."
"Please, You Highness, this way," the Chamberlain spoke, and with another bow led the way to a side corridor that was barely noticeable unless one knew where to look. Kain remembered it from his past visit.
Ciri barely smothered an impatient sigh. She clenched her fists at her sides and followed Morvran and the Chamberlain with Kain in tow. "Peculiar? Is she still not awake?"
"Oh, she is," Morvran responded. "She is doing quite well."
After approximately three corridors (narrower than the normal ones) they arrived at a lounging room, not big but with a huge fireplace and a set of soft chairs and a sofa surrounding a beautiful round tea table decorated with silver Timerian lilies. Upon it stood a paunchy pitcher of mulled wine, a bowl with thick slices of freshly baked bread, a couple of bowls of steaming grilled vegetables along with a plate of sliced cold venison and a bowl of potatoes baked in their jackets.
"Please," Morvran said, inviting them to settle. "Rest and have a bite — you're probably starving and you look exhausted. And while you rest, I shall tell you more about Lady Yennefer." He flashed them a smile and waited for Ciri to take a seat before he followed her example. "We took the liberty of preparing a meal both of you must be most accustomed to, according to your witcher-training past. We hope it pleases you."
"Thank you," Ciri replied. She didn't touch the food. Not yet. Though she gestured for Kain to start. "Tell me about Yennefer. Tell me about my mother."
"Immediately," Morvran nodded, pouring a glass of mulled wine, and held it to her. "Please, you need to get some food and drink in you. Both of you." He gave a nod to the Chamberlain who was standing by the fireplace expecting further instructions, "Thank you, Master Mererid, that would be all for now."
"General," Mererid bowed, then turned to repeat the gesture for Ciri. "Your Highness." With that, he removed himself from the lounge.
Ciri accepted the glass but didn't drink, her eyes never wavering off Morvran. Her patience was wearing thin. "Well?"
"Master Ermion and his druids found her ten days ago next to the portal arch of Tor Gwalch'ca," Morvran began, passing a filled glass to Kain. "She was nearly dead, cold as ice, as he described it to your associate Lady Merigold. They've done their best overnight to keep her alive, and then Lady Merigold and Lady Vigo alerted us to her poor state of health, and so we accepted her into our care."
"How bad is it?" Kain asked, the same foreboding he felt back at the inn with Zoltan squirming in his gut.
"The issue was she couldn't wake up, and it took efforts to help her do so. She was disorientated and could not recall anything substantial between her disappearance and her recovery in Skellige. Her friends gathered to her aid, and those familiar faces helped her get a better grip on reality. Your good old friend Lord Dandelion played a big part with his music – it seems to bring her the most solace. Lady Merigold, however, had a couple of unpleasant encounters. Perhaps, they had a bit of a quarrel." He paused, observing Ciri's stiff posture with her fingers tightening on the glass. "Take a sip, Princess. If you agree to support yourself with some food, I shall invite those who helped Lady Yennefer, and they shall report to you in detail about it."
"I don't understand," Ciri said, her face creased with concern. "What exactly is wrong with her?! Frostbite? Injuries to her head? How is she wounded?" Ciri squeezed the glass in her hand so tightly she thought it might crack, her hard resolve threatening to break with it. "Tell me how I hurt my mother."
"You had nothing to do with it, Princess," Morvran said with a gentle smile. "The cold hurt her in part, yes, but it was the Tower's influence on her powers and mind that is mostly responsible. Our Masters of Gift and Arts and healers alike are in concord about it."
Kain frowned in thought, quietly putting away his portion of grilled vegetables with a siding of fresh bread. He only now realized the depth of his hunger. Ciri didn't seem to catch up on hers just yet.
"Her mind…" Ciri breathed, finally leaning into her chair, gaze on her wine. "The body is fragile but can easily be fixed. The mind is harder to mend.
"I should never have tried to take you all there." This murmured in regards to Kain.
"There was no other way for all three of us to get there," Kain said, and reached for her shoulder, squeezing it in comfort. "You did what was asked of you. It's not your fault."
"Why would you believe it could be your doing, Princess?" Morvran asked.
"I lost them. Yennefer and Kain. Something happened… They slipped out of my hands. How do you even know Yennefer made it to the Tower? Did she say?" Ciri rested a hand atop Kain's and drank.
"She stated that she had, indeed." Morvran stood up to refill her glass with hotter wine, since hers got colder. "I have to insist that you eat something. You need your strength, Princess. For the sake of the woman you call your mother. She won't be pleased with me if I fail to persuade you to take care of yourself." He smiled and pulled one of the strings concealed behind a tapestry by the fireplace's side.
"She won't be pleased with you regardless," Ciri smirked, reaching for the cold venison. "She's hard to impress. I know from experience."
"And yet she had been most pleased with her stay with us before," Morvran retorted, amused. "Not a bit of disappointment. Our library and leisure tea ceremonies appeared to be to her greatest liking. We had spent many hours absorbed in conversations on different topics, the most thrilling and educational time I've ever had with a Lady at court, I have to admit."
Ciri scowled suspiciously. "Well, now she enjoys drinking mead at taverns with Geralt." And Morvran best not get any ideas that would compromise that.
"I have not a single doubt," Morvran said, "Lady Yennefer's tastes appear to be quite versatile."
Ciri began to eat, slowly so as to not upset her stomach. "Has she said anything about Geralt?"
