Gavin rubbed his forehead. "What were you thinking, Fiona?"

"I was thinking she needed help. I wasn't about to leave her to bleed on our balcony."

"You didn't stop to think that hiding her in our home could bring trouble? She could be a sorceress for all we know."

Fiona raised a brow. "I'm quite positive she's no sorceress."

"And what makes you so positive? She tell you that?"

"Because I've never even heard of sorceresses becoming Witchers."

Gavin just looked at his wife. "She's a Witcher? Are you certain?"

"Who else wears two swords on their back? Besides the wolf medallion gave it away as well."

"She's a Witcher of the Wolf School?"

"Have you suddenly developed a hearing problem or have you been turned into a parrot?"

"Where is she?"

"In the room at the end of the hall."

Gavin marched down the hall and to the room, Fiona following with an amused look on her face. When Gavin opened the door, he found a woman sitting on the edge of the bed in her underwear, bandages around her leg and shoulder. Her snowy hair was currently loose, reaching her mid-back, but he could see several scars on her back and body. She looked over her shoulder at him and he could see a scar on her jaw and neck. A look of complete surprise came across her face and he was sure his face mirrored the same surprise.

"Juray?"

Of all the people that could have harbored her, it had to be Gavin. She hadn't seen him in over thirty years. He looked his age, his once brown hair peppered with grey and lines on his face.

"You look well, Gavin," she said. She'd always wondered how she would react upon seeing him again, but she felt nothing save surprise when she had laid eyes on him. The feelings she once had for him were no longer there.

"You haven't aged at all."

Juray noticed that Gavin was averting his eyes from her state of undress, despite having seen much more of her than this and decided to have some fun at his expense.

"Just one of the benefits of being a Witcher," she said with a wink.

Gavin's eyes widened and his gaze moved to his wife, who had started laughing. "What are you laughing about?"

"Did you not think I wouldn't know who she is?" Fiona laughed.

"I'd hoped not..."

"Everyone knew about your relationship with the White Demon. Besides, it's not like she's going to seduce you again."

"She didn't seduce me the first time."

"This conversation is getting a bit awkward now," Juray said.

"Besides," Fiona added with a grin. "I can find out all your secrets that you wouldn't tell me." She looked over at Juray. "We can talk about it over tea." Fiona then turned and walked out of the room, leaving Gavin staring after her with his jaw on his chest and Juray with an amused look on her face.

"I like her," she said.

"Eternal Fire, save me."

Gavin's awkwardness continued over tea as Fiona questioned Juray about how Gavin was when they were together and Juray answered just to see Gavin squirm before the questions turned to Witchers themselves.

"I've always wondered about the stories about Witchers not being able to have children. Is it against the laws of your guild?"

Now it was Juray's turn to look awkward. "Um, I highly doubt it would be against our rules, if we had the ability. The mutations that give us our abilities and immunities render us sterile." Juray had thought it common knowledge that Witchers were infertile.

"You cannot have children? At all?"

Juray shook her head and Fiona turned to Gavin.

"That is a horrible reason to break off a relationship, Gavin! Did your family put you up to that?"

Gavin opened his mouth to protest but it was Juray that saved him from his wife.

"I'm the one that broke it off," she said. "Not just for the fact I wouldn't be able to bear children. I'm a Witcher, Fiona. I'm also old enough to be Gavin's mother. I regret nothing that happened between us, but it wasn't meant to be. I'll still be hunting monsters for coin when both of your ashes are spread by your children and grandchildren. He was a noble and was expected to bear heirs and I wasn't going to be his mistress."

"Understandable, but if you loved him..."

"Because he deserved better than a Witcher. And he wouldn't have met you, now would he?"

Fiona smiled. "You do have an excellent point."

Juray turned to Gavin. "Have you been telling people that you broke it off?"

"Uh..."

Juray snorted with a shake of her head. "Men and their egos."

