The Heart of Winter || The Witcher

Chapter Six

By the time Yen made it back downstairs, Zoltan and Dandelion had gathered there as well, looking just as distraught as Yen herself. Normally unshakeable, Yen found herself infinitely flustered by what had transpired. All she could manage to say was, "He's taken her! He's escaped and he's taken her!"

Zoltan held up the length of rope that had bound Geralt. "He didn't escape," he stated miserably, pointing out the neatly cut ends of the rope and the knife laying nearby.

Managing to pull herself together, Yen took the rope from Zoltan, musing, "Ciri, what have you done?" But now was not the time for accusations and chastisements. They had to act, and quickly.

"He's taken his armor and weapons," Zoltan observed as he roamed around the room.

"And Roach," Dandelion called, just having stepped in from the back door. For once showing some initiative, he must have gone out back to check the horses while they had searched inside.

Overcoming her momentary panic, Yen snapped back into her usual, calculated self. "Then he's got a lead on us. But there's one thing that's in our favor." Zoltan and Dandelion both looked at her, questioning. "He's going to lead us straight back to their camp, straight back to Endir. And we are going to wipe them out." She turned to Zoltan. "Gather the Guard, you need to leave within the hour, even if you can't gather their full forces. We can't afford to tarry."

"Where are you going?" Zoltan asked, already gathering supplies.

"I'm going to follow Geralt's tracks, make sure we don't lose him. When I find the camp, I'll teleport back to you and lead you in. Just keep heading east until I do. We know they have to be camped somewhere deep in the mountains. Here," she said, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a small token. She whispered an enchantment over it and handed it to Zoltan. "Keep this with you. It'll allow me to locate you once I've found the camp."

Zoltan nodded and pocketed the token himself. He looked back up to Yen. "They have to be an hour ahead of us at least. What if the trail is already lost?"

Yen flashed him a sly smile. "I'm a sorceress, Zoltan. They won't lose me."

~~~

It was the incessant bouncing that woke Ciri. The world was blinding around her and she squinted her eyes against it. When her pupils finally adjusted, she realized that she was encompassed by snow and trees, seated astride Roach, directly in front of Geralt. His arms were wrapped around her so that he could hold onto the reins. She could feel his warm breath down her neck. Her hands were tied securely to the saddle horn, though her feet were dangling freely to either side of Roach. She thought briefly of attempting an escape, but even if she managed to unseat Geralt, she wouldn't be able to reach the reins to steer. She would just have to bide her time.

The wind bit uncomfortably at Ciri's face, but she was warm leaning up against Geralt and, she realized, she had her fur coat on. Geralt must have garbed her in it before they left. It was strange that he would do such a thing. Ciri wanted to believe it was because he held out some lingering regard for her wellbeing. More likely, though, it was because Endir wanted her alive and it wouldn't do if she froze to death on the way there.

Although, now that she thought about it, why had Geralt taken Roach if not for some residual familiarity? Roach was a fine steed, but Pegasus was more muscular and taller by a hand; he was much more suited for carrying two. Even one not well-versed in horses could have seen that. Ciri couldn't work out any reason why Geralt would have taken Roach other than the obvious—that deep down, Geralt knew Roach, and took him instinctually. Ciri's stomach fluttered at the implication.