"Some things every now and then. But mostly expressing concern and inquiring of his whereabouts."
There was a delicate knock on the door, and when Morvran voiced the invitation, Ciri and Kain observed Fringilla stroll in. Behind her came Triss and a man approximately in his early forties. All three greeted Morvran with a quiet bow and curtsies, and Triss hurried ahead as if to embrace Ciri, but then stopped short with a sheepish smile.
"Oh, Ciri, my dearest! And Kain! I'm so, so happy you're both all right! I'm sorry, I better not get closer — my cold is receding already, but better be careful. Oh no, no, please, you eat. You need it. It's such grand luck that you're all right, that you're back!"
"How is she?" Ciri immediately asked, unable to help herself. If Triss and Fringilla had spent recent time with Yennefer, surely they knew more about her current state than Morvran.
Triss opened her mouth, but Fringilla stepped forward, taking Merigold by the arm. "She is well," she said, pulling Triss back gently. "All we wanted was to greet you and assure you how relieved we are to see you alive. You can send for me any time if you will have questions - I'm staying in the castle."
"I come and go," Triss said. "Still errands to run and we never know when the Hunt attacks again. Nice to see you, darlings. Take care of yourselves. We shall talk later." She offered a hearty smile and let Fringilla lead her away.
The man stepped closer, surveying Ciri with attentive grey eyes. His attire was of the best Kovirian silk embroidered with golden threads, his wavy brown hair well kept and brushed back from his smoothly (and freshly, judging by the light tan distribution) shaven face. Nilfgaardian fashion, Kain thought to himself. The man was of Geralt's height and had noble, handsome features.
"It's my honor to make your acquaintance, Princ—"
"Your Highness," Morvran whispered.
"... Your Highness," the man finished and bowed. "My name is Istredd of Aedd Gynvael, Master of Gift and Arts and Archeology in Kovir and Poviss, and I've been a trusted friend and confidant of Lady Yennefer from long before Your Highness was born. I've been by her side since Lady Merigold alerted me of her requiring my aid. I am here to answer your questions."
"Please, Master Istredd, have a seat and a glass of wine to make your conversation more comfortable," Morvran said and filled him a glass when he complied.
"And Ciri will do just fine," Ciri assured both men, twitching with discomfort every time her royal title was used. "Please, Master Istredd, tell me what is happening with Yennefer. What is wrong with her mind? Had she lost her memory? Because we have past experience with that."
"Oh, no, that doesn't seem to be a problem, Your Highness," Istredd said, and took a sip of wine before continuing. "She has her memories intact. But she is experiencing some issues with visions, mostly nightmares. It took us a couple of days to wake her, and it happened with a bit of a magical blast on her part. As we concluded, she was having visions while unconscious and those visions had such a powerful grip on her that she believed them to be reality. She reacted with magic to interact with what she was seeing. Aside from utter exhaustion and damage by the elements, she had injuries on her body as though she had been assaulted. There was internal bleeding and lots of bruising, but the cold had slowed her heart rate to the lowest and it saved her life by stalling the loss of blood."
Ciri sat up straight. "Assaulted?" Her whole being suddenly filled with dread, fearing the worst. "What kind of assault?"
"As though someone beat her," Morvran put in, sipping his wine where he stood at the fireplace, eyeing the flame. "Repeatedly."
"Yes," Istredd said. "As it turns out, the nature of her damage appears to be... self-inflicted."
"Beg your pardon?" Kain asked, startled, while Ciri went wide-eyed with shock.
"Not deliberately or consciously," Istredd hurried to elaborate. "It appears to be a strange aftereffect of her prolonged stay inside Tor Zireael in the unconscious state. Her visions must have been violent, and they resulted in physical injuries. What she saw in her dreams hurting her injured her real physical body.
"Please, understand, that for longer than most wizards of our world remember, Tor Zireael has been considered somewhat a legend, a rite of passage, if you will, that none of us Masters of Gift and Arts have been able to pass. Legend has it the Tower shows itself to the best of the best of us and even allows them inside. After a long and thorough research those of us specializing in Elven heritage and architecture came to the conclusion that Tor Zireael and her sisters reveal their secrets to those of Elven blood - and not just Aen Seidhe we all know, but their ancestors of higher blood. Aen Saevherne. The Knowing Ones. However, that conclusion never stopped many a sorcerer from testing their power. Some boasted about breaking its spell, but none of such stories could be trusted."
"And you are certain that Yennefer's truly been inside?" Kain asked, reaching for another slice of bread and passing one to Ciri.
"We do believe so, yes," Istredd nodded. "She stated that she had found her way in, and we have no reason to doubt. Also, a certain medallion was found in her possession depicting an elven woman's profile, carved masterfully from a white sparkling stone resembling the best marble of our world but not quite fitting. As a specialist in Elven Arts and Culture, I can state with all certainty that this trinket was made in another world and left here by the Alden Folk, the ancestors of our Aen Seidhe that came before them and built the towers."
Ciri turned to look at Kain. "She had an anchor? Where did she get it?" Ciri had been with her the whole day and Geralt had not given her the one he guarded. Had he? "That might explain why she was brought directly into the tower itself while you and I ended up outside."
"I had one from the Oxenfurt trip," Kain confessed. "Geralt, too. Which is why we decided it could help her find him."
Morvran and Istredd exchanged glances both bewildered and curious.
