Callum polished off the last bite of his pastry and dusted crumbs from his fingers. "So soon, eh?.
Calanthe arched an eyebrow at him then smiled.
Cain let out a low chuckle. The twins were in good spirits. That was exactly what he hoped for. "Finish up here, then meet me outside. There's something I want to talk about on the way back."
Something in Cain's tone made Calanthe give him a curious, slightly concerned look. But she simply said, "Alright," and rose from her seat, brushing the front of her travel coat straight.
Within a few minutes, the trio had bid farewell to Ysolde's staff and stepped out onto the street. Brocheur's market district bustled around them in the golden afternoon light. Merchants called out final sales pitches for the day, and the smell of baked bread mixed with horse hay in the air. Cain and Calanthe fell into step side by side, with Callum a couple of paces ahead, whistling a jaunty tune.
Cain took a deep breath. This was as good a moment as any to address the weight that still hung subtly between him and Calanthe. "Calanthe," he began quietly.
She looked up at him, adjusting the strap of her quiver on her shoulder. "Yes?"
He glanced at Callum's back. "Why don't you go on ahead to the inn, Callum? We'll catch up. I need to discuss our route with Calanthe."
Callum glanced over his shoulder, immediately noting the serious expression on Cain's face and the way Calanthe nodded in agreement. Sensing a private conversation, he just shrugged. "Sure. I'll see if I can snag us a good table for supper." With a carefree wave, the young man trotted off down the road, soon disappearing around a corner toward the inn.
Cain and Calanthe slowed their pace, letting the late-afternoon crowd flow around them. For a few moments, they walked in silence. Calanthe's slender fingers toyed with the edge of her cloak – a small nervous tell. She could feel the tension radiating off of Cain as he mulled over his words.
Finally, Cain spoke, his voice low. "Back there, Ysolde mentioned your mother. Meressa." He paused, searching for the right words. "It reminded me that… I owe you and Callum an apology. A proper one."
Calanthe's emerald eyes flickered with surprise. Clearly, she hadn't expected Cain to bring this up so directly. She parted her lips, perhaps to protest that it was unnecessary, but Cain held up a hand gently to forestall her.
"Please, let me say this," he insisted. They had turned onto a quieter side street now, lined with plane trees whose leaves whispered in the breeze. "What happened between your mother and me… It's something I deeply regret hurting you both over." His brow furrowed, the usual stoic mask he wore giving way to earnest remorse. "When she and I… became involved, it was never my intention to disrespect you or your brother who have been nothing but good to me."
Calanthe walked beside him, arms crossed loosely. The afternoon light dappled through the leaves onto her face, which was carefully neutral. Cain couldn't tell yet if she was feeling angry or sad or something else.
Calanthe's step faltered just a fraction. Cain heard the faint catch in her breath. "She didn't see it that way," Calanthe murmured. "Your right its disrespectful considering my brother and you are like that and you fold to a pretty woman when she opens her legs to you." But I can forgive you.
Cain stopped walking and turned to face Calanthe fully. They stood in the shade of a broad tree, a momentary oasis of calm away from the city bustle. He met her gaze directly.
Calanthe looked down, arms tightening around herself.
Calanthe's expression softened, the guarded anger she had harbored melting into something like sorrow. "Oh, Cain…" she murmured. She reached out and, in an almost sisterly gesture, placed her hand atop his forearm. "I know. About Witchers being sterile. and Callum always wanted a big family he made peace with not having kids so to call someone a brother means alot to him.."
Cain looked at Calanthe in surprise. "
Calanthe squeezed his arm gently. " You have us and we have you". Callum and I—we decided to come with you, despite everything, because we trust you it doesn't matter what your look like or what you were born as. M brother trust you and you have done nothing but look out for him all these years so I can move past this but next you try something like I will teleport you to the bottom of a lake.
Cain would smile and say "I hope I survive then" smirking.
Cain felt a tightness in his throat at her words.
Cain's vision blurred for a second. He hadn't realized how desperately he'd sought those words until now. In a rare show of vulnerability, he pulled Calanthe into a gentle embrace. She didn't resist. In fact, she hugged him back fiercely.
"Thank you," he whispered into her hair. "I promise you, Calanthe, I won't ever knowingly hurt your family again. In fact… I intend to make stronger and live a great life". He released her and held her at arm's length, gazing into her teary emerald eyes. "I'm going to find a way to cure the Witchers' infertility."
Calanthe's eyes widened in astonishment. That, she had not expected. "C-Cain… is that even possible?"
He let out a small, determined laugh. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. But if there is a cure or a workaround out there in this wide world – some alchemy, magic, some artifact – I will find it. For Callum's sake… and maybe for mine."
Calanthe's face broke into a radiant smile, hopeful and heartfelt. In that smile, Cain saw not only the sister who wanted her brothers happiness, but also a young woman who understood what such a quest meant to him as well. "Then I'll help you," she vowed. "Whatever it takes. We'll figure it out together."
He nodded, a fierce gratitude swelling in his chest. With a lighter heart, he realized the rift that once lay between him and Calanthe had finally mended.
They resumed walking, a comfortable silence settling in. As they neared the inn, the sounds of the town picked up again – a smith's hammer ringing nearby, a pair of children laughing as they chased a dog down the lane. Cain took in these simple joys of life with a more open eye now.