Prologue

The four of them sit around a fire talking about themselves and how they've gotten to where they are now. Geralt tells how he came to be known as "The Butcher of Blaviken" and his child surprise.

"Well, that was just a damned mess, if you ask me," Jaskier slips in.

"No one asked you," Geralt retorts, "I wouldn't have been there had you not gotten yourself into your own damned mess." Jaskier quickly changes the subject and divulges his utterly offensive "earthly indulgences" with women he's had the pleasure of meeting. Married or no. Roz shares her dream, or what used to be, of becoming a bard or a scholar. Her endeavor growing to even become both. She sings a short song that she had written herself. Everyone stays silent when she's done. Everyone except...

"Well, I'm not that bad am I, Geralt?" Jaskier prods. Geralt cuts his eyes at him and answers,

"You're worse." Jaskier stutters as he tries to find his words.

"How many lemons have you had today, then?" Roz asks. Jaskier moves from defense to confusion.

"Lemons? I haven't had any—"

"Because you're soundin' quite bitter." Everyone laughs. Even Jaskier chuckles. Faiza confesses her past, but only so far.

"He killed her because she wouldn't kill me," Faiza explains.

"Why would he want to do a thing like that?" Roz asks. A question that never receives an answer.

Faiza looks over at Jaskier and Roz who've fallen asleep during the late-night bonding. Neither she nor Geralt able to sleep. No matter how hard they try. She lays on her back as she stares at the moon that sits brightly in the dark sky. He sits staring out at the river that flows near them. She walks over and sits next to him.

"Can't sleep?" He looks at her but doesn't answer. Slowly looks back at what had his attention before.

"Neither can you?" She shakes her head. He reaches out and pulls her medallion away from her chest. His fingertips unintentionally glide against her skin causing an unexpected sensation in her. "You were trained at the School of the Cat?" She turns to him and lightly nods her head as visions of her trials pass through her mind. He sighs pensively. "A Feline. So, you know Dragonfly?" Faiza goes into some thought.

"I know of her." Geralt smirks.

"Hm."

"What? Did you bed her too?" Geralt scowls at her remark but ignores it.

"Who trained you?"

"You wouldn't know him."

"And I thought I was the modest one." Faiza looks over at him and allows a light laugh to escape.

That was nearly eight years ago.

Morning comes and Faiza wakes to Roz humming as she cooks a fish over a fire.

"Morn-in'." Roz looks at Faiza with a telling smirk on her face.

"What?" Roz shakes her head.

"Nothin'." Faiza ignores it and walks over to her things. "Well..." Faiza stops and looks over her shoulder. "I heard the name you were callin' last night."

"And?" Roz smiles.

"Oh. Nothin'. Nothin' at all." Faiza closes her eyes and rubs her temples. Geralt continued getting grumpier as the days went on because sleep was slowly eluding him more and more. Which of course made Faiza grumpy because she couldn't sleep well either. Jaskier likely running off with some woman he'd rekindled a relationship with no doubt. She thought maybe some distance between them all would help. Even at the cost of separating from her path and the man to whom she had begun getting so close.

She hears something nearby land in the water. Faiza listens for a second, then drops her head and laughs.

"What is it, then?"

"You don't hear them?" Faiza listens as Jaskier names as many random fish as he can.

"AND I CAN'T FUCKIN' SLEEP!" Roz stands up straight. Faiza looks at her with her eyebrows raised.

"Well, I heard that!" Faiza tries to see if she can locate where they are. "Maybe we should just leave them to it. I'm not sure I want to let them know we're here now," Roz says with some humor.

"I agree." Faiza laughs.

"Can't believe he's still that crabby. Surely he's been able to let off steam of some sort," Roz says under her breath and she goes back to what she was doing. Faiza hears her but doesn't acknowledge it. She can still feel how irritated he's been. Just because he's gone away, doesn't mean the dreams have.

"You know? It's nice that we don't quarrel the way they do." Roz laughs. Geralt and Jaskier have moved closer to where they're camped so Jaskier's defensive and childish words are easier to hear.

"HOW'S. MY. SINGING?" Roz looks at Faiza with her eyes wide. Both knowing what will come of that simple question. Roz laughs.

"They still can't get past that?"