"What is that anchor?" Morvran asked.
Kain turned to him, "It's of the world of The Wild Hunt. They plant them here to guide their navigator mages and get a better chance of connecting their portals to the Continent."
"Fascinating," Morvran admired. "Marking their targets. A good plan, too. Got to give them that."
Ciri reserved the sudden annoyance she had felt at Kain's confession. It hardly mattered now. She wasn't certain why the anchors had meant so much to her in the first place.
And besides, Yennefer now easily took first priority.
"May I see her now?" she asked, refraining from outright telling the men she intended to go either way, trying her hand at some decorum.
"Of course," Morvran smiled. "She has been inquiring about you many times, and we believe she'll be as happy to see you alive and well as all of us."
"It will cheer her up," Istredd agreed. "Her constant worry and sadness over your and the Witcher's disappearance might have fed her nightmares, and as a result, she's not been resting properly. It wears down any living creature, even sorcerers."
"We hope seeing you will put her mind at ease and help her sleep," Morvran added.
Ciri stood. "Take me to her. I need to see her." It had been too long already. And if the situation had been reversed, Yennefer would blast anyone away in order to get to Ciri. Ciri owed her the same.
"If you follow me, Your Highness," Istredd invited, getting up.
Kain rose and touched Ciri's shoulder. "I'll wait for you here. We'll talk after."
Ciri nodded, briefly squeezing the hand on her shoulder before turning to follow Istredd.
As soon as they were out of the door, two servants appeared with trays in their hands. One carried a bowl of nuts and dried fruit with a water-filled carafe of beautiful violet glass, the other had an empty tray to collect dishes.
"Well, I believe we have some wine left," Morvran said, smiling. "Still hot and the spices are impeccably selected."
"That's certainly true," Kain said, settling back down, and nodded his thanks when Morvran passed him a refilled glass. The wine was steaming, but the glass remained merely warm against his fingers, perfect at keeping the wine heated longer. Kain had heard Nilfgaardian Empire to be quite skilled in such things. The glass was thick and perfectly transparent, with tiny flecks of gold within its walls.
Kain drank, regarding the man across. "Where is the anchor now?" he asked.
"Master Istredd insisted on studying it, naturally. To my knowledge, his findings are kept between him and Ladies Vigo and Merigold, who didn't appear stunned by the discovery. Why?"
"Given its nature of being a beacon, we believe it unwise to keep it someplace we wouldn't want the Hunt to come." Kain pondered a moment, studying Morvran, then added, "Ciri shouldn't have it. If she asks for it…"
"I see," Morvran squinted playfully. "Am I to deny her?"
"Best if she thinks it's destroyed. For her safety."
"Mm." Morvran rocked his glass carefully in his hand, making the ruby wine slosh, his eyes locked on Kain in thought. "In that case, should we not make it true and destroy it? Isn't it the only wise thing to do with an item of such significance?"
"Not necessarily. We believe it could be of use to us. However, at this time it's impossible to say when and how we will make use of it."
"And where do you keep them? I assume you have more than one by now."
"Your assumption is correct." Kain reached for a handful of nuts. "Geralt had the other two with him when he disappeared."
Morvran tipped his head slightly sideways, as if touched by a peculiar idea. "Where would such a setting carry him? Tor Zireael? Or all the way to the land of their origin?"
"Our hope was for the former, even though we couldn't find him in there."
"Has anyone else been to see her?" Ciri asked Istredd as they continued down the hallway. "Other than Dandelion and those of you who have attempted to heal her?"
"Only those she deems friends, Your Highness. Follow me, please."
He led her into the back where they found another narrow corridor leading along the rear side of the castle and up the stairs.
Yennefer resided in one of the sections in the back of the castle, close to a beautiful rose garden and strategically close to the library. Her quarters consisted of a huge parlor with sofas, chairs, and an elegant round table for lunches and tea time. In the back of it, behind a thick curtain of red velvet bound with golden rope and tassels, was the bedroom door. Colorful tapestries and elegant fretwork adorned the walls.
In the parlor, Ciri saw familiar faces. Dandelion, Triss, and Fringilla were conversing on a sofa at a lit fireplace. They kept their voices low even though the door leading to the bedroom was closed. Aside from pots of tea and a bowl of fruit, there were some books open on a small round table before them and taking up most of the space. A couple more were stacked next to Dandelion on the sofa. His lute (not the elven one he cherished, Ciri noted) lay across his lap. It nearly tumbled off when he jumped up with a happy grin at spotting Ciri, but he caught it quickly and lay on the sofa before dashing to the girl with his arms spread.
"Ciri, my goodness! You're back! You're really here! Is she? It's not my eyes lying to me, is it? Oh Ciri, my sweet Ciri!" He scooped her into a tight embrace. "It's been so long! We've been living in terror!"
Ciri was too stunned to speak for a while and simply resigned to Dandelion's embrace, wrapping her own arms around the bard's waist to squeeze him tightly.
It was the strangest thing to have had everyone so worried and missing her when for Ciri and Kain, the time spent in the tower had felt like no more than a day.
"I'm alright," she assured Dandelion, her lips close to his ear so they could exchange greetings with as much privacy as possible at the moment. "I am so sorry we missed your performance."
