Emhyr Var Emreis x Reader

Forty-Six

Wrapped in silence, you sat on your horse while it sleepily walked next to the one of the emperor.

He sat on a stallion you had expected him to ride, as black as the starless night while the armour and saddle were as gold as the emperor's sun on his chest.

His head didn't move as your eyes remained on him for an uncomfortable amount of time. So, to attract his attention, you cleared your throat.

He didn't react. Of course not.

Annoyed, you let out a soft sigh and rolled your eyes.

However, somebody reacted.

All of a sudden a head of auburn hair appeared in the corner of your vision.

A smile appeared on your face.

You let your horse walk slower to fall back and greet the general with a cheerful expression.

"You seem in a rather good mood, Morvrna.", you said and looked at him in a way to tease. "Good news?"

His eyes moved to glance at the emperor's back before nodding.

"Indeed.", he let his horse walk besides yours, creating a broader distance to make it difficult for others to spy on the conversation.

Guards rode all around the three of you. Anybody could have listened if they would have wanted to.

And who would have missed the opportunity to listen to the general of the army of Nilfgaard and the emperor's designated favourite?

"Put me in the picture.", you said. "I'm all ears."

Your eyes moved to the side for a moment to check what the emperor did.

He sat in his saddle like a puppet, no motions nor signs of him being a human being. His head did even move.

All he did was keep his horse on track.

"Vernon Roche isn't a very talkative man.", the voice of the general tore your attention away from the man in black.

Your eyes returned to the younger man next to you.

"I assume you made him talk.", a smirk tugged at the corners of your lips.

He nodded.

"Very much so."

"So what did he reveal?"

A sound escaped Morvran, soft and almost like a chuckle.

"Things we only could have dreamed of.", he said and almost sounded like he had just achieved the biggest success of his lifetime. "Apparently the north is torn between two leaders, both king Radovid and a man named Sigismund Dijkstra."

Your eyes twitched.

"Redania.", you said and almost had to laugh. "And secret service? That would be a difficult opponent."

He hummed.

"But he mainly relied on the support of the rebels."

"Which are gone now. That leaves him powerless."

"At least in terms of manpower. He won't be able to fight war without them."

"That almost sounds too good to be true.", you said. "What's the hook?"

An expression crossed his face. For a moment he didn't just seem cheerful but also impressed.

"Nothing slips your mind, does it?", he asked.

"I always expect the worst. So?"

"You're right, there is a problem. Dijkstra had the money and skill to fight a successful war. Radovid has the army."

"But not the money."

"Or the loyalty. Most smaller parts of the norther kingdoms hold a grudge against him, one way or another."

"I heard he has a disliking for mages."

"Very much so. Which is why his army doesn't stand a chance against the of the empire."

You huffed.

"The empire makes use of everything, doesn't it?", you asked and threw a glance back to Emhyr.

He still didn't pay any attention to your little chitchat. Or he was pretty good at hiding it.

Either way, it bothered you to see him still be so distant despite the fact that his nails had left marks on your body mere hours ago.

It still burned a little on your skin only to think about it. The sensation that your clothes rubbing on your skin caused made it feel like the scratches tore open and made them bleed.

With a sigh, you turned your gaze away from him, to let your eyes wander along the side of the road.

Despite the harsh winters of the empire, colourful flowers grew into the air, trying to catch the last bit of sun. Thin layers of frost covered the halfway closed buds.

It smelled of snow and dry air.

Somehow, this place made you frown.

It was just a simple road leading down a land that was empty and seemed deserted.

Damaged cottages sometimes passed by. Everything looked like time had swallowed the once nice place.

Not a single person could be seen.

No familiar building nor face appeared.

Yet this road felt oddly known.

Your heart started to beat faster as your eyes got caught by a large tree, right at a crossroad.

At first you couldn't believe it, frowned with confusion and the inability to understand.

All of a sudden, the emperor made his horse stop right in front of the tree.

Everyone around him came to a stand as well.

His head moved.

Strands of black and grey hair danced with the cold winter air as he turned in the saddle to throw a glance over his shoulder and meet your eyes.

"Join me.", he said, slid off his horse to walk up to you.

With his arms opened, he waited for your to make a move.

Unsure, your eyes looked at Morvran in hopes he would tell what was about to happen.

But he lowered his head and did not dare to meet your gaze while the emperor was within reach.

Patently, Emhyr let a few moments pass until you finally did as he asked and let yourself slide into his arms.

Your hands found grip on his broad shoulders before your feet could touch the ground again.

"Where to?", you asked as he offered you an arm to hold onto while walking.

"Just a few steps ahead.", he replied and did a gesture to order everyone to remain motionless.

He did not want an audience nor people to listen to what the two of you had to discuss.