[ sam knows that there is more between ciri and geralt and jaskier that he isn’t privy to. knows there is information and years and lifetimes that he might never know. but the things is - he’s not only used to that, but expects it. assumes (trusts) that if it had anything to do with him, that if he could help or it would affect him, they would let him know. and until that point, he has now and this to focus on, and that’s what he does.

and maybe because it’s ciri, but alina’s absence feels like a presence all its own. a specific hole, where neither of them bring words but they know. sam stares at his glass, at the ice at the bottom. if ciri made any mention to being hungry, sam would have some things to offer, but not much (the food will be a tomorrow problem, he thinks).

that point ciri makes, though, has sam’s eyes back to her. a frown, deepening. ] Who? [ and then sam’s eyes widen with a memory, a mention. ] Wait, is this all about that woman- god, what was her name? [ the question is directed at himself, at first, before he looks back over. ] Yennefer. Are you saying this is all about her? Or is there someone else in Thorne that would make Geralt a target? [ because that sets off all sorts of alarm bells - he knows very little about yennefer, has interacted with her even less, but what he does know he’s not exactly a fan of. though he is also very aware that where it concerns geralt, and probably ciri, it’s more complicated than that. ]