Van Bereaver

Chapter 9- Home

Sage

"Do you know what sex is like?" Cirilla asked me. I dropped my book on my stomach and looked at her across the room. She was sitting at the edge of the bed, thinking about anything as I quietly read a book.

"Why is this a question?" I inquired.

"I want to know. Since you're older than me, more experienced."

"More experienced?!" I blushed. I set down the book and sat up, leaning on the backboard of the bed. "Cirilla, do you want to have sex?"

She looked up to think for a second and brightly nodded. "Rita and the others are always talking about it."

"I presume they have no censorship," I said. "But you do need to know about these things. Have you gotten your mentstral cycle?" She nodded. "Did your grandmother ever mention marriage?"

"Once. But she said I'd wait till sixteen to throw an engagement party," she told me.

"Then I guess that's when she wanted you to start experiencing boys," I concluded. "But, there is no certain age, Ciri. You just have to be mature to know what you want."

"What do you want?"

I pursed my lips and exhaled, "As a matter of fact, I've never had sex before. I guess I'm waiting for the right person. "

"Hmph. I guess I'll wait too."

I smiled, patting in front of me for her to scoot over and sit so I could comb out her hair. She had mentioned that one of the mages had made a comment about how messy her hair was. They were all rude, now that I thought about it. But, Ciri hadn't made a complaint about it yet.

"Do you know where Geralt went?" Cirilla asked.

"His home, Kaer Morhen."

"We should go there."

"Why is that?"

"They treat me like a servant. I don't feel like I'm learning anything. Tissaia said I was a work in progress. If I can't be a mage then I can be a Witcher." I pushed her up so I could meet her eyes. Seeing the weariness in them, I nodded.

***

We practically had to sneak out of Aretuza, especially since it was on Thanedd Island. We gathered two horses and a few days journey worth of food to treat us on our travel. Geralt's direction as to where he had gone was in a distant memory but destiny seemed to bring us together. Or, I had a supernatural tie to his genetic mutation.

The snow had gotten thicker and the horses had gotten slower since they had to trekk through the large chunks of white ice. I got off my stallion and decided to lead him through the way, and Ciri did too.

Narrowing my eyes, I could see a castle-like thing in the distance. The tall walls of the fortress stood before us and a long bridge that seemed like it would collapsed any moment. I had faith in the linear stone pathway, and started to cross it, Cirilla at my six. We were nearly halfway down the bridge when I heard a whoosh and saw a small stick headed towards my way, more following behind it. Death began banging at my door and out of a quick defense mechanism, I turned and grabbed Ciri and shifted into a wraith, flying us into the Witcher's keep.

When we formed on the inside, the gray cobblestone surrounded us. There were tall pillars of wood on the side where I assumed was the start of the training ground. Then on my right, Cirilla was puking her dinner.

"What a terrible affect but how come we didn't do that before?" she asked, wiping her mouth.

"I can't travel too far," I answered, looking at the two, massive doors. "Let's go, shall we?"