Prologue

For years, Faiza and Roz traveled around the Continent as they had done before. Sometimes it was just Faiza. Others it was Roz and Michael. Solicitation for killing monsters never decreased, filling their pockets to the brim. A blessing that many would beg for, but for Faiza, there was still a void. An emptiness that coin could never fill. She did what she could to keep her mind off him, but she continued to feel him. See him. Want him. But still avoided him.

"So, he said to wait here?" Roz asks while sipping her ale.

"That's what he said," Faiza responds.

"For how long? It feels like it's been ages." Faiza laughs at her impatient friend. Still anxious to get back out on the road. Sitting for too long starts to bother her.

"It hasn't been that long."

"That old man is a little creepy, don't you think? Talkin' about how many firsts he doesn't have anymore. How did he even know we were there?" Faiza shrugs.

"It's not a quiet thing when a witcher is around anymore." Roz nods her head and takes another long sip. Faiza closes her eyes and rolls her neck until it pops. A familiar feeling emanates through her. The feeling she's been running away from. Roz chokes on her ale and through her coughing, manages to let out,

"Shit!"

Faiza watches as Borch leads Geralt and Jaskier over to a table not far from where they sit. To tell him the same things that he told her hours before. About the dragon that's been seen in Caingorn. Roz leans forward and whispers,

"Did you know he'd be here?" Faiza slowly moves her attention from Geralt to Roz.

"Surprisingly...I did not. Thought I was doing a good job."

"Can't escape him, can ya?"

"Bout as much as you can escape Michael, it seems," Faiza jokes.

"Leave Michael outta this!" They laugh as Faiza stands to greet Téa who comes over to their table. They reach out and grab each other's opposing forearms and pull one another in for a hug with one strong pat on the back. Véa follows and Faiza does the same with her. A warrior greeting.

"Good to see you're still here, Faiza. Took us a little longer than we thought," Véa explains.

"Not sure why you needed two of us." Faiza signals over to the other table with a slight movement of her head. Téa and Véa look over their shoulders at Borch.

"He wanted him. So, we found him," Téa answers. Faiza looks back over in Geralt's direction as the two Zerrikanian's find a table and lay down their weapons. She sees his amber eyes staring deeply into hers, but neither of them saying a word. Borch watches as he continues his story.

"Well, hello, ladies. Couldn't have imagined seeing you here," Jaskier says to them. "It's been a long time, hasn't it? Since...where was that? Oh, gods, I've forgotten."

"Rinde," Faiza says low.

"Rinde!" Jaskier snaps. "Where we thought Geralt was dead, but he was actually in—"

"Yes!" Roz interrupts, "We all remember!" Jaskier attention is broken and walks over to sit in front of Téa and Véa. "He didn't even say anything to you! I wanna fight him! I would if I could!" Roz stares at the back of Geralt's head, her annoyance covers every word that comes from her mouth.

"You have the most incredible neck," Jaskier says to Véa. Roz spits out her drink. Faiza's eyes widen and slowly looks in Jaskier's direction.

"Did he just say that!?" Roz questions. Faiza had forgotten about Jaskier's clear disregard for a sensible conversation. She lowers her head and starts to laugh.

"It's like a...sexy goose. Gu—guzzling," Jaskier tries to explain. Faiza laughs harder at his struggle. Roz joins her. It's been a long time since they've had a laugh like that. When she finally catches her breath, Faiza sits her face on her hand as she waits for Borch to finish explaining the purpose of this quest to Geralt.

Jaskier still tries to get in good with Téa and Véa, signing on to Borch's team. Geralt refuses Jaskier's agreement, just as swiftly as it was made.

"Looks like you'll be rid of him after all," Roz says low. Searching Faiza's face for a response. One she doesn't give. Borch continues to coax Geralt by trying to use his age and thirst for adventure. The team of dwarves make themselves known by yelling for more to drink. Téa points out the Reavers, another useless attempt to get Geralt to agree. Borch leans in and speaks low to Geralt about a "hole" that is inside him. His words catch the attention of Faiza as Borch continues to speak to what ails him. She understands his words as they speak to her own vacancies. When Borch is done, he quickly darts his eyes in Faiza's direction, and she knows that he's talking to her too. Jaskier asks about the fourth team and Borch turns to point them out as soon as they walk into the tavern.

