Van Bereaver

Chapter 13- Zireael

Geralt

Milva was watching Sage who was in a catatonic state. The nightmare that had occured on the equinox was so powerful that it had knocked her into a place where she was unaware of her surroundings. Sometimes, she muttered things about what she saw like the Red Riders or a large wave at sea.

"I don't think I can hear yet," Dandelion said, digging through his ear which only resulted in wax.

"Yes you can," I responded.

"Puh!" he exclaimed, which meant that he could hear what I had said. He frowned and continued, "I hope she gets better. What she said last night was quite disturbing. The End of the World?"

"She was referring to Ithlinne's prophecy," I said. He quieted. "She's seen the end and Ciri has something to do with it." I stood from my spot around the sizzling campfire, and cleared my throat, "We should get going."

"She doesn't look like she's getting any better," Milva said. "We should stay here for a while."

"We have to get moving in order to find Ciri. That's what she wants. We can put her on the horse."

Milva pursed her lips and complied. I told Dandelion to pack our things as I carried Sage across my arms and placed her on the saddle of the white stallion. Making sure she was in the best position as possible, we embarked on our journey. Sage had said something about headinging to a nearby town in the direction we were headed.

The woods were dry and covered with brown, orange, and red leaves, but most of them were dying. I was in the front of the group and through the distance that I had put between myself on the horse, I could still hear Sage's murmuring. She was making a fuss here and there and I tried not to pay attention to it because it made my heart hurt. She was in pain thinking about Ciri.

I had no idea what Sage had meant about Ciri being the End of the World but a soothsayer was always right. No matter what, I knew it was inevitable and I didn't care. I just wanted the most important person with me and I had to find her.

***

By midday, we had gotten a great deal into the forest. The sun was an hour after its appex and I would've guessed it to get a little warmer but Sage had mentioned a chill. Perhaps, it was the one in the prophecy.

I heard chattering and I knew it wasn't Dandelion's annoying voice. I drew my sword and got ready for what was about to come. In the distance, I could see that a large wagon was being hauled by a mule and multiple men surrounding it. We quickly drifted to the side of the trail we shared with the strangers so we could hide.

"I'll get a better view," Milva said and she started climbing a tree.

"Who are they?" Dandelion whispered.

"They look like soldiers," I said, peering behind a tree. "They're probably transporting prisoners."

"Coat of arms?"

"None of Nilfgaard. Actually... Nilfgaardians are the prisoners."

"What-"

"Quiet Dandelion, they're coming," I hushed. I pinned ourselves against the tree and hoped that Sage would stay silent. Dandelion's horse was thin enough to fit behind a thick oak and the soldiers were making their way past. But in the wagon, I saw the pale slender face, with dark brown hair, and blue eyes of the Nilfgaardian who plagued Ciri's dreams. He had seen me too.