"YOU NEED A NAP!" Both women cover their mouths, not wanting to alert the men, as their heavy laughter tries to escape.

"Well, he is right about that!" Roz whispers. Faiza shrugs as her laughter subsides. An image appears in her mind.

"He's found a djinn," she says low.

"A what?" Roz looks in the direction of the men as she can hear them bickering, yet again. "Should we...?" Faiza shakes her head. The sky dims. The wind increases. Faiza and Roz stand as still as they can and look at one another. Faiza's hair on her arms raises as she feels the tension grow. She knows a Sign has just been used. She sees the dark shadow being pushed towards them along the river and performs a Sign of her own to push it further away. "The hell was that?!" Roz screams. "I really think we sh—" Faiza squeezes her eyes shut, clenches her jaw, and lets out an irritated growl. She quickly unsheathes her silver sword and they both run in their direction.

Geralt hears them approaching and lifts his hand to invoke another Sign.

"Wait!" Faiza yells with her left hand out-stretched.

"You have got to be kidding me." The vexed tone dripping from his words sting Faiza a little, but her expression remains unaffected.

"Nice to see you too," Roz replies sarcastically, "Uhm..." Roz points at Jaskier who's trying to hold himself up on a tree, wheezing. Geralt walks over and places his hand on Jaskier's shoulder who then coughs up blood. "That does not look good." Geralt scowls at Roz. "What?! It doesn't!"

"Go up a few miles. There's a camp, someone should be able to point you in the direction of a healer," Faiza advises. Geralt climbs on Roach and she helps push Jaskier's weak body on behind him. "We'll meet you there." Geralt and Faiza stare at one another, but both stay silent. Faiza breaks their eye contact. "Go!" Geralt rides away.

"And what was that, then?" Roz looks at Faiza with an eyebrow raised and a smile pulled to one side. Faiza clears her throat and walks away. "You can't keep ignoring this, Faiza," Roz pushes, "I can see the tension between the two of ya. And, I mean, if I can see—"

"There's nothing to talk about. He's not mine."

"What do you mean? Because of that child surprise thing? That doesn't mean any—"

"It's not the child."

"Well, what is it, then?" Faiza stops walking and stares ahead. She closes her eyes and pulls in a deep breath before answering,

"Lilac and gooseberries." Faiza looks down at the ground and slowly starts gathering her things.

"Well, I don't know what that's supposed to mean," Roz says as she stares at her friend's solemn reactions, "But, I'm sure I'll figure it out later." She follows Faiza's lead and begins to pack her things too.

Faiza and Roz start in the direction that she gave Geralt.

"You don't think we are moving too slow? I mean...Jaskier's injuries didn't look at all pleasurable." Faiza doesn't change Amina's easy stride.

"We'll catch up. He'll be fine."

"You know what we are walkin' into, don't you?" Faiza lets out a heavy sigh and looks over at Roz. She considers what to tell her, but all she does is nod. "And still...we're going?" Faiza nods again.

"I'd like to see that Jaskier is okay. And...maybe it'll help."

"Help what?" Faiza slowly closes her eyes and takes in a deep breath. "I can tell you're preparing yourself for something. Am I right?" Faiza doesn't respond. "Never mind, then. Your silence is deafening."

"I'd tell you if it mattered, Roz. Don't worry." Roz gives a half-smile.

"I know."

The two finally arrive at the camp. They dismount and question the man who greets them,

"Did someone come in looking for a healer?" The man furrows his eyebrows at Faiza's question.

"There was another man on his horse. Wheezing and possibly coughing up a lot of blood." The man perks up.

"Oh! Yes, I sent them to Chireadan, the elf healer. He's that way." Faiza and Roz start in his direction, but the man grabs Roz's hand, pulls her back to him, and smiles. Faiza turns and looks at him with her hand on her dagger. She tilts her head and realizes that Roz doesn't seem to mind.

"I'm going to go talk to him," Faiza says. Roz turns to her with her lips pulled in and nods, attempting to keep her flushed cheeks hidden. Faiza chuckles and leaves to find Chireadan.

She walks into a tent, filled with different ingredients for remedies.

"Can I help you?" Faiza is met by a man in armor. And pointed ears.

"You must be Chireadan." He looks her up and down.

"I am. And you are?"

