Chapter Text
Jaskier walked down the mountain path as quickly as he could. He was leaving behind the harsh words and constant criticism. Geralt of Rivia blamed him for all of that? He was not the one looking for the Djinn. He was not the one who went back for Yennefer in the mayor’s house. Jaskier recalled trying very hard to convince Geralt to leave the witch to her fate. And the child surprise?? Jaskier had only brought Geralt to a party! Had he been the one to involve himself in the queen’s family matters and then claim the law of surprise?
No!
Stupid man!
Feeling all the injustice of his former friend’s venomous words lit a furious flame in Jaskier's chest that reminded him of the rage that induced him to finally leave Lettenhove. When his father.. no. He would not dredge up old wounds, he had enough on his plate with this fresh one. Well, if Geralt wanted blessed silence, he would get it. Jaskier was not a man to take abuse! Looking back now at all of Geralt's jabs just deepened the well of resentment within him. Things he wrote off time and again as good natured ribbing now seemed like a pattern of cruelty leading up to the crescendo that was the dragon hunt.
Well who needs smelly witchers anyway. Jaskier thought as he walked. One foot in front of the other, little brother, and always onto the next adventure! He heard the weak feminine voice, with a smile that could still be heard in the words. Contrary to popular belief, Jaskier was perfectly capable of traveling and having adventures on his own. What did people think he did during the year when he and Geralt hadn’t been together? He had managed just fine!
Well doubtless people did not think of him traveling alone. Or of the fact that he did not get ill.. or any older. People tended to look at him and take him at face value, whether that was part of what he was, or just because he didn’t seem like anything at all, Jaskier had never quite figured out.
Who cares, the point was Jaskier would be just fine!
He had managed to make it to the bottom of the mountain in record time. Amazing how fast one can move when they are angry and eager to leave what was behind them. He knew he could not stop, to do so would risk running into the white wolf, and Jaskier was in no mood to behold the man’s sour face. He continued walking on, one foot in front of the other, little brother.., through the town's lights into the darkness of the path beyond.
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Geralt had waited before turning after Jaskier had walked away. See you around Geralt. So he said, but the bard was ever Geralt’s barnacle. There was no shaking the boy.. or man he supposed. It had been some time they had know eachother, but Geralt could hardly remember how long.
The point was, Jaskier would throw his tantrum now, and it may even last a while, but Geralt would see him soon enough, and Jaskier would be back to normal. They would be back to normal. Nothing to risk, so Geralt had no reason to chase after him. He could afford to nurse his anger now. At Jaskier. At Yennefer. Hell, at everyone.
Eventually he did turn, and make his way back to camp. Jaskier’s things were gone, he noticed. An extended tantrum then, like when Jaskier had left their traveling for the Countess de Stael. That fight had been Jaskier’s fault as well.
No matter.
He would see him in the spring then.
For now, he lay himself to rest and considered his path down in the morning.
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Eskel made his way north sluggishly. He had ventured too far south this year, looking for more contracts since his normal territory had been short of work, and Eskel's takings had been too lean to be sustainable. But now he was too tired, still too hungry, and with too much distance to cover until he reached the keep. He would have to take more contracts to make it, but he wasn’t sure he could handle much in his state. He was in sore need of food and rest.
Coming upon a small village, he knew it was too late to speak to anyone, but he made his way to the notice board. Better to scan it without being in a rush to get away from hostile or fearful stares. He saw a contract for a beast in the woods to the west. They did not list what kind of beast, but it was work. He pulled the notice down, and would follow up in the morning. For now, he made his way back to the treeline to find a place to camp. Waking up an innkeeper at this time of night would earn him no friends, and he could hardly afford a night indoors anyway.
He made his way into the trees, and set up a small camp near enough to the village to be able to hear a disturbance if one occurred, but far enough to not be stumbled upon. Taking humans by surprise never went well with a face like his. Measured movements were always his best bet.
He went to sleep the same as most nights, dreaming of blue eyes full of mirth and devoid of fear that he had known for a very short time.. a long time ago.