ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴡɪᴛᴄʜ (Geralt of Rivia)

xxᴠ.

ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴡɪᴛᴄʜ

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ: xxᴠ.

It was Yennefer.

Somewhere in the back of Thazina's mind, she could hear Yennefer speaking.

"Tissaia?" she was saying. "Tissaia... I need you."

Panic flooded Thazina.

She closed her eyes as a sick feeling overwhelmed her. She had to focus, to find where Yennefer was. She saw Sodden. A tower. 

Yennefer.

"Yenn?" she found herself thinking. 

"Thaz!" came the reply, echoing in her ears, so close, yet so far.

"I'm coming."

When her eyes opened again, she saw Yurga looking back at her.

"I have to go," she said. "I have to go to Sodden. I'm of no help to him now, so I have to leave while I can."

Yurga seemed stunned, but he nodded along slowly. "All right. The horse." He jerked his head toward Roach.

She bit down hard on her lip, looking ahead. The tower of Sodden was faintly in view. 

Looking down at Geralt, she let out a breath. "I'm sorry," she said, taking him by the shoulder, kissing him hard on the mouth, though she didn't even know if he could tell she was there. "I'll be back," she promised him in a wavering voice. "I love you, Geralt."

It felt so strange to admit it, but she had to. She was only now accepting it.

She untied Roach from the back of the wagon, climbing up onto the horse's back.

She looked toward Yurga as she coaxed Roach into a trot. "Thank you for your help," she said. "Cintra is grateful."

He gave a nod. "You're welcome, mage," he said.

She smiled sadly before she eased Roach into a gallop, disappearing into the trees.

As she approached, she could feel the chaos of the battlefield, washing over her, bubbling inside.

She tied Roach in a grove of trees beside a lake, running a hand along the horse's snout. "Stay here," she said. She didn't feel like explaining to Geralt how his horse had gotten killed on her watch.

The horse butted its head against her palm as if begging her to stay. "I'll be back," she said, gently enough. "And I'll bring you back to your master. I promise."