After a nice dinner and a game of hunt the hare, Geralt woke up on the shore near Kiera's home on the blanket they'd rolled around on, alone.

"Kiera?" he called. He rubbed his face. "Put me to sleep with a spell. She's up to something." He looked around for her before he spotted the tower on Fyke Isle across the water. "Fyke Isle. The tower. She fucking used me." He stormed off to find a boat in order to go to the Isle to see what she was up to that would require such an elaborate setup.

Geralt arrived at the tower just as Kiera was exiting, adjusting a fat satchel across her chest. She stopped once she noticed Geralt at the bottom of the stairs. She gave a smile and a toss of her head before descending them.

"Find what you were looking for?" Geralt asked, crossing his arms.

"Yes, thanks for asking," Kiera placed a hand on the satchel. "How are you feeling? Sleep well?"

Geralt glared at her. "You used me."

"Oh, please," she waved her hand. "I merely seized an opportunity."

"If I'd known you just wanted Alexander's notes, I'd never have helped you lift the curse from Fyke Isle."

"All right, perhaps I wasn't completely honest, didn't quite toe the line. But I knew you'd manage, you're so manly and all."

Geralt continued to glare at her.

"Geraltie-pooh... wipe that frown off your face or I might think you didn't like me anymore."

"Didn't come here to play games. I wanna know what you're up to."

"Naturally you suspect me of the worst. I don't deserve that. My intentions are pure, like a virgin's tears." When Geralt's expression didn't change, Kiera made a face before explaining. "Alexander was studying the Catriona plague. I'll use his notes to produce medication, perhaps a cure. Or at least a vaccine."

"Mhm. Strictly humanitarian motivations, is that it?"

"No, strictly selfish ones." Kiera walked past Geralt. "The mighty would pay willingly for such a remedy. Can you imagine how much? Take Radovid, for instance. Why, he might even consider forgetting my past associations with the Lodge."

"Radovid doesn't forget," Geralt argued. "And Radovid doesn't forgive. Especially when it comes to sorceresses."

"He'll make an exception for me. He'll have to. I have something he wants."

"Please, you don't believe that."

"Well, you believe Yennefer will stop treating you like a dog someday. You don't see me laughing."

Geralt sighed.

"I'm going to see Radovid, tell him of this research, whether you like it or not." She turned away from him again, raising her hand to summon a portal.

"This is suicide, Kiera." Kiera paused. "You'll wind up tied to a stake, burned to bolster the morals of the masses while entertaining them."

Kiera spun around. "Shut up for a moment and look at me!"

Geralt waited and when she didn't speak, he prompted her to continue.

She held her arm out. "See this? Bedbugs, Geralt. Bloody bedbugs!" She lowered her arm. "I, Kiera Metz, advisor to Foltest and member of the Lodge of Sorceresses, have bedbugs! Think what you will, but I'll not stay in this bloody swamp one day more! Not one day!" She turned away from him again and Geralt walked towards her. "I shall cross the Pontar and that means Radovid's men will find me sooner or later." Kiera turned towards Geralt, who was now standing next to her. "Don't you understand?! I don't have a choice! I will have to parley."

"Got another option: Kaer Morhen."

Kiera just looked at him, dumbfounded. "You believe I'd be safe there?"

"Long as you don't piss Lambert off, yes. Emhyr, Radovid, neither will be able to reach you. Find little in way of luxury there, but we do have clean sheets."

Kiera looked thoughtful, as if she was genuinely considering the offer. "It's a long way, well beyond the dividing line. But if I keep to the woods until I reach the Kestrel Mountains, I should pass through unnoticed."

Geralt nodded in agreement.

"So be it. Seems I find it hard to refuse you, handsome. You've clearly a notion of what women want, how they think."

"Then I'll see you at Kaer Morhen. Beds free of bedbugs...," he then gave a mischievous grin. "Mostly."

Kiera scoffed a laugh. "I long to be there already." She smiled at Geralt. "Thank you, Geralt."