"Come," Fiona said. "Tell me more about your adventures. And I would very much like to hear more about Witchers, if you can devolve anything."

~~~

Geralt knocked on Priscilla's door and the bard opened the door.

"Geralt!" She stepped aside. "Come in! What have you learned?"

Geralt waited until she shut the door before he answered. "I know where Jaskier is."

Priscilla's face lit up. "Where?!"

"Dungeons on Temple Isle."

"That's not a nice jest," Priscilla pouted.

"Wish it was. But don't worry, we'll pull him out. Triss has an idea. All we gotta do is find Dudu."

"So you must find Dudu in order to find Jaskier with the aim of ultimately finding Ciri?"

"Pretty much."

"Sounds like an awful lot of searching, but I do wish you luck."

"And now I'm gonna have to meet with Whoreson Junior."

"I thought Juray went to meet with him."

"She did and ran into trouble. Nobody's seen her since she took off from Temple Isle with Witch Hunters and Temple Guard on her ass."

"I told her to be careful."

"Can be as careful as a mouse in a room full of cats but I think she got set up." Geralt shook his head. "I gotta go update Zoltan and then I'm going to go meet Triss."

"I'll brainstorm on a way to find Dudu."

Geralt stopped by the Rosemary to update Zoltan on what he found out about Jaskier and to inform him about what he discovered about why Juray was missing. The dwarf didn't take either news well, but said he would keep an eye out for Juray if she wandered in. Geralt then headed towards the Bits to see what Triss needed to talk about. The couple that answered the door didn't look too happy to see him.

"Yes?" the man asked. "Who you 'ere for?"

"Triss," Geralt answered.

"Told 'er from the start," the woman snapped, crossing her arms. "No men, no pets! 'Tis a decent house, for decent folk."

"Don't worry, won't stay long."

"She's upstairs," the man directed him and Geralt nodded his head in thanks before heading upstairs to find Triss. She was reading a letter, her left hand bandaged from where the Witch Hunters had tortured her.

She looked up when Geralt entered. "Geralt, I've got a problem. Can we talk?"

"First, how's your hand?"

"It'll heal. Listen, it was my idea. I knew exactly what I was getting into. Don't need to worry about me."

Geralt nodded. "What did you wanna talk about?"

"I got a strange message. I don't quite know what to think."

"Who was it from?"

"Ingrid Vegelbud's servant. Apparently, Lady Vegelbud's prepared to donate a tidy sum. She wants to help mages escape from Novigrad."

"Guessing this wouldn't be a selfless act of charity."

"You guess right and that's my problem. Vegelbud needs a favor, from me... No details in the letter, unfortunately. I'm supposed to meet the servant at the fish market. Says he needs to explain everything face to face, but these days I can't be sure meeting him's a good idea."

"Don't like this at all... But you seem determined. Not about to let you deal with it alone."

Triss smiled. "Thank you."

"The servant, how're you supposed to contact him?"

"Said I'd recognize him. He'll be in a blue tunic, have a load of keys strapped to his belt. I'm supposed to ask him about the price for his trout."

"Whose idea you think this was, the servant's or Vegelbud's?"

"My bet's on Ingrid. High-born damsels have a lot more time than their servants to read adventure novels."

"Think it'll be better if I talk to the mystery man in the blue tunic."

"He's expecting to meet me."

"You just wait nearby. I'll make sure that note didn't come from the Witch Hunters. Then you come in."

Triss could see his point. "Mhm, fine. Let's meet there."

~~~

They met at the market, Triss once again venturing out with her hood up.

"Lots of blue jerkins," he sighed. "Wait here."

After some searching, Geralt found the blue tunic with a bunch of keys at his waist and approached him.

"Yes?" the man asked.

"Know where I can get the best price on trout?"

"Perhaps... But it wasn't you I was to meet, sir."

"Wanna talk to the letter's recipient, I gotta be present."

"Caution would advise—"

Geralt cut him off. "Caution's advising you not to argue right now. Trust me."

"Seems I've got no choice. Come with me."

Geralt followed the man away from the market. Near an alley, they were ambushed by bandits. Geralt and the servant, mostly Geralt, quickly defended themselves before moving on to a place they could talk.

"What'd they want from you?" Geralt asked.

"I've no clue! First time I've laid eyes on 'em. Maybe... well, recently someone's been tryin' to question our messengers... 'bout the young count." He then looked around. "Hold on. Where's Miss Merigold?" As if her name was a summons, Triss joined them. "You were to come alone, miss!"

"If not for him," Triss pointed out. "That trio would've dragged you in for questioning. The tall one was Valdo Muris, works for the Witch Hunters."

"Aye, you're surely right, miss. I... it just weren't what I expected, since Lady Vegelbud..."

"Now that we're past the initial courtesies," Geralt interrupted. "Maybe you can tell us who you are."

"Lady Vegelbud's valet. I... I meant you no offense, sir."

"Why wouldn't Lady Vegelbud meet with me personally?" Triss asked.

"She was afraid they'd follow her. Been a nervous wreck of late."

"So what's this about?" Geralt asked. "Be straight."

"Lady Vegelbud's son, he's the... problem. Master Albert's taken an interest in alchemy..."

Geralt and Triss looked at one another.