"Oh, my dear girl," he sighed, withdrawing to look at her, his smile weak but still there, as well as tears in his eyes. "It's not important. All that matters is your being here and alive. Nothing else." He kissed her forehead and released her from his arms. Then a sudden realization hit him, his eyes widening, "Oh! And Kain? He with you? Geralt?"
"Kain, yes. Geralt, no. We never found him," Ciri confessed solemnly. "We will, though. As soon as I've checked on Yennefer."
Dandelion couldn't hide the disappointment and a bit of despair that came through on his solemn face. "Oh Ciri, you really believe we still can find him? It's been so long… What if—"
"No," Fringilla stepped closer to them. "No ifs. Not now. One problem at a time, Dandelion. We have never stopped looking, Ciri. We shall continue and do our best, and you can be with Yennefer. I'm sure seeing you will brighten her soul."
"Yes, Ciri, she's been worried and restless," Triss put in. "Seeing you all right will cheer her up. She truly needs it."
"Go on, Ciri," Dandelion encouraged with a smile. "Your safe return will make her so happy! She was so worried and sad none of us could console her."
Istredd waved an inviting hand at the door amidst the curtains. "This way, Your Highness. We shall remain here and not disturb your joyful reunion."
"What is it like inside?" Morvran's blue eyes sparkled with curiosity and reflected flames from the fireplace.
"Black stone, white and grey statues, black glassy floor, and a ceiling too tall to see. Barely any light, nor any source of it in sight. It's like wandering in the woods after dark, with occasional fog. It's tricky with endless corridors and illusions of movement you catch from the corner of your eye in that mist. Not much else. Just a dead labyrinth." Kain tossed a couple of nuts in his mouth.
"Is it Princess Cirilla's power that got you out, then?"
"We found a portal – it's been eluding us, but eventually we got through. It brought us to Tor Lara. From there, Ciri took us home."
Morvran emitted a hem of acknowledgment, savoring his drink. "Amazing gift, that power," he mused. "As useful as it's dangerous. Those Riders… they'll never stop hunting her, will they?"
Kain washed his snack down with a swallow of wine, considering Morvran for another moment. "How much do you know about The Wild Hunt?"
"A cavalcade of wraiths on undead horses galloping across the sky and serving as an omen of war," Morvran said in a wistful tone. "Not that undead, after all, as the recent events show. However, quite deadly for us simple human soldiers unprepared for dealing with such might. Wraiths of Mörhogg, they call them on Skellige. They believe that the Red Riders would return as an army during the end of the world - Ragh nar Roog." He refilled his glass and poured more into Kain's, then sat back, bringing the glass to his nose to savor the aroma. "I've been studying all legends and stories available about them since I was seventeen," he continued. "His Imperial Majesty has always believed this to be connected to his daughter and her unique gift and lineage — enough mages stated and confirmed as much when the sighting of the specters began to follow the Princess's trail. Our latest encounter with them went beyond legends and was quite deadly — my division lost some good and seasoned warriors while none of the enemy was harmed, as if they were truly ghosts. What we learned from Lady Yennefer when she regained her memories upon escaping them was a priceless addition to our own knowledge on the subject.
"To answer your question, Master Witcher: I know enough to see it with all clarity how that Ragh nar Roog the Skelligan people believe in is looming closer with each passing day. And that our human army — however big — is not enough to bend that fate in our favor. We need everything this world can offer, and we need it soon. We need it united, and there's not enough time to convince all the scorned parties to unite against the end of the world."
Kain listened with keen attention in silence, rolling a piece of candied fruit on his tongue.
"The Aen Elle Sage that's been helping Princess Cirilla," Morvran spoke again, narrowing his eyes inquiringly. "What is your take on him? Is he truly an ally or perhaps it's unwise to rely on his counsel?"
Kain smirked, faking an amused wonder. "You believe I'm fit to get inside Aen Saevherne's head?"
"When you're raised at court, one of the most vital skills is reading people. I do believe I mastered that skill on a level decent enough to give me a certain confidence to state that you might know more than others around you where that Sage persona is concerned. Would you share your insight with me?"
Kain jerked his shoulders subtly in a half-shrug, reaching for another scoop of nuts. "He's been saving her from capture for years, I cannot deny that. Nor that he's been helping her reunite with her family and friends. However, he does know a lot more than he tells Ciri or anyone else, and he uses that knowledge to pick the best route for himself. I don't believe he wishes her harm, nor do I believe he has her best interests at heart in this matter. His main goal seems to be reinstalling her Elder Blood power back in his people. Ciri is the only source."
"You believe he will sacrifice her to what he wants for his kin," Morvran summed up, thoughtful.
"If by sacrifice you mean take her with him to his world to stay – yes. I believe it's one of the best outcomes for him."
"What stops him now? The conflict with their current king?"
"Yes. He wants to use Ciri and all of us to defeat Eredin — their current leader. And after that, I think Avallac'h would convince her to come to his world and eventually stay."
"By threatening her loved ones."
Kain spread his hands to mime precisely, and finished his wine. He refilled his glass with water. Morvran finished his drink and followed the Cat's example. The sweet spice of the wine was beginning to overbear their taste.
"Can I ask you a question?" Kain said after a freshening swallow of water.
"By all means."
"How much of what you see, hear, and discuss with people ends up in the Emperor's knowledge?"
