Hellfury

Chapter 21: Auri

Auri picked at the bandages beneath her shirt. Cahir's hand moved from one of the rains and poked at her.
'Stop it. I helped you not die once, I don't fancy doing it again for at least a week.'
'If you had felt-' she began but he cut her off.
'I did feel it. You know I did. You did the same thing to me. I didn't pick at it, you shouldn't either. Jaskier won't help me again.'
'Was he that angry?' Auri asked and let her hand fall.

She had been nervous about the riding. Mainly because the last time she fell off. She knew even getting on a horse back then had been a bad idea, but she had needed to flee. Now, she didn't sway. She didn't ache as much and Cahir kept one hand wrapped painfully tight around her waist. She knew why. He'd lost his grip on her once-
'He told me to get fucked, actually. He only shut up when I said your name, and he is still convinced you're a selkie.'
'He is protective of Ciri. And he's very good with grudges-'
'I don't care about Ciri,' Cahir said and sighed. 'Emhyr can find her himself if he dares. Destiny or no, she will do what she pleases.'

Auri scanned the horizon. She had looked at nothing but the creeping trees and the shadows since they left the cave that morning. She wasn't going to tell him she was terrified of scouts. She kept her eye fixed on everything that moved. They were both wanted now, and according to his nervous breathing every soldier from here to Toussaint knew they were traveling together.

'We should have split up,' she said and moved her eyes away from the treeline.
'Great idea, beast. Splitting up is definitely the right thing to do when you can't even stand up straight, much less sit on a horse properly. If you don't stop moving soon-'
'I hurt all over, if I don't move I burn. Take your pick,' she snapped and placed her hands back on his thighs. She was annoyed, she knew she had no reason to be but still-

He hadn't looked at her for more than a few seconds at the time. He was being weird. He quickly assessed her wounds when she woke before he made her wait while he hurriedly gathered their belongings and tied them to the horse. Something in her told her he was full of regret or possibly, shame. She pretended not to notice it, she pretended to have forgotten all about his hands-

'Where are we even going?' she asked, trying to keep the heat from reaching her cheeks.
'Oxenfurt.'
Auri chuckled. He'd finally seen reason.
'I see Jaskier did get to you,' she said and turned to look at him. He kept his eyes fixed on her forehead. To give the illusion that he was looking her in the eye.
'We will probably die anyway, it really doesn't matter if it is in a cave, on the road or in a fucking tavern. I also thought you'd be happier sleeping in a bed. The ships to Skellige leave all the time, I assume we will be there in a fortnight if you heal well enough-'
'That's the most you've said since last night,' Auri pointed out and smiled. He didn't return it.'Are you angry?' she asked.
'I am tired, bloody, and anxious,' he admitted and found her eyes. 'It has nothing to do with you. I promise.'

He would be, she realized. He only slept when she did. She had found her wrist tied to his arm a few nights ago. He still looked like something had eaten him and spat him back out. The bed would do him good too. She found herself hoping for one room again, if only to keep him close, to make sure that everything he'd done was for her and not only for himself. Cahir left the horse by the lone stable on the outskirts of the city. He helped her off and dragged her hood down to her chin.

'Keep your head down- listen to me!' he said when her eyes wandered, '-don't look at anything but your feet.'
'Why are we not going through the sewers?' she asked and took his outstretched hand.
'I am going through the sewers, you're not. You can't, not in your condition.' He placed his hands on either side of her face and found her eyes.
'If they catch me you run.'
'But-'
'No buts, if they catch me, you find Jaskier and you run!'

Auri stopped protesting when his arms wrapped around her. He pulled her against his chest and hugged her. She nodded. She didn't understand why he wouldn't go with her. They were both wanted, she was in as much danger as him, though a part of her was glad she didn't have to wade through the sewers. Auri let him go, she watched him as he climbed down into the reeking canal and made his way toward the grate hidden behind leaves, waste and rotting plants.She would run. After she got him back.She understood the severity of the situation when she entered the city. The first thing she saw was piles of parchments strewn all over the ground and plastered to every wall.