"I'm looking for the two you helped earlier today." He taps his bottom lip with his finger. "One of them was coughing up blood."

"Oh! The djinn debacle." Faiza nods. "Well, they aren't here anymore. I did all I could for that poor man." Chireadan stares at her with a proud smile and his hands on his hips. Faiza stares back. Chireadan stays in his pose until Faiza's eyes widen and shakes her head. "Oh! You want to know where they are! Well, yes...I sent them to another town to find a mage."

"Okay?" Faiza can smell the nervousness coming from him. "What's wrong with this mage?"

"What do you mean?" Faiza tilts her head and stares him in his eyes. "Both of you can see right through me, can't you?" he says nervously to himself, "As I told your friends, I was tasked to take this mage down, but I could not. I—" Faiza holds up her hand.

"I'm not looking for a fight. I'll find him." Faiza starts out of the tent, but pauses when she hears his next words,

"Her." She looks over her shoulder at the elf. He smiles hesitantly. Faiza rolls her eyes and curses under her breath,

"Shit."

Faiza walks back over to find Roz talking to the same man that stopped her on the way in. Faiza watches as she can tell that her friend looks happy. Much happier than she had looked in a long time. Roz perks up when she sees her.

"Hey! Did you get good answers?"

"I did. He sent them to a different town. To see a mage." Roz stands to her feet. The man stands behind her.

"So, we're off, then?" Faiza can sense the disappointment in Roz, as well as, her new friend.

"You don't have to go." Roz stands silent for a moment staring at her hands, then looks up at Faiza.

"And miss an opportunity to see more magic?" Roz turns to the man and gives him a hug. He pulls away and places his hand on her face while looking deep in her eyes. He whispers in her ear and Roz seems to glow.

"You really didn't have to leave him," Faiza explains.

"I'm not bothered," Roz replies.

"Is it because he will wait for you no matter what?" Roz's eyes get big and she swings her hand attempting to hit Faiza's arm.

"I can't believe you overheard!"

"He isn't very good at whispering. I really hope he isn't entrusted with any secrets."

"He whispers just fine. You just hear better than most!" They laugh together as they ride to the next town. They talk about the short time Roz had with the man named Michael.

They finally reach the town and find a man lying on the ground. Unconscious. Faiza climbs down from Amina and walks over to him.

"He's still breathing." She searches his face. She finds a large red mark on his forehead. "He's fine. He was hit over the head with a bag of coins. The imprint tells it all." Roz laughs at what she can imagine has happened.

"Sounds like we're in the right place." They get closer to the entrance of the mayor's home and Faiza stops walking. "What is it?" Faiza inhales deeply and covers her nose.

"I'm not going in there."

"Why not?" Roz climbs down from her horse. She examines the front door then looks around her. "I'd think staying out here would be the least desirable of the two choices. Although, it is nice with all the fog that's floating around ominously." Faiza stares at the door, her nostrils enlarge and she shakes her head. Roz walks towards the entrance.

"I wouldn't go in there if I we—" Roz pushes her way through, and the door closes behind her. Faiza begins counting. Before she reaches seven, Roz comes bursting out as quickly as she had gone in.

"Nope! No! Noooo, thank you!" Faiza tries to suppress her laughter when she sees her face. "There is a fat, naked man in there. Asleep in his chair! I did not sign up for this! Definitely not the kind of magic I was hopin' for!" Faiza can't resist and doubles over, holding her sides. "You could have warned me or something, ya know!?" Faiza tries to push words through her laughter,

"I. Tried!"

The two decide to find a tavern after a surprise guest showed up behind them.

"Why don't you stay in the rooms here? I'm sure they have plenty available," Michael asks.

"Y'know? I dunno. I never asked." Roz looks over at Faiza quizzically.

"I don't like to eat where I sleep. And vice versa," Faiza answers dryly.

"Is there something in that? Something maybe I should know?" Michael asks while taking a swig of his ale. Faiza can tell that he's sincerely curious but shakes her head.

"We all have our things," she answers him, "And this one's mine." Scenes of Geralt's ongoing evening begin to haunt Faiza as she tries her best to sit and be cordial. "I think this is it for me."

"All done? Already?" Roz looks at Faiza's plate, then back at her with concern. Faiza nods and pushes herself up from the table. Roz follows after Faiza and grabs her arm. "You okay? I can tell you See something."

