Liability (Geralt x OC)

Chapter 6

Hey guys! Sorry for the long wait between chapters. I thought I could handle updates when I went back to college, but it turned out to be nearly impossible. Additionally, writer's block hit me like a truck. Now that I have more time and motivation, I'll hopefully be able to deliver more chapters! Thank you all so much for the support while I was on a break! I really appreciate every single one of you.

Anyway, enjoy!

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"Thief! The coin's gone! The guard's been stabbed!" We all turned to the scribe who was accompanied by two guards. The prize money was stolen? I looked to Geralt, and he seemed to be sharing a look with Sasha. Don't tell me either of them had something to do with this...

"No one's removed the coin from the premises," spoke up one of the guards. "All those leaving were searched." Count Tybalt scowled angrily.

"We must scour the building. Anyone leaving must pass inspection," ordered the Count. The guards dispersed to search more along with Count Tybalt and the scribe. Geralt moved over to talk to Sasha quietly. Both of them had worried expressions on their faces. A hand was laid on my arm and I turned to find Marquise.

"The guards will be searching through all of our quarters. I'm sorry, I couldn't change their mind," she whispered softly. I nodded in understanding. It couldn't be helped. Not with 9000 crowns on the line. My eyes found Geralt again as he traveled upstairs with Sasha, most likely to investigate. Why Sasha was with him, however, was beyond me.

"Can you believe someone was stupid enough to steal the coin?" I turned to Amrynn who was looking around the room with skepticism. I shook my head with distaste, crossing my arms over my chest.

"It was to be expected I guess. 9000 crowns? I'm surprised it wasn't stolen sooner." I heard footsteps and noticed Geralt and Sasha coming back downstairs, both heading outside.

"Do you think they got a lead?" I wondered out loud.

"Let's hope so, I don't exactly like these guards bumbling around here and going through our stuff..." Amrynn grumbled, her eyes darting to a couple of the guards on the other side of the room.

"Maybe if we help the investigation, we can get them out as soon as possible," I suggested absentmindedly. Amyrnn shot me a snarky response about not wanting to get involved with the mess, but I wasn't listening as I found myself wandering outside where Geralt and Sasha had left. The cool night brushed my bare shoulders, and I took a moment to breathe in the clean air. I never had much reason to leave the Passiflora or its premises. In fact, I made it a goal not to wander too far lest I run into trouble with a certain group of bastards. However, I missed being able to walk around amidst the bustle of people in the market. Maybe on one of my days off, I'd find myself brave enough to venture around the city.

Taking one last moment to enjoy the clear night, I set out to find out where Geralt had gone. Only to see if I could help, of course. He wasn't around Passiflora, but as I approached the main roads, I noticed him on his way towards another part of the city. Sasha was notably missing. Had he told her to leave him to his job? Before I could wander any farther, I felt someone grab my wrist.

"Sorry miss, but all of you ladies have to stay inside. It's jus' me orders." I turned to face the guard who stopped me and put on a sweet smile.

"Alright, sorry to trouble you sir." The guard smiled sheepishly, clearly new since he was affected by my smile. I walked back inside with the guard, my mind wondering how long it would take Geralt to find the stolen gold.

~~~

As day turned to evening, then to night, Geralt eventually returned to inform Marquise that he had retrieved the prize money. Sasha, notably, did not return with him, or to the Passiflora at any point. Upon the insistence of the other strumpets, Geralt sat down and told the tale of what had happened to the coin. They gathered around him excitedly, and I stood at the edge of the crowd, curious about what had happened.

"Well well, a witcher saves the day. You don't hear that very often." I glanced at Amrynn who stood next to me, her eyes pinned to Geralt.

"Didn't you say your brother's village was saved from some nekkers by a witcher?" Amrynn shrugged indifferently and tossed her blonde locks over her shoulder.

"Only because he was paid to do it. He wasn't particularly jumping at the chance to help my brother or the others." The distaste in Amrynn's voice was palpable, and I decided not to push the topic. She clearly held her prejudices. I glanced back at the witcher who was finishing up his story. Just as he told the ending, Marquise approached the group and chided us for slacking on the job. With the tournament over, customers would be coming back in for some entertainment. The girls broke up the group and began to go back to their normal routine as a couple of men strolled in. Amrynn left my side to go up to her room since she was not working tonight. I waved her off with a promise to join her later.

"You know, there's something I never got to ask you about." I jumped slightly at the voice suddenly next to me and turned to face Geralt who towered over me. How did I not hear him approach me? His wry smile told me he enjoyed my surprise. I quickly composed myself and crossed my arms.

"And what would that be?" I asked curiously.

"Last week, when we got tangled up with some of whoreson's henchmen, it was pretty apparent that they held some vendetta against you," he commented off-handedly. I cocked an eyebrow up at Geralt. "I'm just wondering what a strumpet could have done to piss off a couple of thugs." I scoffed and tossed my hair over my shoulder in mock confidence.

"You don't believe that I could have done some underground work against Whoreson Junior?" I tut at the witcher within a smirk. "Don't judge a book by its cover," I chastised. A smirk worked its way onto Geralt's face at my teasing. "But to answer your question, let's say for now that Whoreson and I have a long and fucked up history. Maybe one day I'll tell you the whole story."

"That day may have to be soon. I'm actually looking to have a chat with the man himself." My shoulders stiffened at that, my spine now straight as a board.

"I don't think that's a good idea Geralt," I muttered lowly, my heart picking up speed at the memories of my time with Whoreson Junior. Geralt seemed to notice this and quickly jumped to ease my mind.

"I'm not asking you to accompany me but, you see, it seems he's gone into hiding, and any information I could get about his whereabouts would be much appreciated." I glanced around, suddenly very aware of the people around us. I caught Marquise's eye who looked ready to march over and give me hell for not trying to seduce some money out of Geralt.

"Listen, swing around tomorrow when I'm not working. My tale's a long one, and Marquise looks ready to skin me alive for not throwing myself out there, alright?" Geralt glanced to the side at the madame and nodded in response.

"Alright, I'll come by tomorrow in the morning. Until then." Geralt took his leave, and I forced myself back into routine to make up for my slacking. Despite that, my mind began to wander about tomorrow. Hopefully I could help Geralt with whatever he was trying to accomplish.