"Toss a coin to your witcher, oh valley of plenty. Oh valley of plenty, ooh."

Victoria opened her eyes and took a deep breath in as she allowed herself to wake slowly. She shifted in the bed until she was laying on her side, facing the rest of the room.

Jaskier sat on the floor, leaning against the wall as he played the lute.

"Toss a coin to your witcher, a friend of humanity."

The bard turned his head, realizing Victoria had been awake. He set the lute aside.

"Oh, sorry. Was I really that loud? I was trying to be quiet, really."

"I should be awake by now, anyway." She said, sitting up. She ran her fingers through her hair as she tossed the blanket off of her. "And that song. . ."

Jaskier huffed. "Geralt never sang it to you? Wow, what a piece of work. I created it on our way back after the elves took us as hostages."

"Something else he never told me." She said as she stood to her feet.

Jaskier stood, too. "You know, the few weeks you've been here, you spoke in your sleep one time, last night."

She pulled her cloak on for warmth. "I talk in my sleep often. . . Geralt always had to tell me when. But what did I say this time?"

Jaskier smiled faintly before pursing his lips. "That you miss him."

Victoria lowered her eyes. "I wish I didn't."
The princess sighed. "I'm going to go on a walk, get some fresh air. Want to join me?"

"I appreciate the offer, but I'm due back at the inn." He said, lifting his lute. "And by the way, if you don't return within the hour, I'm going to send a search party out for you."

She rolled her eyes.

"Seriously, Geralt didn't even hum it or anything?" He shouted.

"Nope."

The door slammed shut.

Victoria walked down the few stairs and headed for the inn to grab a quick drink before her walk. She entered the inn and headed towards the counter.

"One ale, please." She said. She placed her coin on the counter as he grabbed a mug.

She gained a skin-tingling sensation as she stood there and waited. Goosebumps rose upon her pale skin, and her pupils dilated slightly.

Victoria quickly thanked the man and took the mug before heading for the exit with her head hung low. The goosebumps traveled up her arms as she exited the inn, hearing the footsteps behind her.

The brunette headed for the bridge, listening to the creaking of the boards beneath her and her follower's boots.

When she reached the middle of the bridge, Victoria tossed the mug backwards and listened to it clank against the person's head. She whipped around and lifted her hand, shooting a shimmering white dust at her follower.

The person stumbled back and gasped as he hung halfway over the rope rail. Victoria grabbed ahold of his thick black hair, yanking his head backwards.

"Why are you following me?" She asked him. He hesitated to reply, and she yanked his hair harder.

"Oh! Oh all right, all right!" He yelled, squeezing his eyes shut in pain. "I'm not trying to hurt you, even though you can't say that much to me!"

Victoria released his hair, and pulled him back up until he was standing on his feet again. He was a few inches taller than her, and he had facial hair scattered over his jaw.

"Who are you?" She asked him.

He exhaled. "My name is Winfred. Winfred of Nilfgaard."

The brunette stiffened.

"I'm not here to hurt you." He said. "And in fact, I didn't even know you were here. I'm passing through— and I'm alone, by the way."

"Winfred of Nilfgaard," she said, crossing her arms over her chest. "If you mean me no harm, then why are you following me?"

"Look, I've heard rumors and conversations back in the guild about the hunt for you. Right now they believe you to be in Temeria."

She felt a bit of relief. It had worked.

"They won't know you're here, but if I were you, I'd be careful. A lot of 'em passing through here and there."

"Is that why you followed me? To warn me?"

He nodded. "And to tell you that I won't say a word about seeing you. . . I've seen your father in action. Most of the guild is too cowardly to reject his orders. He's cruel."

She lowered her eyes. "He wasn't always like this."

Winfred exhaled. "I need to get going, before they comment on my absence. I'm supposed to be back in a scheduled time."

The man lifted his helmet from his head and shook, clearing his flattened hair. Victoria watched confusedly as he sank down to one knee.

"No matter what happens, you are Princess Victoria Kinderlund of the Nilfgaardian Sorcerers."

Victoria watched as the man placed his helmet back on his head before walking the rest of the bridge. She stood there for a long moment, clenching her jaw.

She walked across the remaining half of the bridge and headed for the forest. With her cloak lifted, she weaved through the trees and followed the sound of running water to guide her to and from.

Victoria stood before the river and knelt down before grabbing a rock. She tossed it across the water, skipping it three times before it sank.

She knelt down and extended her arm out before dipping her fingers into the water, feeling the temperature and the easiness against her fingertips. Even with the flowing current, she still found it peaceful.

Victoria stood up again and felt another sensation occur. But this time, she wasn't alert. She was calm and relaxed, she was familiar with this one's presence.

The brunette turned around slowly and stared ahead. Standing approximately ten feet away, still tall and broad, bulging muscles beneath his armor and hair as white as snow, she stared at the witcher with several scars on his face.