Morvran emitted a soft laugh, picking a few candied fruit slices from the bowl. "I have to compliment your skills, Master Witcher. You find the right things to ask. Before I answer — and with all due respect I shall do so honestly — let me ask you this: is it of any concern to you knowing that the Emperor is aware of your past and alliances with those deemed enemies of human crowns?"
Kain pondered it an instant, and said, "No, probably not. Besides, it is common knowledge that witchers are neutral."
Morvran clicked his tongue in a mock reprimand. "Not a proper safe to use when you're of the Cat School, I'm afraid."
"Well, damn," Kain faked a scowl of regret, a wily gleam in his eyes.
"To answer your question, I have to touch upon a controversial subject of what it takes to be a good leader," Morvran said, sipping his water. "Due to my upbringing, I had to pay close attention to that matter. And it's been my observation that whenever a ruler decided to rely solely on his own judgment, he reaped a forfeit. On the other hand, you get the same result with advisors that yearn to fill their own pockets or usurp the crown itself.
"The tragic way our Emperor was introduced to his royal legacy left a deep scar that affected his further life choices and rule. The struggles with finding worthy advisors resulted in a string of wars that weakened the continent, mainly the North.
"Having spent most of my life by his side, I got to know him and his motivations. His methods are not always delicate, they can be brutal but effective. The Emperor and I work for the same cause, but with different means, and yet we are bonded by mutual trust.
"You're not wrong to assume I serve as his eyes and ears and sometimes mouth. The insights I collect help him make his decisions. I take that responsibility very seriously. In his turn, he takes my self-inflicted duty to replace wars with unions with equal understanding and support. That is the essence of what you asked about."
Kain was studying him closely, mulling it over. "Do you see eye to eye on Ciri's part in all this?" he asked after a short while.
"You'll have to be more specific."
"What is her place in that mechanism?"
Morvran peered at him with a mild surprise. "You believe Cirilla would let anyone pick a place for her?"
"Whether she would or not, there must be a place the Emperor wishes for her to take."
"You know the answer. Ask what you really meant to."
Kain leaned forward to set his empty glass on the table and regarded Morvran closely. "What is Ciri to you?"
Morvran didn't answer right away; he took a few beats to scrutinize Kain in return, a ghost of a furtive smile hiding in the corners of his mouth.
"Family," he responded eventually and reached for a refill of water. "From early childhood, I deem her family, and my desire to ensure her well-being is genuine."
"By that, you mean securing her hand in marriage?"
"By that, I mean doing everything in my power to ensure she is well and safe, whether she's to be my spouse or not." Morvran sipped his water and shrugged. "Whatever choices she makes, it barely changes my Path or my duty. There is no competition between us."
"Not even for the Imperial crown?"
"The crown is the heaviest of burdens in life, especially when worn by a lone head. I would be foolish to not wish for a partner to share it with. But I'm not fixated on who that shall be." Morvran leaned a tad forward, holding Kain's gaze as if to confide. "While I'm not a stranger to affection, I'm not in love."
Kain cracked a simper, "It doesn't always comply with logic and will."
"When you're trained to dismiss your personal desires, you learn to live by will and logic." Noting the ironic curve of Kain's mouth, he added, "Even though at times those can fail us. One should never underestimate such chance."
They leaned back in their respective chairs, and Morvran sighed.
"What a burden it'd be to love a woman like Cirilla unrequitedly," he mused. "I could say you got lucky, but more often than not women tend to fall for men resembling their fathers. You take after the father she adores, and I'm raised by the one she hates."
"She draws conclusions without seeing the whole picture," Kain said. "The scars of her past drive her, her emotions get the best of her. She never had a chance to settle that storm inside. She never caught a break to do so."
"I fully understand that," Morvran said wistfully. "His Imperial Majesty tries his utmost to keep it in mind. It is unfortunate that his own scars and emotions get the best of him at times whenever Princess Cirilla comes into focus. They both need time to settle it between themselves. We hope to reach that moment, and for that, we are ready to do anything in our power to win the war The Wild Hunt started. Princess Cirilla can be quite proud and independent — all of which we do admire — however, it is you I'm telling this now: do not hesitate to ask for help. You and I both know that we need everything we can collect on short notice."
Kain gave a slow nod, and pondered something for a moment before asking: "You also think the time is short?"
"The world we know now is hanging by a thread. I think every living being on the Continent feels it. People get nightmares, animals grow restless, both game and predators are beginning to migrate. Only there's no safe place anywhere to escape to."
Kain nodded again as though having the confirmation he was seeking. "In that case, if you need my help to ensure our better chances, let me know."
Morvran smiled and nodded. "So it shall be."
Ciri took a step into the bedroom; a spacious and beautifully crafted chamber that had all the furnishings one would expect of a luxurious suite, including a giant bed and its accompanying mount of pillows and blankets.
The stone floors were covered with carpets of various origins, their patterns and colors clashing, though not in an entirely unpleasant way.
Yennefer herself was perched on the wide sill in front of the only window that allowed natural light into the room, her face currently obscured by the immaculate dark curls that fell down her shoulders and back.
"Yennefer?" Ciri called, uncertain whether or not the sorceress had dozed off in her relaxed state.
Yennefer turned from the window as if struck, her fingers flexing defensively, her movement so quick that even she'd been surprised. "You're here."
It seemed her appearance had taken Yennefer by surprise but a smile bloomed on Ciri's face as their eyes met nonetheless. "We came as soon as we could," she exclaimed rushing to embrace her mother. "I was so worried!"
