Reincarnation ➵ The Witcher

xxiv.

"YOU'RE the Witcher, Geralt of Rivia." The bard persisted, following after the pair as they approached the door of the tavern. Edith slowed her pace, looking over her shoulder to view the bard hanging off of one of the beams, "Called it."

Edith frowned, watching as the residents of the tavern turn to look at them both at the Bards words. Geralt's steps didn't falter, and Edith attempted to chase after his long strides fruitlessly.

"Slow down." He ignored her, and she prevented a sound of frustration escaping her lips until a man stood up after their shadow.

"A job I've got for ya. I beg," Edith turned, Geralt's footsteps freezing in stride. The man had curly brown locks, but his face held an expression of helplessness that Edith couldn't help but pity, "A devil-- he's been stealing all our grain," Geralt turned to face the man, "In advance, I'll pay you. A hundred ducat."

Geralt's gaze diverted through the small window, Edith's presence close, "One fifty."

The man reached into his clothing, grasping a pouch of coin in his hands, "I've no doubt you'll come through," he offered the pouch to Geralt, "You take no prisoners, so I hear."

Geralt took the pouch after debating his words, and Edith smiled kindfully at the man. Geralt's arms grazed her own, him leading them both out of the building with a bard following in tow. They crossed the bridge one after the other, and Roach was still thankfully in the same spot they left him.

"What are you, then?" The bard began questioning Edith, "A succubus, maybe?"

"Watch it." Geralt interrupted, gaze directed on the bard pointedly. He raised his hands in surrender, and Edith rolled her eyes at him.

"What would that make you?" Edith questioned, watching the bard falter in confusion, "A swine?"

"Ha-ha, very funny."

Edith watched Geralt grasp the rein of Roach, beginning to lead her to the start of the incline of the valley that seemed to bend in order to accommodate.

"Better than your singing, atleast."

"Please, I doubt you could do any better."

"Is that a challenge?" Edith teased.

The bard watched from tbe corner of his eye as Geralt shot him a glare, "I-I'll have you know it was no challenge--"

"Both of you, shut up." Geralt hissed, jaw clenched at the incessant bickering. From the side, both the bard and Edith shot eachother a look before the bard had began taking an opposite path from them. She raised a hand to wave goodbye, before both she and Geralt began heading across on the main path up the valley side.

Edith sighed dejectfully, "Shame the bard can't come with us."

"It's not happening, Edith." Geralt reinforced, and a silence settled between them once again. A silence that hid unspoken words and unfulfiled actions.

The peaceful quiet didn't last long, as when they were near the top of the incline the bard approached them again from behind as if he'd changed his mind and ran to catch up with them. Edith was heavily out of breath and Geralt remaining somehow intact with his stupidly handsome ashen hair.

"Ah. Need a hand? I've got two. One for each of the, uh, devil's horns."

"Go away." Geralt denied, and Edith smirked at him.

"Back already? Anyone would think you've got a thing for Geralt."

"Shut up, Edith." Geralt chimed, and her mood deflated.

The bard began again, "I won't be but silent back-up." He continued when Geralt greeted him with silence, "I heard your note, and, yes, you're right, maybe real adventures would make better stories. And you, sir, smell chock-full of them."

Edith interrupted with a snort, "If you call almost dying an 'adventure', then sure, we've been on a few of them."

He ignored her input, "Amongst other things, I mean, what is that? Is that onion? It doesn't matter. Whatever it is, you smell of death and destiny. Heroics and heartbreak."

"It's onion." Geralt confirmed, and Edith couldn't help the amused smile from the bard's monologue.

"Right, yeah. Yeah. Ooh, I could be your barker, spreading the tales of Geralt of Rivia, the-the Butcher of Blaviken."

Geralt stopped at this, and Edith stopped a wince of her own at his words.

"Come here." Geralt demanded, and he stupidly listened. Edith could already guess what was about to happen.

The bard approached in ignorance, "Yeah?" Geralt swung at the bard's stomach, and Edith grimaced at the impact.

"Ouch. To be fair, you did deserve it. But ouch." Edith stood over his wheezing body, and placed herself beside Geralt.

"Come on Edith, Roach." Geralt had started to finish the incline, gloved hands once again tightly around Roach's reins.