The Witcher: Oblivion

Chapter Three

Victoria made her way back towards the counter, noticing Renfri's eyes flickering to her. The woman placed a large jug down on the counter, wiping her mouth free of the liquid.

She sat down beside Geralt, staring at the bar as she scooted her stool a mere few inches away. He watched her at the corner of his eye.

"Witcher tells me you stumbled upon his horse." Renfri said. "And I'm just curious. . . Where do you come from, Victoria?"

Victoria looked up at Geralt, trying not to show she was anxious, although every fiber of her being was telling her to dart for the door without looking back.

She straightened her posture and kept her hands beneath the blanket.

"Luton," she lied. "I'm from Luton."

Renfri hummed. "Interesting."

Victoria looked away as Geralt stared at her.

When a young girl walked up to the three, she stood beside Geralt and placed her folded arms on the counter.

"How much coin for your kikimora, then?" She asked Geralt. He stared down at her for a minute, and sighed through his nostrils before looking back to Renfri.

"How about I get your friend here some fresh clothes, while you show her?" Renfri asked. Victoria wanted to object, she wanted desperately to stay with Geralt. She barely knew him, and something told her that he was dangerous, but another part also told her that if he wanted to kill her, he would have back at the swamp.

Geralt's eyes met hers, and he could see the plea in her hazel orbs, but rejected it.

"Meet me at the doors in ten." He said to her.

Renfri held up a grey dress with a set of black strings in the front. "A bit revealing, but it's thick. And you won't have to worry about it dragging."

Victoria was now dressed in the grey dress. She wore a pair of black socks that went up her calves, and a set of black boots.

"But these are yours." Victoria said to her.

Renfri chuckled. "Not mine. But that's no matter. And besides, it looks better on you than its original owner."

Victoria did have to admit that the dress was perfectly warm and thick. It fit her nicely, despite the larger size chest it was made for.

"Can I ask you something?" Renfri asked. Victoria nodded as she pulled the blanket back over her.

"Geralt said you were running away from something." She said. "What is it?"

Victoria didn't answer right away, and as she tried to, the sound of the window smacking open caused them to turn their heads. Renfri walked towards the window, and Victoria followed.

Victoria could see Geralt, with Roach at his side. A chill ran down her spine.

She turned to Renfri. "Thank you for the clothes."

Victoria found herself hurrying outside, reaching Geralt within a minute. The witcher observed her as she walked to her.

"You clean up nicely." He said, turning to Roach. She rose a brow, taken back.

"Was that a legitimate compliment?" She asked. She could see the smirk outstretched on his face.

"I want you to take Roach and head back to the forest." He said. "I have something to do."

Victoria felt paralyzed in her stance as Geralt took a step forward. He towered over her, having almost two feet of height over her own. He stared into her eyes, revealing his perfectly white teeth.

"And just in case you get any ideas about running off. . ." He said.

"I would really rather not get on your bad side." She shuttered.

"Hmm,"

Geralt grabbed her sides before hitching her up onto the horse. Victoria straddled Roach and looked back down at him.

"How will you know how to find me?" She asked him.

"I just will." He replied. As he walked through the market, she swallowed and headed back.

Victoria sat in the woods by herself other than Roach. She sat on the ground before a pile of sticks.

She grabbed two sticks, before trying a technique to create a fire. As she quickly rubbed the sticks together, she waited impatiently for flames to ignite.

After several seconds, she watched as smoke lingered into the air. She shook her head angrily as she threw the sticks back down.

"Can do anything but make a fucking fire!" She said between her gritted teeth. She glanced over at Roach, who huffed.

"Please, don't judge me." She said. "It's already bad enough that your owner distrusts me. Not that I blame him. I would have taken you as my own. I wouldn't have known you were his."

Victoria hugged her knees as she placed the throw down on the ground beneath her.

"But I will say that if Geralt wanted to kill me, he would have back when he found me."

Geralt traveled through the woods after meeting Stregebor. He followed the scent of Roach and Victoria, back to where they had originally met.

When he arrived, he noticed Victoria curled up in a ball on her side, trying to keep warm in her slumber. The witcher looked over at his horse, who seemed undisturbed and calm.

He walked towards Victoria, noticing her bloodied hand that was resting against the blanket. He knelt down beside her and reached out for her hand.

When he lifted her hand, Victoria stirred in her sleep. Geralt released it slowly, but she was still asleep.

He could see the bruises beneath the dried blood, and the discoloration of her skin. The small holes embedded in her knuckles, showed that something sharpe had pierced them; he knew it was glass.

The look on her face caught his attention. Even in her sleep, she looked afraid— terrified. No doubt, she was having thoughts in her sleep about whatever she was being hunted over.

The witcher dug into his pocket, pulling out a small glass teardrop bottle. It held a dark liquid.

He knelt down again before taking a wrap from his back pocket. He wrapped it around her hand to keep it from growing infected. She seemed to have enough on her plate.

Geralt popped the top off of the bottle, before tilting Victoria's chin upward. He poured the liquid into her mouth, listening to her cough lightly as it slicked down her throat.

In a matter of moments, she would sleep for a longer period of needed time, and in hopes of a dreamless sleep.

"She seems harmless, Roach." He said suddenly. "It makes me curious. Curious as to why she's on the run. . . What she did."

"Good. . ."

Geralt glanced back at Victoria as she spoke in her sleep.

"Geralt."

Yay, I updated again for you guys :-) I just want to give a thank you to everyone who's currently reading this book! I wouldn't have imagined 1K reads in 4 days! Wow!

There is plenty of more to come! The feels, the nasty (winks) and plenty of it!

Enjoy!