Yennefer took a single step back in retreat, raising her hands to ward off the embrace, grimacing in pain. "I'm still tender." She had a look of apology on her face and smiled softly. Her gaze swept to the door and then back to Ciri. "Is Geralt with you?"
"I'm afraid not," Ciri admitted, hating how many times she'd had to confess her failure in locating the Witcher that day. "He's still missing. But we will find him. I promise."
Ciri's arms had fallen to her sides as Yennefer denied her embrace and now reached for one of the sorceress's hands instead. She needed to touch her. To make sure she was real and not just wishful thinking. That she was truly safe.
"Are you alright? Do you hurt terribly?"
Yennefer's hands moved to her dress, brushing invisible creases from her skirt. She walked over to the table she'd been dining at since waking, and took a hold of the teapot, pouring each of them a cup. "I do hurt, but it's not unbearable. Nothing time won't heal." Yennefer gestured to Ciri to help herself to one of the drinks. "Were you badly hurt? What happened? How's Kain?"
"We weren't injured," Ciri said, trailing Yennefer with her gaze. Disappointment welled within her, mingling with confusion that could rival the bewilderment she had felt back in the tower.
Yennefer was… cold.
Many would have said this was not something out of the ordinary, but to Ciri it was. Yennefer had never shied away from embracing her. Stroking her hair. Regarding the young girl as though she was the world's greatest treasure.
Now, she wouldn't even meet Ciri's gaze.
"We were lost," she continued. "Wandered the tower for a fortnight, apparently. But we're both alright."
A fortnight. Yennefer struggled to believe that it had only been a number of days since the entire world had been ripped from beneath her. Then again, this wasn't the first time she had time stolen from her. Using both hands, she gently guided the teacup to her lips, inhaling the fragrant chamomile. "How did you escape? Why did the Tower let you go?"
"We found a portal. I think the tower kept us there until it had shown us everything it intended." Ciri paused for a moment, simply watching the woman she called mother, searching for outwardly signs of damage. The current cause of her pain. But nothing was visible. "How did you get out? Through a portal as well?"
"For the first time in what feels like an eternity, I don't have any answers. I have no idea how I got out." Yennefer sipped her tea, pausing to think. "My assumption is that, like you, it showed me everything it needed to, took what it needed from me, and then dispelled me from its grasp." As if the thought itself was exhausting, she lowered herself into a chair. "Do you remember your time in the tower? What it tried to do? What it showed you?"
"Memories. Some mine and some were Kain's. They weren't the pleasant kind," Ciri murmured. "And then… towards the end, someone else's. Possibly Avallac'h's. I think it was a warning not to underestimate any member of the Hunt." Ciri didn't rightly know what to do with herself and eventually lowered to the floor to sit at Yennefer's feet, just as she had done when she was a child. "What did it show you?"
Yennefer swallowed faintly as Ciri settled, the cup held to her lips before being lowered to her lap. Automatically her gaze shifted to the door, appearing as if she were looking to see who might be eavesdropping before she spoke. "What I remember is getting into the tower, being encumbered by blackness and the air burning in my lungs. Every inch of my body crying in pain, only to stop and then repeat again and again. It was never any one thing or any one image. No past reflections or lessons. Just misery. Hollow misery."
Ciri was frowning with concern and sympathy. "That's odd. Why on earth would the tower do such a thing?" Though it was hardly a sentient entity. It was the magic steeped in every brick that was wreaking havoc. "It sounds like a punishment."
Was it because Yennefer had been carrying the anchor? Did the Tower recognize she was not its rightful owner?
"I didn't mean to lose my hold on you," Ciri assured her. "We were meant to arrive together. But I lost you both."
"You lost Kain for a time? How long were you apart?"
"Before we entered the tower, yes. And then later, inside." Ciri shrugged, attempting to deduce how much time they'd been apart inside, but it was impossible to tell. "I don't know. Longer than I liked."
Yennefer set aside her cup, no longer tasting the tea, her hands moving to the armrests of her chair, nails biting into the wood. "When did you find each other again? Were most of your visions spent alone?"
"Shortly before we made it out." Ciri frowned up at Yennefer, trying to read the expression on her face. Was she angry? "We were together mostly. I saw his visions and he saw mine. Why do you ask?"
"Because our experiences were vastly different, my love." She smoothed away the chills that overwhelmed her, glancing at the window, drawing in a tired breath. "Don't mind me, I haven't been resting well." She yawned, covering her mouth with her hand. "Have you slept since coming here?"
Ciri shook her head. "No. I asked them to take me to you as soon as possible. They insisted on feeding me first." She stood, offering Yennefer her hand. "Do you wish to lie down? Rest for a bit? I can watch over you."
Yennefer stared at Ciri's outstretched hand for some time before taking it, finding her knees had weakened. Once on her feet, she let go, redirecting her touch to Ciri's face, to her cheeks. "There's no need for you to do that, my darling. I'm not going anywhere and I'd rather you took this time to try and rest yourself."
"If you're certain."
Once more, Ciri was met with disappointment. She got the distinct feeling Yennefer did not care that she was there. Or rather, that she wished she wasn't. Ciri temporarily leaned into Yennefer's touch, greedy for affection. But Yennefer's leniency ended all too quickly.
"Shall I send anyone else in?" Ciri asked as she backed towards the door. "Istredd?"
