Embers

Torque, the Sylvan

The three of them travelled towards the fields. Following the instructions that one of the villagers had given them right before they left, were easy to follow. It was only a three hours trip. But for Geralt, Eira thought, it must have felt like it took forever because of the talkative Bard who had joined them.

Jaskier tried talking to Geralt, but as soon as the bard realised he wouldn't get a response, except for the occasional growl, Jaskier turned to Eira for attention. She didn't mind. However her neck did. Because he didn't have a horse, she always needed to look down when the Bard said something.

"Did you travel to many places," she asked him and Jaskier flashed a smile at her.

"Well yes. I travel lots and lots," he started. "As a bard, I go to many different places. Inns to play in, castles to sing before Kings and Queens."

She was amazed and hardly heard Geralt groan in front of them.

"So, you meet a lot of interesting people?"

"Yes," Jaskier said, still offering her a warm and sincere smile. "I have many acquaintances and some even friends. And," he grinned wildly, "lovers too. But that's another story." He wiggled his eyebrows, deserving a confused look from Eira.

"Shut up, bard," Geralt spoke while he jumped off his horse to walk beside it.

The road got smaller and they eventually had to leave their horses near a small forest. Eira walked next to Geralt while Jaskier a little bit behind.

"You said devils don't exist," she asked the Witcher, making him look at her. "Then why are we going to see anyway."

"The coin," he replied simply and Eira nodded.

She realised Geralt was a lot more friendly then when they first met which made her smile vaguely. To Jaskier, however, the bard had to do a double take after the Witcher had punched him in the stomach. Eira would've taken that as a sign of being unwanted company, but the Bard seemed stubborn and just followed along.

Geralt glanced at her sideways and Eira read the silent message in his eyes. She nodded faintly, took a few steps back and went to walk next to the Bard. Eira didn't mind his talking, actually she liked it, so she might as well try to keep him busy and away from Geralt.

To her surprise, Jaskier had a serious side to himself too. He talked about his travels in more detail and she soaked up every word that came from his lips. Nobody ever really took the time to talk to her until now.

"And you? Tell me something about you," he suddenly asked and Eira glanced at him sideways.

"Not much to tell," she shrugged, remembering how Geralt explicitly told the bard she was human back at the Inn. "I'm just curious."

"There must be something," Jaskier locked eyes with her. "What do you like?"

Eira looked away from him, towards the back of Geralt to avoid the bard's gaze. "I don't know," she admitted.

Jaskier opened his lips to ask something when Geralt suddenly held his pace.

"These are the fields," the Witcher spoke, holding out his hand for Eira to stop. "Let's just look around and we'll be gone again."

"Cashing the coin," Eira nodded and deserved an approved look from Geralt.

It turned out the devil in the field was real. A Sylvan by the name of Torque attacked them by throwing stones their way. It hit their mark ; Jaskier on the head, Geralt as well and Eira had one on her shoulder. The Bard fell down while the Witcher growled and jumped on the Sylvan.