The morning turned into evening, the Passiflora's main hall had grown louder, more raucous, as the sun dipped toward the horizon and the city's elite emerged from their daytime slumber. But in the alcove where Sebastian, Dandelion, and Zoltan had claimed their territory, the atmosphere was one of comfortable, wine-soaked intimacy. Dandelion had been in his element all day. He had told stories, sung songs, and charmed every woman who had wandered within earshot. Zoltan had matched him drink for drink, his laughter growing louder and his cheeks redder with each passing hour. And Sebastian had sat among them, his cup never empty, his smile never forced, but his eyes, if one looked closely, were always somewhere else.
The women had come and gone. Some had lingered, drawn by Dandelion's charisma and the novelty of a witcher who was young and handsome and didn't seem to notice their attention. But eventually, even the most persistent had drifted away, leaving the three of them alone in the alcove.
Dandelion leaned back on his cushions, his eyes half-lidded with wine and contentment. He studied Sebastian's face, the distant look in his yellow eyes, the way his fingers traced the rim of his cup without drinking.
"Oh," Dandelion said, his voice soft and knowing. "I see... you are thinking about Ciri."
Sebastian's head snapped up. His expression was guarded, but the faint flush on his cheeks betrayed him.
Dandelion smiled, a warm, almost paternal expression. "My, it seems you guys are a serious thing now, aren't you?" He waved a hand, gesturing vaguely. "I mean, you had a thing for each other since you were young. I could tell. Geralt could tell."
Zoltan snorted from his corner. He was sprawled on his cushions, his tankard balanced precariously on his belly. "Ah, you dimwit. It was plain to see for everyone not just you and Geralt, now leave the lad alone."
Dandelion's expression was one of wounded innocence. "What? I'm just expressing myself!"
Sebastian shook his head with a smile. "I'm thinking about a bunch of things, really, including her of course."
Dandelion leaned forward, his eyes sharp despite the wine. "For example?"
Sebastian was quiet for a moment. Then he reached into his belt and pulled out the mask. The silver runes on the mask caught the candlelight, and their attention.
"This," Sebastian said. "I've learned that it is an object of great importance, a capable mage can even use it to open portals between worlds. But this is originally meant for the bearer of Elder Blood to use."
Dandelion's eyes widened. "So basically Ciri."
Sebastian nodded. "Yes. But I want to confirm it first before I hand it to her. I've learned this information from a very shady individual, and I don't trust it fully yet."
Dandelion laughed, he was a man who believed everything could be solved with the right connections. "It's easy, then! This is a city of mages! You can check with them."
Sebastian's expression darkened. "Yes, I'm aware. But I don't trust the mages of this city. Actually, I don't trust mages at all." He paused, his fingers tracing the edge of the mask. "It would have been far easier if Yennefer or Triss were here, but..."
Zoltan shifted on his cushions, his eyes sharp despite the drink. "Triss is King Foltest's advisor. She can't leave Vizima, but if you wish to go to Temeria.." he shrugged, "...we shall accompany you. This seems important, maybe we'll find Geralt there and have a good time in Vizima."
Sebastian considered it. "I considered Yennefer as an option, but she is a person no one can find. Last I heard, she was in Nilfgaard for some reason, Geralt didn't share it with me." He paused, his jaw tightening. "She sent us news when we were in Kaer Morhen still. That hunters, assassins, and that sort of people have been hired to find Ciri and bring her to Emhyr."
Dandelion's playful demeanor vanished. His face grew serious, his eyes dark with concern. "This is serious. How true are these reports? It is hard to get information about the Emperor of Nilfgaard, even for Yennefer."
Sebastian met his gaze. "They are true. Sigi, or rather, Dijkstra confirmed it for me. He even knows that they are looking for Ciri. He says it is no secret, and that many know that while she is the Princess of Cintra, she is also his heir."
Dandelion's face contorted with frustration. "God damn it! Can't they just leave her alone?"
Zoltan's voice was grim. "I'm afraid it's not possible. Not with that kind of bloodline and power."
Sebastian nodded slowly. "Ciri and Geralt are also trying to confirm whether the Emperor is trying to get her or not, maybe even fight them if they come across them and Kaer Morhen is no longer safe for her, since we can't stay there forever. It's just a home that we return to." His voice hardened. "As much as I would like to stay there and defend her while she stays in the keep for as long as we can, we both like freedom and I prefer to take the fight to the enemy instead."