Geralt didn't see any harm in letting her keep Alexander's notes.

"I'll see you there." Kiera opened a portal and stepped through, leaving Geralt alone on Fyke Isle.

"Better go meet Juray before she sends out a search party."

~~~

Juray waited as the old man prepared himself to supposedly tell her the future after supplying him with some food and a rare root.

"I see a moon demon fighting alongside the wolf, helping when she is needed. I see her stand on a plain of ice and snow, testing strength against power. I see a wolf, strivin' forward toward a solitary tower, 'midst a blizzard. He follows the swallow. Yet the swallow heeds not the wolf's howls, soaring higher and higher, for it knows 'tis its last flight. Ess'tuath esse! So shall it be! Look for the signs! The world will perish amidst ice and be reborn with the new sun! Reborn of the Elder Blood, of Hen Ichaer, of a planted seed..."

"Ithlinne's Prophecy," Juray said.

"Go now. Let me be." The soothsayer turned and went into the hut he had been outside of when Juray arrived.

She normally would have just brushed off the predictions of soothsayers, had he not mentioned the wolf calling after the swallow. She frowned, for once not questioning the validity of a soothsayer. She turned and headed back to Shadowmount.

"Let's head back and see if Geralt has made it to Lindenvale."

~~~

Geralt walked into the tavern, looking around for Juray. Across the room, he saw a familiar white braid at a table with a man across from her and several spectators. He approached the table and saw a nice pile of coin in front of her and a game of Gwent going on. The man was looking flustered as Juray waited for him to play out his turn. She had an excellent hand already down and the man was struggling to catch up to her. He set the final card he had down, flustered, and Juray smiled.

"Seems I win again," she said. "Better luck next time."

"Another round!"

"I've already played two rounds against you and you've lost both times. You need to practice more." She slightly glanced over her shoulder. "Besides, I have someplace to be." She stood gathering her winning. "I suggest building up your deck with better cards." She turned to Geralt.

"Looks like you were making good of your time."

"Kiera finally done with her honey-do list?"

Geralt gave her a look and she grinned at him.

"Yes, I'm done with Kiera."

"Then let's head to Downwarren and meet with Phillip before he decides to run off on his own and gets himself killed."

