Embers

Triss Merigold

They arrived in Teimera well before sunrise. Both Jaskier and Eira were able to catch up on the witcher who had left before them. Eira knew Geralt was holding his pace so they both were able to follow him. He didn't even look surprised or angry that the bard had joined them.

Although it was early, there was commotion heard on the streets and it led them to the castle. Geralt had given Eira a short introduction to Temeria and she knew that's where King Foltest must live. Castles always got her attention, there was something dreamy about them. Something that made her fantasise how it would be to live in one of them.

Her reverie was disturbed by Geralt suddenly coming to a full stop. The Witcher silently pulled his cloak over his head and when Eira looked next to her, she noticed the bard doing the same. He flashed her a smile from underneath his burgundy coloured cape and Eira swiftly looked away.

Her gracious fingers pulled her own cloak over her head and she followed the lead of the Witcher. Staying close to the wall, a bit away from the horde that was protesting just outside the castle's walls. They could easily hear the shouts. A bit too loud even for Eira who had to hold herself back to not cover her ears.

The mob was angry and Jaskier murmured something about killings happening for a few years.

"I heard the tales of the killings," he told her and Eira turned her head to him.

His big blue eyes locked with hers and for the first time in her existence, Eira felt a slight flutter in her stomach. Which made her frown and she rubbed her fingers over her stomach.

Jaskier ignored or hadn't seen the frown nor movement, and just continued.

"Every full moon a beast kills someone in an outrageous manner. Bloody and ...," he noticed the look on Eira's face, one of disgust, by the way she pulled up her nose. "Well, just gore. They say it's King Foltest's sister. The Beast, I mean."

"It isn't," Geralt murmured and shifted his weight a bit.

"How did you know where to go?"

"The redhead at the Inn," the Witcher said, "she told me another Witcher took the job of killing the Beast. She said he ran off with the gold. I knew Remus, it strikes me as odd he would just take the coin and leave."

Apparently, Geralt had heard enough and revealed himself to the men. Eira and Jaskier stayed behind, following from a distance. The Witcher offered to take care of the animal for them. Even said to only take the coin after he killed it and apologised for his Witcher friend.

Eira followed the conversation closely and thought about how to shake off the bard. Geralt had been clear about one thing : no one was to know about her origins. Not even Jaskier.

She jumped up when his hand touched hers. It was an accident but it felt like he had burned her. A curse rolled off her lips and Jaskier silently took a step back. Eira shook her head with a laugh. Waved the incident off.

"Sorry, I'm jumpy," she apologised.

Jaskier just nodded, his gaze on Geralt again and didn't seem to think any of it.

"You know, this is going to be a great song," he whispered, bending his head to whisper in her ear.

Her eyes grew wide when Eira felt his warm breath against her skin and she chuckled nervously.

"I have no doubt," she replied and took a small step away from him. Not knowing what was going on, only that she suddenly started to feel ill.