"For fucks sakes!" Faiza says through tight lips and clenched jaw.

"Seriously!? Her too?!" Roz says out loud. Jaskier laughs at the irony and begins to backtrack on his previous sentiment. Faiza can feel the medley of emotions rush over Geralt and her heart feels heavy again.

"I thought I got over this years ago!" Faiza says as she stands.

"We're leavin', then?" Roz asks. Borch stares at Faiza, his eyes disagreeing with her first thought. Faiza turns to Roz,

"No. I gave Borch my word. Just going out for air."

"I'll leave you to it then." Roz moves from their table, next to Jaskier. "We aren't happy about her either," she says to him. They begin to gossip between one another about why this adventure has quickly turned sour.

At sunrise, Faiza and Roz tie their horses to nearby trees. She stands amused at the dwarf that seems to want to get under the Reaver's skin this early in the morning.

"He's an energetic one, isn't he?" Roz asks rhetorically. Faiza continues to watch as he makes his way to Geralt to introduce himself. She can't deny that she was hoping he'd take some of that feistiness to him too. Just as the dwarf walks away, Yennefer casually strolls over to Geralt. "She just can't help herself, can she?" Faiza appreciates Roz's annoyance with the situation. She only feels this way because of their friendship. She wouldn't care otherwise.

"She doesn't know anything about me. And neither does he," Faiza explains, "And we'll keep it that way." Roz stares at them and wrinkles her nose at their interaction.

"Bah! I'd fight her too if I could."

Faiza watches as Yennefer tries to remain apathetic towards him and Geralt struggling to do the same with her.

"For kingdom and glory!" Yennefer's companion, Sir Eyck, yells out into the air with his sword raised. Roz looks at Faiza with an eyebrow raised. Faiza returns her look with an eye roll and a head shake.

The teams continue their trek along the trail. Faiza barely talks as she listens to Jaskier continues to pry information from Borch's bodyguards as to why they are so loyal to him.

"He is the most beautiful," Téa explains. Roz snaps her head in Faiza's direction.

"Did you hear what they just said?" Jaskier asks Roz. They both stare at one another trying to make sense of it all. Faiza can hear Geralt try to make excuses as to why he watches Yennefer so intensely. Borch and her both knowing the truth. The smell of burning brush fills the air. Faiza looks at the path that the dragon had taken and listens as Borch explains the desperation that may have been felt as its species is near extinction. She feels an instant connection to what he's said and Geralt glances over his shoulder at her. Again. Neither saying a word.

Jaskier veers off into nearby bushes offering to gather sustenance for the women. Everyone walks away. Everyone except Geralt.

"There's something back here!" Jaskier yells to the group. He ignores Geralt's annoyed calling and continues to be enamored by the small animal.

"Oh! I bet it's cute!" Roz begins to walk toward Jaskier but, Faiza grabs her arm. They both watch as what Jaskier guessed may have been a faun is something completely different. "Oh! Well, at least it has cute eyes!" Roz begins to laugh as she watches Jaskier run away. Faiza places her hand on her dagger as she watches the hirikka follow him. As Geralt explains that there isn't a need to worry, she pulls her hand from her weapon. Everyone heeds his words. Everyone except Sir Eyck who proceeds to chop the poor beast down with his sword.

"A bit much don't you think?" Roz says as everyone watches him hack at the hirikka's lifeless body.

"For kingdom and glory!" he yells in triumph and Yennefer runs over to meet him. Faiza rolls her eyes and turns to walk away. Roz stares at the animal on the ground and yells,

"Yennefer. Sir Eyck's a dick!" Then turns to catch up with Faiza.

Everyone sits around the fire, watching the foolish Sir Eyck eat his kill. Faiza chooses to sit away from the rest of them. Roz sits next to Jaskier and they talk amongst themselves. Sharing what they've missed in each other's lives and bonding over their mutual despise of Yennefer.

"What is she even doing with that guy?" They laugh with one another.

"I don't know, but I'd rather it be Sir Eyck, the idiotic, than my good friend any day," Jaskier responds quickly.

"What do you think about Geralt and Faiza?"

"What do you mean?"

"You haven't noticed the way they look at one another?" Roz asks with surprise. Jaskier looks at Geralt who's watching Yennefer pine over her escort, then back at Faiza who's sitting against at tree sharpening her dagger.

