The house, unsurprisingly, is empty when Geralt returns with John. Jaskier, he expects, must be away on business in Libertas and Ciri is no doubt finishing her job somewhere on the trail.

The ride was long but not especially hard all things considered. No further monsters struck and the guards at the gates showed no sign of giving them trouble. He isn't certain if they know John to be from Thorne, but Geralt had tossed his cloak over the man—covered in dust and dirt as it is—to avoid too many questions over John's clothes.

He shows John the tub, the living room, and of course Geralt's own bedroom where John will be staying for now. So long as there are no objections. They wash up together—may as well—before he leaves John to get some well-earned rest. Geralt, meanwhile, ventures into the kitchen to dig up some...hm. It ought to have been dinner, but given how long they've travelled and the sun now in the sky, he supposes it's breakfast.

Luckily, with Jaskier around, the kitchen is well-stocked, insomuch as it can be given the shortages in the city. He finds a loaf of bread, a pot of stew still warm on the stove, and a jug of ale. He doesn't turn when he hears John's footsteps some time later, but it's clear he notices from the smile that graces his lips.

"Feeling better?"