"You might be right."

~~~

As the two Witchers approached Downwarren, Geralt frowned. Phillip and his men were already there, speaking to a man missing his left ear. Nearby were two men hanging from a tree, several villagers wailing with grief several paces away.

"Something isn't right," Juray observed. "These people are terrified. And not of the Bloody Baron."

"I think they would be more scared of the Crones than the Baron."

As they approached the Baron and his men, the man with the missing ear was explaining how a group of Witch Hunters has passed through and hanged the men because of their dealings with the Crones.

"Why the devil are there Witch Hunter here to begin with?" Phillip asked. "They didn't ride down from Novigrad to hang two blobtits, did they?"

"I-I-I don't know, m'Lord."

"They say where they were headed?" Geralt asked.

Phillip turned towards them. "Geralt! Juray! You've arrived. Can't draw any meanin' from this drabble's bawlin'. Perhaps they'd talk sense after a few lashes."

Juray rolled her eyes before turning towards the man. "Where did the Witch Hunters go?"

The man looked over the two Witchers, his eyes lingering on Geralt. "To the village in the swamp. Lass rode with 'em, askin' after her mother constant."

Phillip looked at Juray and Geralt. "Lass? We must go there at once!"

"Before they get themselves killed," Juray added.

"I'll gather my men."

The two Witchers waited and before long they were making their way through the muck of the mire.

"Ploughin' swamp. Pox-ridden air promotes brain-rot in the peasants. Crones," Phillip scoffed. "Fuck me. What will these hayseeds think of next?"

"The Crones exist," Geralt said, annoyance in his voice. "You'll see soon enough."

"More likely some mad old wenches making mincemeat of peasant minds."

Juray rolled her eyes, Geralt's barely hidden smirk telling her he'd seen it.

"Likey Anna agreed to stay with 'em, care for 'em out of the kindness of her heart. Good as gold, that one..."

As he spoke, Juray had moved to the head of the group, sensing the monsters of the swamp. After several attacks by drowners, and teasing one man about being afraid of the monsters, they found the swamp village. And the Witch Hunters fighting off drowners. Geralt and Juray led the charge against the drowners.

"Don't know who you are," one Hunter said. "But thank you!"

"Introductions later!" Geralt replied.

It didn't take them long to kill the monsters in the clearing. Juray could feel another nearby but wasn't sure where it was.

"Juray!" The Witcher turned as she sheathed her silver sword to see it had been Tamara that had called her name.

"I'm not going to say I'm surprised to see you here." Juray nodded at Graden as he approached them and she motioned to Geralt who had just joined them. "This is my friend, Geralt of Rivia. Also a Witcher."

"Change your mind, Juray?"

"I told you my friend and I would find her."

Phillip chose that moment to join them. "Tamara, dear daughter!" he said, holding his arms out towards her. "You return after all! Come, don't deny me this embrace."

Tamara stepped back. "Stay away from me," she said angrily. "I've come for Mother. Unlike you, I'll not see her rot in this swamp."

"Why the hell do you think I'm here? To take her home."

"Oh, you'll do no such thing!"

Juray rubbed the bridge of her nose as they argued.

"You'll not lay a finger on her! Never! I'll not let you!"

"You've a right to be cross. I was not the best husband, the best father. I know. But I've changed! Ask anyone! Geralt, Juray, tell her."

"I think finding Anna is more important than your petty arguing," Juray said.

"'Verily I say unto you'," Graden quoted. "'That ire and vehemence can lead to naught but one's downfall.'"

"Who the bloody hell is this?" Phillip asked.

"And who are you to ask so crudely?"

"This is my commander," Tamara said.

"And that should be of no concern to a drunken swine."

"Oh for the love of fuck...," Juray breathed.

"Tamara! You stand with their kind now? Would you have them torture and hang your own father?"

"You're not my father. And I care not a bit about what befalls you."

"How about your mother?" Juray asked, her voice clearly implying her patience with the Strenger family drama was at its end. "You know, the entire reason we're here."

"The Witcheress is right," Graden agreed. "We've a matter to resolve here." He looked at Juray and Geralt. "Are you two willing to help?"

"We wouldn't be here if we weren't willing," Geralt answered.

"I've lost five men and have little notion of what to expect in this cursed place."

"No time to lose. Crones could return any minute."

"How do you know they're not here already?" Tamara asked.

"Because we're still alive."

"No, they're here," Juray said. "They're just watching us."

"And how are you so sure of that?" Graden asked.

Juray looked over at him. "I'm a Witcher, Graden. I can sense their foul magic. They're watching and waiting to see what we're going to do."

"Search the village," Graden ordered. "The sooner we find Anna, the sooner we can flee this place with her."

While the Witch Hunters searched the buildings, Phillip, Tamara, and Geralt stayed in the center and Juray walked the edge of the village, having a feeling that they had walked into a trap. Phillip stepped up to Tamara and placed a hand on her shoulder.