"They'd actually make quite the pair, wouldn't they? Why haven't we tried to kindle a fire between those two dry logs before!?" Roz laughs.

"Do you really think we would have succeeded then?" Jaskier drops his shoulders.

"Well, no, I guess not. They are both extremely stubborn." Roz nods her head and laughs. "You know, Roz, I dunno what has taken us so long to be this close, but I think I shall write a song about you. Well...I'm sure the song will be about Geralt, but your name will be in it!"

"Oh! Please do!"

"I shall call you...uhm... "Roz the Red"!" Roz's shoulders slump.

"Oh. Please don't."

A Reaver walks in the middle of the group, pestering everyone in his vicinity.

"The Witcher wants to play Knight too." Faiza ignores him until she hears him threaten Geralt's life. She holds her dagger by the tip of its blade, perfect for throwing, and watches him until he walks away. Sir Eyck stands, and bids the group goodnight. He holds his stomach and hurries off into the trees, passing Faiza with a stench following him. The conversation turns darker when the dwarf begins to speak of Nilfgaard's expanding power in the south and how they will slowly make their way north. As she listens, Faiza has a strong vision.

She can see herself standing on the coast of Verden watching a storm consume and dismantle ships. This storm is different. Not like any other she has seen before. It only surrounds the ships; the remaining sky is sunny and bright. A storm made from magic.

Faiza catches her breath as she opens her eyes. She finds Geralt standing over her and Roz kneeling near her with concern on her face. No one else around the fire.

"What did you See?" Roz asks. Faiza explains her vision to them.

"They were ships from Skellige. Nilfgaard will attack Cintra." Geralt scowls and turns to walk away.

"You're welcome!" Roz says sarcastically, "Guess he's got more pressing matters. Could've, at least, said "thanks"." Faiza pushes herself up from her place on the ground.

"I'm going to sleep."

Everyone discovers that Sir Eyck had been killed the night before. In one of the most humiliating of ways. The dwarf deduces that it was the Reavers and suggests that everyone follows their short cut in order to cut time from their journey and arrive at the cave before them. Faiza's hair stands on her arms when that suggestion is made. Borch agrees quickly and follows them.

"I'm not going that way," she announces to Geralt and Jaskier.

"I go where she goes," Roz adds, "The last time I didn't take her advice, I saw an unsightly man sleeping in a chair."

"And why not?" Geralt questions.

"They're dwarves. We're not. I can't trust that their path will be—"

"So, you won't go because they're dwarves?" Geralt scoffs and shakes his head. Faiza turns and looks in him the eyes,

"I'm sorry? Did my common sense offend?" Geralt stares at her with the same intensity.

"You made no sense," he says through gritted teeth.

"I just may have had you let me finish what I was going to say." Roz and Jaskier can feel the tension growing between them.

"Ooooh. Pleeeease let them kiss! That would be one for the books, eh Roz!" Jaskier says under his breath and nudges Roz with his elbow.

"It would, but bad time, Jaskier," she whispers back.

"Go stop Yennefer and take her with you..." Faiza says as she turns away from him, "We all know that's what you really want to do." Faiza and Roz continue on the original path, passing Yennefer in the process. Geralt walks away to find Yennefer.

"I'll just wait here then," Jaskier says to himself.

"You're walking faster than usual," Roz says as she tries to keep up.

"I want to ensure that we make it there around the same time as everyone else. Those who survive."

"Did they lose someone?" Faiza nods.

"Borch, Téa, and Véa. All three of them fell from the cliff."

"They were on a cliff!? Freya save them." Faiza looks at Roz whose face has grown glum.

"They're fine."

"How!? How would anyone be fine falling from a cliff? What were they? Five feet from the ground?!"

"He's the golden dragon you heard him speak of last night." Roz stops her rant and her eyes dart around as she pieces together everything that she's seen and heard.

"Is that why?" Faiza nods.

"That's why they said he was the most beautiful. That's why I accepted his request. That's why I wanted to go this way. To stay near the Reavers. Who, in fact, did kill Sir Eyck. The shortcut would have been a different kind of hell too."

"Why don't you just say these things?"

"Sometimes what I See isn't for me to tell."

"This is probably why I don't have the gift of Sight." Roz laughs. "I'd tell it all. And if people didn't believe me, and when it happens, I'd be like...told ya!"

