Jaskier has known he wasn’t entirely human for a while. What he didn’t know was that he got his nonhuman blood from his father. They are part fae.
He discovers this when his father dies and leaves him everything—not be a they were close but because Jaskier’s brother had somehow angered the man.
Part of his father’s “property” were actual, fucking people. People who were tied to his service with fae magic.
Thankfully, his father kept a roster of the people and the conditions for their release. The conditions were all seemingly impossible things, but Jaskier wasn’t a bard for nothing.
A dwarf has to give him the greatest weapon? Words are Jaskier’s weapon: give him a quill. A farmer has to give him his firstborn? Give him the firstborn animal from this season. An elf has to give him enough riches to satisfy a king? Ha! No riches can satisfy a king! So the condition is already met!
One after another, Jaskier frees these people—and gives them compensation from his father’s wealth. Fuck you, old man! He eventually reaches the last person on the list.
A witcher whose condition is to betray the person he holds dearest.
Geralt and Jaskier put their heads together to try to come up with a “betrayal”. And they travel together in the meantime.
However, the more time they spend together, the less effort Geralt seems to put into seeking his freedom.
"If life could grant me one blessing, it would be to rid me of you," Geralt spat in a fit of anger, the regret sinking in the moment the words escaped his lips.
"Well, it seems your wish has been granted," Jaskier replied, his tone steady, resolute. "No more meddlesome Fae at your side. You're free now."
Before Geralt could muster a response, Jaskier was gone. The Witcher hadn't meant it—not truly. It was a fleeting moment of rage, a bitter lapse in judgment. But Jaskier was Fae, and Fae were clever, their words binding in ways mortals often regretted. If Geralt wanted his bard back, he would have to outwit the trickster magic.
And he was more than willing to rise to the challenge.