"Temple Guard's gotten wind..."

"Wouldn't worry about the Guard," Triss said. "But since the mage hunters tried to grab you, I'd say Albert's in serious trouble."

"Aye, Lady Vegelbud bought off the guardsmen, but since the Hunters pay for every mage revealed to 'em..."

"Guardsman took a bribe from the frightened family, then whispered word to the Hunters anyway...," Geralt concluded and the valet nodded. "How'd Ingrid Vegelbud know to contact Triss? That she was the right person?"

"We learned Miss Merigold had helped Myra Baiss disappear once the Witch Hunters were onto her. Myra provided Lady Vegelbud with magical assistance on a few occasions, with m'lady's... ahem... afflictions."

"Makes sense. Myra mentioned treating a high-born lady to me once."

Geralt looked at Triss. "Seems Albert needs to disappear, soon as possible."

"I can arrange that," the sorceress said. "Think young Vegelbud can slip out of the house unnoticed?"

"'Tain't that simple, sadly. Master Albert's in hiding at the Vegelbuds' country estate. Lady Ingrid's got the notion she can get 'im out quietly, wants to throw a lavish masquerade ball."

"Am I supposed to attend, help him escape?"

"Aye, we'll not manage without you, miss. Lady Vegelbud fears the help's bein' watched."

"It's a good idea," Geralt said. "A boisterous bash, that'll distract the Hunters."

"Especially if even half of what I've heard about the Vegelbuds' balls is true," Triss commented with a smile. "Word is at the last one they served a hundred different desserts, and the fireworks boomed from dusk till dawn."

"What with the war and all, m'lady's ordained but eighty-five desserts this time. Won't be no candied petals of blue roses from Nazair. The roses've become dreadfully hard to come by."

"Oh, I'd love to see it all..."

"Expect any trouble during the ball?"

"Hardest part'll be to keep Master Albert's departure a secret from his grandmother."

"Is that necessary?" Triss asked.

"Lady Patricia's a fervent believer of the Eternal Fire. Knows naught about Master Albert's interests in alchemy. Luckily the elder Lady Vegelbud's a rare visitor to the country residence."

"Truly an atypical family..." Geralt commented.

"I'm not one to judge, sir."

"Hope we won't have to stay till the end."

Triss' face brightened. "You're coming with me?"

"Course I am. Not about to send you into what could prove to be the lion's den by yourself. Think about it, eighty-five desserts. While you're trying to keep your waist at twenty-two inches..."

Triss shot him a dirty look. "Geralt, please..." She turned back to the valet. "How do we get to the residence?"

He held out a folded parchment with the Vegelbud seal on it. "Your invitation, take it. Guard at the gate'll have instructions for you. You're to wear a fox mask, all right? Good luck to you." He left and Triss turned to Geralt.

"I bet you can get everything you need for the ball at Elihal's shop. You know it?"

"Been there before." Geralt said slowly. "Elihal's a friend of Jaskier's." Geralt had thought that Eilhal was one of the bard's many girlfriends. Turned out he was an elven tailor with a hobby of crossdressing. "Just masks, right? Probably don't need to wear a... doublet, do I?"

"A doublet, Geralt." Geralt made a face. "And it's not up for discussion. Take care of that, then come see me." Triss turned and walked away.

"I hate formal wear as much as I hate portals," he muttered before turning and walking the opposite way.

~~~

"Oh!" Fiona seemed excited at the letter she'd received. "Ingrid's throwing one of her balls in a few days."

"During a war?" Gavin asked.

"What better way to distract the wealthy for a night than with a lavish ball?" Juray asked.

"What would you know about how the wealthy distract themselves?"

"Did you forget I'm technically Kaedweni nobility, Gavin? I'm well aware of how the upper class lives."

"Actually, I did because you don't flaunt it. Or act like it."

"Only when I need to," Juray said with a grin.

"Well, then you get to come along," Fiona said.

"What?"

"Um, Fiona..."

"Oh come now. It'll be a wonderful distraction for you."

"Fiona, you have my thanks for hiding me as I recovered," Juray said. "But I really need to return to my companions. I've been away for too long and I'm in Novigrad for a reason."

Fiona waved her hand. "I'll not take no for an answer. You deserve a distraction yourself. Come with us as our guest, have a night of being a lady, then you can return to being a Witcher."

"Fiona," Gavin argued. "I'm sure her friends are worried about her. She's healed, time for her to be on her way."

"Gavin, don't be an ass." Fiona turned to Juray. "Come on. I know the perfect place to buy dresses and the masks for the ball."