The two finally get to a point where they can set up camp. The Reaver's fire not far from where they sit.

"So," Roz begins.

"So?"

"Jaskier and I think—" Faiza closes her eyes.

"I can already imagine where this is going."

"Right. Well, he and I both think that you and Geralt would make the better pair."

"You talked to Jaskier about this!?"

"What? I didn't tell him anything. Other than what I think would be great." She laughs. Faiza covers her face with her hands and groans. "Well, I mean...he's in agreement with me." Faiza groans louder. "Oh! Stop it. We also agree that Yennefer is the absolute worst option. And that the two of you are just too overwhelmingly stubborn to see it." Faiza looks over at Roz.

"One of the many traits of a witcher." Roz ignores her statement.

"I know it's deeper than what you let on, Faiza. I think you should just take your chance when you get one." Faiza Sees Geralt walk into Yennefer's tent and lets out a deep breath.

"And how do you think I'd go about that?" Roz can tell by the roll of Faiza's eyes that she's Seen something she didn't want to See, but she doesn't pry.

"Just think about it." Roz goes into her tent. Faiza stares at the ground and takes in what her friend has just said.

"I would if I could," she replies quietly to herself. She can hear Geralt and Yennefer's quiet discussion and a tear rolls down her cheek.

Morning comes and Faiza notices the Reavers have already left.

"Roz? Roz!"

"What!?"

"They're gone!"

"Shit!" Roz stumbles around to grab her things. She crawls out of her tent and grabs for her weapon.

"Are you ready?"

"Practicing with Michael and hunting with you have prepared me for so much more than this. Let's kill the bastards. We can get our things later." The two run along the path that leads to the cave.

"Do what we practiced, Roz."

"Right!" Roz splits from Faiza and runs off the path in the same direction. Faiza can tell that she's found a few already as she hears Roz's arrows fly and a body thuds as it hits the ground. Faiza only sees a few from the group, the other's must have made it to the cave already. Roz continues to shoot her arrows, piercing a man in his thigh. He turns to find Faiza sprinting in his direction, and he stands and draws his sword. She throws her dagger, landing it just above his collarbone. He drops to his knees holding his hand around the handle of the weapon trying to pull it out. As she reaches him, she jumps and wraps her legs around the back of his neck. She squeezes her thighs, forcing his hand to push her blade back in. His arms fall to his side and she grabs the handle of her dagger and pulls it across the man's throat, and dismounts. Never slowing her stride.

Another man flanks Faiza on her right, she drops her body as he swings his sword at her neck, and misses. She takes her dagger and pierces the middle of his quadricep and dragging it to the inside of his leg. As he falls forward, she stands while she pulls her sword from her back and completes a downward strike to the back of his neck. Completely detaching his head from the rest of his body.

"Faiza! Behind you!" Roz yells from her location. Faiza flips her sword, placing it underneath her arm causing the man to run directly into it.

"Roz! Move!" Faiza can hear her rustling through her hiding spaces. A man much taller than Faiza slowly walks towards her with his sword laying on his shoulder. Showing ever tooth that he's missing through his disgusting smile.

"You're that quiet one over by the tree. I've had my eye on you. This wasn't the kind of fight I was hoping for, though." He winks. Faiza smirks and moves into her stance. The man grips his sword with both hands, raises it over his head, and charges towards her. When he gets within ten feet, he trips over himself. She watches as he slides the rest of the way, and his head touches the tip of her boot. Faiza lifts his head with her foot and she sees half an arrow protruding from his eye socket.

"Nice shot!" Faiza yells.

"Thanks!...........shit!" The sporadic foliage begins to move again. Faiza chuckles as she scans the area.

"I think we're good, Roz!"

"Oh! Great!" Roz comes jogging back to the path breathing heavily. "I was tired of those damned branches." She looks down at the man with the arrow in his eye. "I did that?"

"You did."

"I'm a good shot!"

Faiza and Roz walk up on Borch sitting on a rock, watching as Geralt and Yennefer are at each another's throats. Whatever he's just told them made Yennefer leave with tears in her eyes. Yennefer sees the two of them standing quietly, not wanting to interrupt. She stops next to Faiza and looks her up and down.

"He's all yours now." Faiza furrows her brow and looks Yennefer in the eyes.