Inn at the Crossroads (Page 22)

We've been riding most of the night to Novigrad, we can't push the horses too hard, and we're far enough to stop hurrying. Now we're just slowly going. I'm sure we're safe right now. I can't seem to think we're overreacting a tad bit. The wild hunt has been following her and chasing her for years. I would've been, too, if Gaunter didn't keep me protected early on. I'm thinking of ways to help us on our journey. The best thing I can think of is using connections we might have in Novigrad.

As I'm thinking and brainstorming, I hear Ciri next to me. "What are you thinking about?" It must be plastered all over my face that I'm thinking really hard about something. Yen and Geralt always taught me to come up with the best plan possible. "You there, Cera?" I'm so deep in thought that I didn't even respond to her. I don't have any solid plans yet, but I know that Geralt told us that Jaskier was planning to settle down somewhere in Novigrad. Maybe we can get some help from him.

I should respond faster. She's looking at me with an annoyed look. "I was just thinking of the allies that we have in Novigrad. I remember Geralt said Jaskier was planning to go there back at Kaer Morhen." We'll need more allies than just one bard. Hopefully, he has connections that can help us in finding Avallac'h. The more I think about it, the bigger my headache gets. I'm tired from the activities we did earlier. Having that flashback really messed with my head for a while.

I'm riding side by side with Ciri as it's easier to talk with her this way. "The mages in Novigrad can help us, I'm sure of it. Don't sweat it till we get there." I wish I had her laid-back attitude for this. Perhaps she's right. The more I think about it, the more frustrated I'll get.

We're on the road for a while when we come across an inn on our way to Novigrad. It's called Inn at the Crossroads. "I think it would be best to rest for the night." I couldn't agree more with that statement.

We approach the inn with our horses and bring them to the trough to rest and have food. We enter the inn and notice that there are some travelers and wanders in here. I approach the innkeeper. "Do you have any rooms available? Just for the night." We'll leave when dawn breaks. The sooner we get to Novigrad, the better.

The innkeeper gives a wicked grin. I see this is going to cost me. "It's our last room, and I ain't keen to let it go for cheap." Ciri gives the man a nasty look. It doesn't even faze him. I still have enough gold for the things we need. This is going to have to fall in that category. I give the man another look. He's growing impatient. "You could always sleep outside." An innkeeper is playing me. What has this war brought us to?

I pull out some extra coin and wave it in front of him. "This enough for you?" It's a decent amount. Rooms aren't cheap anymore with all these displaced people after their towns got burned down.

He grabs it fast and tosses me a key. "Last room at the end." Guess he got what he wanted. We make our way to our room. I'll admit it's better than I expected. The bed is plenty big enough for the two of us. I know she's as tired as I am, so I don't plan on some action tonight. I take off my sword and clothes. All the way down to my underwear and lay on the bed as I take a deep breath.

One soft bed, alright. "It's a wonderful bed." I can see Ciri dress down to her underwear and climb into the bed and hug me under the covers as she lays her head on my chest right above my heart.

She gives a content sigh. "I'm tired as well. Guess I'll cash in that win some other time." Glad we get this private moment together. I wrap my left arm around her since she's on my left. I hug her tightly for a second and loosen up. I did all that unconsciously. She leans in more, and we both relax. I feel my muscles loosen for the first time since we left crows perch.

I never asked her how she got the scar under her left eye. "You asked me about my scar's, so may I ask about yours?" I learned you should ask permission from women from Yen.

She doesn't answer for a good ten seconds. I feel her shift a little and see her trace the scar. It must have been a hard battle if it brings this sort of reaction. "I got it when I was leaving the town of Unicorn during The Tower of the Swallow." She sounds pretty mad at that. It must be more personal than she let on. "I got it from an Imperial of Nilfgaard. He threw an Orion star at me, and this is the result." I have many wounds like that too.

She had particular hate when she was mentioning Nilfgaard. I don't like them either as of late. That Emperor has caused a lot of senseless deaths for his own personal greed. I won't lift a finger to save the man's life if I have a choice.

I hope she doesn't feel self-conscious about it. A lot of women are hurt by bad men doing bad things to them as of late. "I think it makes you beautiful, Ciri. It shows everyone what I already know... You're a warrior and survivor that won't be put to harm or death easily..." Ciri is the bravest woman I've ever met. She inspired me to live through some of the horrible injuries I had. I'll never forget what she did for me at Kaer Morhen.

I feel her face move on my chest. I think she's smiling right now. "I don't like your scars, Cera. They make me worry for you..." She says in a teasing and condescending voice. She hasn't lost her sense of humor after all this time. Finding joy in my pain is typical of her. I feel myself drift off to sleep fast on this relaxing night.

~~~(POV Ciri)~~~

I know he's asleep now. He makes it easy for me to love him. I don't know how he does it. I'm glad he's mine and no one else's. Earlier, that girl made me pretty pissed. More than I thought I'd be. I trace my finger's over some of his gnarly scars. Damn it, Cera. You better not pull the shit you did to get these around me. I'll never forgive you if you do this to yourself again.

I can't help what I feel, and what I feel is like I would've died if I went with him. It's attributing to my anger right now. I know he's stronger than me or anyone I know now. I feel shame for being mad that I wasn't with him during all this. The cost for that power was more than I would've let him give. I worry that I may lose him if he's not careful.