Yennefer's hand fell away from Ciri's face, balling into a first, sweaty when it brushed her skirt again. She'd begun to put space between them again. "No, no, I'm capable of putting myself to bed, my love."
"Alright. I'll be here if you need me," Ciri assured, waving her hand in the general direction of the alcove outside. "I'll see you after you've had some sleep."
With a small parting smile, Ciri let herself out. She immediately felt the eyes of everyone beyond the door scrutinize her with hopeful optimism. But she didn't have it in her to stay and reassure them. She stormed out, face drawn in thoughtful contemplation.
"What— … Wait! Ciri?" Dandelion jumped up from the chair, staring after her in astonishment, just like the rest of them.
"What happened?" Triss asked no one in particular, exchanging bewildered glances with Dandelion and Fringilla.
Istredd frowned and went to the bedroom, closing the door behind him.
"Hey! What…" Dandelion stared after the wizard, then turned to the sorceresses in confused indignation. "What in the hell is going on?"
"Perhaps, they had an emotional reunion and need time to digest?" Fringilla shrugged. "Let them be. It's been an odd time for all of us, especially them."
"Of course," Triss frowned, pondering. "But this is strange..."
"Yes! Thank you!" Dandelion reacted. "It is strange."
"Maybe I should talk to Ciri," Triss said, already heading for the door. "Reassure her—"
"Not today," Fringilla interjected. "She needs rest. Let them be for now."
Triss scowled but stopped her advancement, and looked back at them. She waved a hand towards the bedroom door, a small smile touching her mouth, "Wonder if some old flames are burning yet."
Fringilla rolled her eyes, but allowed a tiny smile, nonetheless.
Dandelion peered from one to another, his eyes narrowing. "Now, stop it. I do need to hear that story! No postponing further. Tell me now."
"You have to ask Yenna," Triss laughed, settling back in her chair, and reached for an apple.
"You must be jesting," Dandelion retorted. "She could turn me into a slug… something deaf and ugly… I won't be able to be ugly! Or deaf!"
"How is your standing with Lady Yennefer, if you don't mind my prying?" Morvran inquired, picking up another slice of candied fruit, eyeballing Kain curiously.
"It's rather nice between her attempts to rummage in my thoughts."
Voorhis threw his head back, laughing. Kain couldn't help a chuckle of his own.
"Sorceresses," Morvran said like it explained everything. "That impulse as strong as the urge to breathe in them."
"And what of you? Always covered in dimeritium at court?"
"Oh, dimeritium trinkets are too obvious, and some mages can bypass it with various tricks. You wouldn't believe how creative one must be to flirt with a sorceress without losing the state's secrets to her charms." He grinned and bit off the fruit slice.
"I can imagine."
Morvran's smile dimmed while he contemplated something, then he met the Cat's gaze. "There's something I kept from Cirilla. About Yennefer."
Kain furrowed his brow, an ominous thrill passing through his spine.
"When she was brought to us, nothing could wake her," Morvran began. "Neither magic nor medicine. We have tried everything we could think of until one of the mages had an idea. We brought one of the best oneiromancers from Nilfgaard. She examined her and assured us it would be all right. None of us suspected what it would result in until it was too late."
"Too late," Kain repeated in a quiet voice; it left a bitter taste in its wake.
"She dipped into her trance and all seems in order until something happened within the dream they shared. No one could determine what exactly was happening, but they both thrashed and screamed, blood came through their clothes in identical places. Nothing could snap them out of it. Then some sort of magic burst out, sending things flying and candles flaring and dying out. Sparks exploded between them while they screamed and screamed. The oneiromancer's hair began to turn grey before our eyes. We heard their bones snapping, more blood oozed…
"Suddenly, they both began to twist and thrash in some powerful spasm while magic raged around them in chaos. All our mages could do was contain it to protect themselves. And then it ended abruptly with both of them snapping their eyes open. Yennefer was too weak and fainted soon after, but the oneiromancer… she just kept screaming, her eyes bulging as if seeing things we couldn't. It took five mages to put her to sleep. When she came to, her memories of who she was seemed to be gone. Her mind was stuck in whatever she had seen in that dream, but it was too jumbled to draw much meaning from it. The only thing was clear – something terrible was happening to Cirilla and Yennefer was unable to save her. Then the oneiromancer could no longer sleep or calm, and they did the only thing left to do to help her."
"You didn't kill her, did you."
Morvran narrowed his eyes a bit, holding Kain's gaze. "They wiped her mind clean. There was no chance of breaking her out of her terrors to get to her own mind. Then she fainted, exhausted and broken. After a day of work, our mages mended her wounds while she slept."
"Where is she now?"
"We took her to Ellander's Temple of Melitele. They are taking good care of her there, we get daily reports. She was given a new name and her confused mind began to calm. She enjoys walking in their gardens and tending to plants."
Kain sighed, looking down at his hands, digesting the information. "If it were possible for you to know of that outcome," he said and looked up at Morvran, "would you have done it the same way?"
"Sacrifice another woman for the one we had to save?" A subtle simper touched his mouth. "If I knew it was the only way to wake Yennefer, and have her die otherwise – I would. It's brutal. Cruel. I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy to have to make a selfish choice between two lives equally valuable. It's flawed, but it's also desperately human to choose our friends over strangers."
"So, rulers and humans remain on the same level, is what you say. After admitting how selfish rulers always fail."