"I'm fine." Faiza avoids eye contact.

"You know I know better than that." Faiza looks up at her.

"I'm fine. Really." Roz lets her arm go and smiles sympathetically. "Go enjoy your time with Michael. He really seems to like you." Roz looks over at him and smiles.

"Yeah. And I think I feel the same way. But, we'll see."

Faiza gets back to her room and sits on her bed. She can imagine what the night is going to bring. She just hopes it doesn't become too overwhelming. Whenever the woman's purple eyes show in a vision, Faiza does her best to think of something else. Anything else. She can hear her voice as she pries information from Geralt's mouth, who seems willing to give it. Something Faiza was able to do at one time. The woman wants something though. Her inquiries aren't purely for curiosity, she's been around too long for that. Faiza can sense it. The woman joins him in the bath and Faiza's heart sinks. She tries to navigate what's building inside of her. She pushes her hands over her eyes in attempts to douse what she feels in her chest. She stands and paces her room while she opens and closes her hands.

"What the hell is this feeling!?" She looks at her hands expecting to see an external reaction, but the tingle continues underneath her skin.

She continues to walk the floors of her room, reciting the words that her uncle always told her about keeping her emotions submerged.

"I thought we didn't have these stupid things!" She spots herself in the mirror. She slowly walks towards it looking at herself in the eyes. "You knew this was to come. Get over yourself, Faiza." She gathers herself, taking in one calming breath after another, but she can still hear her,

"...are all witchers similarly blessed?"

Faiza thrusts her hand through her reflection.

She sits at the small table near her bed, wrapping her hand, and scolding herself for her stupidity. She can still hear some of their conversation. Geralt is uncovering the woman's true reasons for helping Jaskier.

"I knew there was more to it than just being nice." She smirks and shakes her head. Geralt's hypnotic reaction to her scent causes the hair on the back of Faiza's neck to stand. "Keep it under control. He was never yours," she continues to remind herself as she finishes with her bandages. She's starting to respect the woman's efforts to achieve everything she wants in life. She also can feel how reckless she's been with any and everyone she's felt would benefit her. Faiza closes her eyes and whispers to herself, "Walk away, Geralt. You don't need to be a part of her undertakings." She knows he can't hear her, but she can't help but try.

Morning comes and Faiza's surprised that Roz wasn't the first to wake her. She's also shocked that her dreams were...dark. Dark enough for her to sleep through the night. What she feared never happened. Short bursts of images invade her thoughts, but nothing with any clarity. Banging on the door causes her to sit upright. She reaches for her dagger on the small table next to her.

"Faiza! FAIZA! I think you should wake up now!" Roz continues banging on the door. More erratically than she had ever done. Faiza senses her intensity and rushes to answer. Roz has a look of concern on her face. Faiza tilts her head awaiting her words.

"It's Geralt."

Faiza and Roz hurry to find Geralt's holding cell.

"What the hell happened?" Faiza asks.

"You don't know?!" Roz realizes what she's just asked. "You didn't See?" Faiza stops and looks at Roz.

"No. So, what happened?"

"Geralt. He went on a rampage last night. Attacking two men on the town council. Michael had to help try to stop him but to no avail. He couldn't be stopped." Faiza squeezes her eyes shut as she realizes the images that she couldn't decipher this morning.

"Shit!"

"What?!"

"She used him. She used that scent against him."

"Scent? What scent?" Roz stares at Faiza, "That scent?!" Faiza looks at Roz with a telling look on her face. "It's her, isn't it? She's the reason yo—"

"We don't have time for this, Roz."

"You're right. But, it'll come up again. I promise you." Faiza lets out an exasperated breath.

"I know." They continue their pursuit towards the town jail. Faiza stops abruptly when she sees the head of the man who laid unconscious the night before erupting into pieces. She drops her head in defeat. "I don't know why I always try to help that lucky bastard." Faiza feels a strong breeze blow through the air. Not one of nature, but of magic. She pieces everything she had just Seen together. "Shit! Jaskier!"

Faiza and Roz happen upon Geralt, Jaskier, and Chireadan arguing over Geralt going in to save the woman.

"Leave the very sexy but insane witch to her inevitable demise!" Jaskier yells at Geralt.