She spun around, slapping his hand away. "Don't."

Geralt could see the hurt on his face.

"Over here!" One of the Witch Hunters called.

Tamara ran over to the chapel where Geralt had first spoken to the Crones, Phillip not too far behind. Tamara pushed her way in.

"Scrubbed it good. Oy! Get back, stinky-head, gingerbread loaf, freshly baked and hot." Anna was on the floor talking to no one.

Tamara approached her slowly. "Mother..."

"Ah, there, clean as a whistle. Fresh as a daisy. Go ahead, whip me, I made it too little. I nibbled it, just to see if it was firm. But it's fresh... so take pity."

"Oh, mother..."

"Take pity."

Anna was led out of the hut and to the others, where it was clear to everyone she'd completely lost her mind.

"But I pleaded...," she said. "I begged..."

"Mother, it's me," Tamara said, trying to break through to Anna. "Do you recognize me?" Anna didn't respond and Tamara looked up at Geralt. "Wha-what's happened to her?"

Geralt shook his head.

"I said I'd do it all," Anna said. "Give it 'ere. I'll scrub it again. Scrub it clean."

"Mother!"

Juray suddenly drew her silver sword, feeling something big heading their way. "Something's coming," she warned. "Something big."

Everyone drew their swords just as a long and loud roar sounded.

"What was that?" Tamara asked.

"Wolves perhaps?" Phillip suggested.

"Didn't sound like wolves," Graden pointed out.

"That's because it's not," Juray said. "It's drawing closer."

No sooner than the words were out of her mouth, then a large beast with red eyes and antlers adorning its head charged at them from the bog. Everyone dodged and Juray and Geralt immediately started to attack it. It focused most of its attention on the two Witchers and it charged at them. The two jumped in two different directions and it crashed into one of the huts struggling as its head became stuck. The Witchers used this to their advantage, both shoving their blades into its neck and severing its throat, Geralt nearly losing his grip on his sword. Juray was glad that he was able to keep his grip and knew the old injury to his elbow had flared up during the fight.

"What was that?" Phillip asked.

"Looked a fiend to me," Graden answered,

"Because it was," Juray confirmed.

"Crones' must've sent them for Anna," Geralt added and Juray nodded in agreement.

"Those damned witches!" Tamara cried, angrily. "When will it end?! Look what they've done to her! Are they not satisfied? I'm taking her away."

"She's my wife," Phillip argued. "She'll return home with me. You're welcome to come with us, if you wish."

Tamara shoved Phillip. "Don't touch her! We leave this cursed place now!"

"She's sick, weakened. Where would you take her in this state? Oxenfurt? It would mean her death!"

"I know how to care for my mother!"

"She not a rag doll to be ripped from hand to hand," Graden interrupted. "Let her decide."

"Pie!" Anna cried. "Pie for dinner! Mud pie!"

"Graden, does it really look like she's in the right state of mind to make that decision?" Juray asked, motioning to Anna, who was playing with flowers and mud, oblivious to the argument going on.

"Juray's right," Geralt added. "She's incapable of deciding anything just now."

"A dark spell," Tamara said. "It must be. Help her, Witcher! I beg you."

"Before we do anything, we gotta get her outta here. Crones know we've come for her. Might send another monster, worse than a fiend."

"I'll not go anywhere until you tell me you can help her."

"We can't," Juray said. "Because it's not a spell. With all the trauma she's been through, it's left its mark on her."

"So she's to be like this?"

"I know a hermit," Phillip said. "A very wise man with a gift of healing. Met him some time past. Lives in the Blue Mountains. I shall take her there."

"Might be worth a shot."

"I shall go with you," Tamara said.

"That's impossible, sadly," Graden said.

"Why?"

"You have duties, duties deriving from your commitment to the Church of the Eternal Fire. Once we finish our work in Velen, we return to Oxenfurt."

"You said you'd save my mother!"

"And I kept my word. Your father can care for her now."

"He, care? You know him! You know what he did to her!"

"If he didn't care, he wouldn't be offering to take her to this healer in the Blue Mountains," Juray said. "Your anger is blinding you from what is best for Anna, not for you."

"Says the woman with the same anger towards her own family. Would you have saved them because it was what was best for them?"

"I did."

Tamara grew quiet then.

"Fear not," Phillip said. "All will be well." He went to his knees next to Anna. "I will not touch drink. I will find the hermit. And once she is herself again, we will find you."

"Swear it," Tamara said.

Phillip looked her in the eye. "You have my word, child." He helped Anna to her feet and the two turned and walked in the direction they'd come from.

After watching them go, Tamara turned to Juray and Geralt. "Thank you, Witchers. Despite all."

"May the Eternal Fire guide and protect you," Graden said.

"Farewell."

The Witch Hunters and Tamara left.

"On to Novigrad, then?" Juray asked.

"On to Novigrad."