Outside Spalla, 1242
"What are you doing, exactly?" Jaskier asked as Robin sat, her skirt spread out around her on the ground.
"I'm going to reach out into the Chaos and see what I can see," she answered vaguely.
"And that will accomplish what?" Jaskier wondered pointedly.
Geralt sighed and sat down beside the bard. "Chaos connects all magic," he explained. "Skilled enough mages can see others in the maelstrom. She wants to try and see what Yennefer's up to, discover more about the plot."
"Well, our information has run dry," Robin justified her plan.
Geralt shook his head. "It's risky, Robin. And the information running dry likely means that Yennefer is failing to produce the results she wants."
"That's not necessarily what it means," she argued. "And besides, this is excellent practice for me either way."
"Why is it risky?" Jaskier chimed in.
"Because someone else could see her quite clearly," Geralt told him. "When she's in there, she's vulnerable. When she's not in there, they'd be able to get an impression of her at most. But this way, they'll be able to sense her magic. Sense instantly that she's a necromancer. Maybe even read her mind."
"That does sound rather dangerous," Jaskier sided with Geralt.
She rolled her eyes. "I know you're both worried about me, but I'll be fine. I won't be in there long. I promise."
"Can you hurt yourself by performing this spell?" Jaskier blurted out bluntly.
"I can hurt myself performing any spell, Jas, if I overdo it," she responded firmly. "I could have been done by now, if you'd just let me start."
"I still disapprove," Geralt admitted. "This is magic you should wait to use until you have a mentor who can teach you how."
"Well, those are in rather short supply, Geralt," Robin said tersely. "I need to wait until I find someone I can trust, and considering what I am, that may take a while."
She shut her eyes, tipped her head back, and slid her arms into the air, holding the pose as she took a deep breath and pushed out into the Chaos surrounding her.
Geralt stood by, tense and ready to spring. Of course, there was nothing to lash out at, but that didn't change the way he felt.
Jaskier waited, biting his lip nervously.
After only a few minutes, Robin's breathing got heavier, her muscles started to shake, and a trickle of sweat dripped slowly from her forehead and down her cheek.
"Stop, Robin, stop," Geralt muttered, taking a step forward.
"Can we stop her?" Jaskier murmured.
Geralt shook his head. "Not without potentially leaving her mind stranded in the Chaos, no."
"What do we do if she...?"
Jaskier thankfully didn't have to complete his thought, because at that moment, Robin's arms fell and her eyes opened. She took a huge breath and sighed heavily, laying back and stretching her legs out.
Geralt moved to her side and Jaskier retrieved a water skin to give her a drink.
"Talk to me, little mage," Geralt whispered desperately.
She took the drink Jaskier offered her and then confessed, "It's a bit overwhelming in there."
Geralt eyed her sternly. "I'm sure it is. That's why I told you not to go."
She made a scoffing noise at him. "Relax. I'm fine. Bossy witcher." She giggled. "I couldn't find her, but I couldn't sense any large spells being cast either, so that's something."
"You're resting for the remainder of the night," Geralt ordered. "Let's get some food in you too. And you're not doing this again until someone can teach you how."
"I do what I want," she mumbled.
Jaskier laughed. "It's like she's drunk," he observed.
Geralt lifted her gently and carried her closer to the fire, propping her up in his arms and holding her close. Jaskier began serving the dinner she had made before casting her spell, handing Geralt a plate for both of them.
"Thank you, Jaskier," he grunted.
He balanced the plate in her lap and began tearing chunks off of the rabbit and feeding them to her carefully.
She chewed gratefully, smiling up at him. "You like me," she accused.
He chuckled in spite of himself. "Don't test it, little mage," he warned her, kissing her forehead and then eating a chunk of rabbit himself.
She was ridiculous, really, even at the best of times. But she was right. He liked her. So he was going to continue to look after her, no matter how ridiculous she was being.