Morvran smiled; it looked a bit sad and made him seem older. "We mortals all fend for ourselves in this best of worlds, and only the gods high up do not discriminate. I am very much human, Master Witcher. And very much mortal. But I do strive every day to find a way to that next proverbial level of judgment. Sometimes I get closer, sometimes I feel like I fail. But I do get up and back on my horse if I happen to fall down, as I was taught."
They regarded each other for a long moment, each assessing the other in the privacy of his mind. Eventually, Morvran rose from the chair.
"I think it might be time to check on Princess Cirilla and her friends."
"Yenna? Is everything all right?"
Yennefer had her back to Istredd when he walked in. He approached carefully, uncertain whether she was unwell or sad again. She hated to be seen vulnerable, and he didn't want to invade her privacy at this trying moment if it would offend her pride.
Yennefer didn't realize how tense she was until Ciri had left the room and Istredd had entered. She was upon him in an instant, dragging him against her body, pressing her face to the familiarity of his neck, inhaling him while trying to calm herself down. When she was able to speak, she didn't say anything but "Hold me. Just hold me."
He did, tightly to his chest, his arms around her waist and shoulders, his face buried in her hair. Her tantalizing scent was invading his senses too strongly while her heart thrashed against his chest, and he felt the surge of arousal.
"It's all right," he whispered into her curls. "It's all right. And your girl is safe. You got her back, my love. You got her back."
She couldn't speak as he cradled her, thankful for his presence, for being available at a time when she wasn't sure what to do. The heavens knew he could have abandoned her, stopped caring, and yet, here he was holding her, anchoring her, protecting her without even knowing or needing to know why. She appreciated his loyalty, but sometimes she didn't understand it, knew she didn't deserve it. Her head shifting from his shoulder, her eyes seeking his before her lips found his mouth. She still trembled as she kissed him, coaxing him to return the gesture, hopeful he'd understand her sudden need for familiar clarity.
He returned her kiss, readily falling back into the familiarity of their connection, and their tongues began their fervent dance, pouring more oil into the flame of his desire.
She clung to him as if her life depended on it, as if he were assisting her with the simple act of breathing, keeping her grounded. And he was. More than she'd ever express. When she pulled back, it was with continued gratitude and something akin to love shining in her eyes. In this moment, she was sorry she'd left him, that she'd ever given him up for a future that wasn't or hadn't meant to be hers. For a love that she'd once been certain in and was now making her question herself. "Has Ciri gone to rest?"
It took him a moment to register the meaning of her words, his breath still irregular. He gave an uncertain nod, "I would believe so - she looked quite weary when we met. If you wish for me to verify..."
"No, no, I don't want you to be anywhere near her." Concern for him suddenly enveloped her, choking off her words, her hands aching from the strength she was using to keep him close. It was bad enough she didn't know where Geralt was, she refused to lose Istredd, too. "Do me a favor and don't— please, use caution."
He frowned, searching her eyes. "What is the matter, Yenna? Why do you say that?"
"Do you trust me?"
"Of course," he said without skipping a beat. "Always. But it merely feels odd. Have you two had a quarrel? The way she stormed out..."
She craved to kiss him again. She hadn't realized how much that trust meant. "She was upset? Angry?"
"She was out of the room so fast we couldn't see. What was so upsetting that happened between you two?"
"I can only assume it had to do with Geralt, her distress, and being told she needs to rest. She has a tendency of being stubborn."
"I see." He smiled. "She seems quite set in her own beliefs, from what I gather. Unwilling to listen to others advising her what to do. That royal stubbornness inherited from her blood father. And the adoptive one as well," he added, recalling their conversation with Geralt in Aedd Gynvael all those years ago.
Yennefer thought back to Geralt, back to her kiss with Istredd. Was Geralt alive? Guilt rushed through her, her hands falling away from Istredd's chest, only to return as if she were incapable of letting him go. "Did Kain go with her?"
"I haven't seen him since our initial meeting in General Voorhis's parlor. He remained with General while the girl came to see you."
Yennefer nodded lightly. She was beginning to relax a little. But only a little. "Could you go find someone to run a bath for me?"
"Oh. Certainly." His hands glided off her reluctantly. "Anything else you need?"
"For you to remember what I said." She drew Istredd close again and pressed her lips to his, stealing what she could of the comfort he offered so willingly. "Steer clear." Her trembling had started to subside and she was again more in control of herself. At least for a time.
"I remember," he said, licking his lips and desiring more, so much more. He tried to rule it down and felt a sting of ire towards Geralt, whatever hell he could inhabit at this time. "I trust, however, that you shall explain. If there's something that bothers you, my dear, I wish to help and put your mind at ease."
"I will explain — in time." This Yennefer knew to be true. He knew all her secrets. Well, most. "But not at this time. I need... I need some time for myself. You understand?" She reached up to touch his cheek, her thumb skimming his jaw.
He mustered a smile, simultaneously warm and melancholic, "Of course, my love. I shall alert the maid for your bath."
Another kiss and she smiled, a genuine smile that reached her eyes this time. "Thank you." She forced herself to let him go. "Stay with me tonight?"
His face lit up with a delighted smile, he brushed his fingers against her cheek. "I shall return as soon as I make the requested arrangements." He kissed her lips longingly, then slipped out the door.
~~~ WRITERS' NOTE:
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