Dandelion sighed. "Yeah. It's bad when they know where you are, but you don't."
Sebastian was quiet for a moment. Then he spoke, "I might try to use my birth right if I ever set foot in Nilfgaard. My father was a count, a diplomat, and one of Emhyr's trusted men. My mother was of noble background as well, though I think all of our belongings and what belonged to my father is now either in the hands of the Empire or passed on to our relatives." He paused. "The Emperor himself cares about his men, so he might have sent people to find him. But I'm sure they never found my parents, they are buried in a forest in Kaedwen, one that I chose not to pass through when I entered Redania."
Zoltan's expression softened. "That story always breaks my heart, pal."
Dandelion was quiet.
Sebastian shrugged, a forced casualness in his voice. "It is fine, things of the distant past."
Dandelion leaned forward, his voice gentle but insistent. "Let us say that you get back your family's lands and whatever else, including your father's title. What can you do if Emhyr only cares about his men and not their family?"
Sebastian met his gaze. "You are correct. That's why I would try to have an audience with him and explain what happened to my father, I don't know the type of business he was bout to do in Kaedwen but it was important to Emhyr and we even stopped in Cintra and I remember my father leaving the palace of Cintra in a bad mood." His voice dropped, becoming harder. "I might even resort to tricking him, knowing how hard it would be. But I'd still try. Make him trust me by telling him half-truths, I would hunt down everyone that he sent out to find Ciri." His yellow eyes burned with a cold fire. "I would probably even kill him if I have to."
Dandelion's eyes widened. "I'm sorry, but this sounds extremely reckless, even with your powers, Sebastian... this would make you a regicide."
Sebastian's expression did not waver. "I know, but if it means saving the continent and Ciri, I would do it, even though the Northern Kingdoms also deserve what is coming..."
Zoltan's eyebrows rose. "And what is coming?"
Sebastian was silent for a moment. "The Second Northern War ended last year with the North's victory, so you all might think that the Emperor will not try again, but he will. And this time, the war will be even more devastating. Nilfgaard is dangerous because he is smart and he doesn't play fair."
Zoltan's face was grim. "So where will you be headed, then? Nilfgaard for your grand, reckless plan? Or Temeria for the mask?"
Dandelion interjected. "You can do both, I guess."
Sebastian shook his head. "No, I can't. I don't have time to get to Nilfgaard and return to Kaer Morhen for the winter.. And Temeria is just across the Pontar..." He sighed, the weight of the decision settling on his shoulders. "Alright.. Guess I'll have to do with visiting Triss for the mask."
Dandelion's face lit up. "Great! We should get packing, time for an adventure!"
Sebastian held up a hand. "I didn't agree to you accompanying me on this one.."
Zoltan laughed, "Good luck with that, lad."
Dandelion's grin was unrepentant. "You don't get to decide this one, Seb. The bard does what he wants." He paused, his expression shifting "Oh, right before we leave. Have you done a monster contract here in the city?"
Sebastian blinked, thrown by the sudden change of subject. "No, not really. I mean, yes, but that was different."
Dandelion leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Because two weeks ago, I saw a weird notice that requested a witcher. To deal with a haunted house." He spread his hands. "I don't know if it had been dealt with or not, but the reward was not bad. And the house itself was cheap as well, because of the whole haunted thing."
Sebastian gave Dandelion a long, flat look. His expression said everything 'I see where you are going with this.'
Dandelion's grin widened. "What? It's a perfect opportunity! A contract, a mystery, and a chance to get my hands on a property here in Novigrad. Plus, if we're going to Temeria anyway, this is a good way to earn some coin for the road."
Zoltan chuckled, raising his tankard.
Sebastian looked at them both the bard with his insatiable thirst for adventure, the dwarf with his steady, supportive presence.
"Fine," Sebastian said, "Fine. We'll take a look at this haunted house.."
Dandelion clapped him on the shoulder. "That's the spirit! Now, let's finish this wine and get some rest. We have a ghost to hunt tomorrow!"
Zoltan raised his tankard. "To haunted houses and reckless decisions!"
Sebastian raised his cup. "To friends who never let you have a quiet moment." and they drank.
/-\
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