Emhyr Var Emreis x Reader

Twenty-Three

Struck by surprise, you pulled back the reins of your horse in such a harsh manner that the poor animal was startled as well.

With a slight sound and its ears pulled back, it jumped and almost stomped over the man who had emerged from the shadows like a demon.

Angered by the unpleasant reaction, the man reached out to grab your arm and drag you down to meet his face.

You barely managed to hold yourself up in the saddle.

Goosebumps chased over your skin as your eyes met a face full of scars and bruises.

For a moment, neither you nor the stranger knew what to do.

The stench of watery wine was in the air.

Your ears twitched and picked up movements in the distance.

He wasn't alone, so making a sound would have been wildly unwise.

So you swallowed the gasp of surprise that lay on the top of your tongue and put on your noble face instead.

Grimly, you eyed him from top to bottom before meeting his eyes again.

"You should let go.", you hissed, putting all your disgust into the words.

Growling, the man pulled a face.

"And why shouldn't I slice your throat?", he asked and came even closer. "You don't belong here."

In one harsh movement, you slapped his hand away and sat up straight again to look down on him like a noble would look down on a mere peasant.

"You're talking to a servant of the emperor.", you said, barely loud enough for others to hear, but loud enough to make it seemed real.

His eyebrows rose. Then they knitted together again.

Sceptical, he walked around the horse, knife in hand.

"You don't look like much.", he said soberly.

With a snort, you showed him the polished golden ring on your pinkie finger.

Whistling in mesmerisation, the man scratched the stubbles of his dirty chin before flashing a creepy smile with a moth full of broken and unwashed teeth.

"You came for the shipment.", he said.

Confusion crossed your face. But you quickly made it disappear again.

"So they said.", you played along. "Did the merchant tell you of my arrival?"

"He did."

"Good. Now let me through. I don't have a lot of time."

Bowing his head in an unnecessarily aggressive way, he stepped aside and gave way for you to ride down the rest of the alley.

From the corner of your eyes, you managed to catch a glimpse of him how he disappeared in the shadows once again.

Was that truly a human being?

He appeared to be more of a demon.

Your ears didn't even pick up his steps as he moved.

Something was really odd about this situation.

Unsettled, the horse shook its head as you made it follow the path of the alley.

"Easy...", you patted its neck.

Again it let out a low breath that made the air before your eyes turn as white as mist.

Irritated by the cloud, you shielded your eyes with your hand.

Cold air wrapped around your body.

Holding of the wind made you shiver.

This was such a calm night, so unmoved and peaceful, that it was almost frightening.

"Welcome.", a new voice suddenly reached you.

Again, you were caught by surprise.

At least this time nobody grabbed you out of nowhere.

In a gentle manner you ordered the horse to come to a stand in the middle of the alley and glanced back over your shoulder.

General Voorhis was nowhere to be seen.

It upset you a little to be visibly on your own, but maybe he just hid in the shadows. After all, he was supposed to be your surprise reinforcement and not an obvious threat to the ones you tried to trick.

"I'm here.", the voice suddenly said in a more aggressive tone. "What are you looking for? The boogie man?"

Your eyes returned to meet a man who might as well could have worked in a circus.

Frowning, you sat up straight in the saddle and eyed him.

His attire told that he must have been a mercenary, a man who could be bought for anything if the price was right.

A huge blade shimmered on the side of his belt while tattoos adored almost his entire body.

The harsh winter of the nilfgaardian empire didn't seem to phase him since he was dressed in nothing but some stripped, cotton pants and simple leather shoes.

Your gaze wandered around.

It was hard to tell by the dim light of the moon, but others lurked in the shadows as well.

The reflection of light could be seen in their eyes and made them seem like cats in the dark.

As far as you were able to tell there were about half a dozen of unwanted bystanders.

Chances were high that they were armed as well.

Your eyes returned to the man in front of you.

"You're not what the merchant promised me.", playfully annoyed, you frowned to put on a good show for them to believe. "I wanted to talk to the rebels."

He huffed.

"Rebels?", he asked, one hand already on his sword. "We don't know anything of rebels."

Your eyes narrowed.

But you do know of the merchant.

A flinch chased through his features.

It wasn't much but enough for you to know that something was going on.

He knew of something.

"What merchant?", in a defensive way, he approached your horse.

Swiftly, you made the animal take a few steps back.

Its hooves hit the ground with such might that he took a step back out of caution.

"Who payed you?", you asked, loud and for everyone audible.

You wanted the others to know that you were aware of their presence.

Like cockroaches, they came crawling from the shadows with smug grins on their faces and weapons in hands.

The urge to turn around and run screamed in the back of your head.

"It seems to me that you are not one of the emperor's people.", the leader said with narrowed eyes. "Are you trying to fuck us over?!"

"No.", you pressed out between clenched teeth. "I'm trying to catch a rabbit."

Flames lit up in the palm of your hand.