"You're mad, woman!" Erimon screamed. "Mad, I say!"

"And they're already fighting," Juray said. "Why am I not surprised?"

Geralt gave Juray a look.

"What?"

They had arrived at a camp at the edge of an expanse of forest that looked like some sort of bomb had gone off, trees burned and ripped out of the ground.

"Maybe," Yennefer screamed back at Erimon. "But I've got good reason."

"I hold Ciri dear, too. You know this! Damned well! But the Mask of Uroboros is no trifle! Have you any idea what could happen if it is used? Any idea of the consequences?"

"No, but neither do you. So stop panicking."

"Can hear you two clear on the other side of the island," Geralt said as the two Witchers approached.

"Good!" Erimon said. "May all Skellige know Yennefer of Vengerberg is a common thief!"

"Control yourself, druid," Yennefer said with a roll of her eyes. "I haven't stolen anything. I've merely borrowed it and fully intend to return it."

Juray looked at Geralt, confused, and saw by the look on his face that he knew exactly what they were talking about. She realized Geralt must have helped Yennefer acquire this mask when they disappeared at the feast.

Erimon gave a mirthless laugh. "The generosity! Just one small problem -- once used, the mask is rendered completely worthless! Not to mention the risk you'll bury us alive! And all the Isles with us!"

"Someone mind explaining to me what the fuck is going on?" Juray asked.

"She's not told you?" Erimon asked. "Might've expected as much!"

"Don't take it out on Juray," Geralt said. "She wasn't involved and actually doesn't know what you're talking about."

Erimon gave Geralt a look. "The myth is Uroboros created the Mask when the envious Sea swallowed his beloved."

Yennefer walked over to the edge of the camp, looking over the destroyed forest.

"Unable to bear the prospect that he would never again see his betrothed, Uroboros made the Mask, which would allow him to peer into the past. He knew, however, that he could only use it once. So he waited. Waited until his longing grew so strong that it became unbearable."

Yennefer walked the edge of the camp, seeming to be studying the wreckage of trees.

"When the Sea learned of the Mask, it was quick to respond. It made known its threat that whosoever used the Mask would bring the Sea's wrath down on them. For in vengeance the Sea would rise and flood all the lands and drown the living."

Juray glanced over to where Yennefer had been standing and saw she'd disappeared.

"Where'd you get this mask?" Geralt asked as Juray walked to the edge of the camp to see where Yennefer had gone.

"Sailors from clan Dimun pulled it from the sea. Near the Njord Trench."

"Yeah, but how can you be sure this is Uroboros' mask?"

"Its appearance is exactly as described in the myths."

"You believe the myths?"

"Only ignorant fools belittle their significance. Besides, it's not the myths on trial here! It's the thief!"

"On the one hand a theft. On the other, Ciri's life..."

"I also care deeply for the girl. I proposed a series of other methods. Yennefer refused to listen! She claimed they would take too long, whereas she wants, she needs immediate results! She has always been hot-headed."

Juray frowned, feeling magic in the air.

"True. Least this time she's got a valid reason for it."

"Never mind that she might bring—"

"If you want to stop her, Erimon," Juray interrupted. "You're too late."

"What?"

"She's using it now."

The words had barely left her lips before a storm suddenly erupted.

"Damn it!" He darted toward the forest, several other druids in tow. "Quickly! Follow me! We must neutralize the Mask, mute its power!"

He went down the hill a ways before he and his druids stopped and started chanting. Juray kept going, sensing foglets nearby.

"Juray!"

"Foglets! Yennefer's gonna need help!"

They joined Yennefer in fighting off the monsters, quickly ending their lives.

"What was that?" Geralt asked, sheathing his sword as Juray looked around them, trying to sense if any more monsters were nearby.

"Unicorns."

"Dammit, Yen, I saw the foglets. I mean how'd they get here?"

"The power of the Mask summoned them."

"Yet you play with something you have no idea its power," Juray said. "Erimon is completely furious with you, by the way. You know he's not going to let this pass."

"I'll survive, somehow."

Juray rolled her eyes. Typical Yennefer.

"What now?" Geralt asked.

"The Mask reveals the past, but only in certain places. Places where past events left a strong magical imprint. Take it." She handed it to Geralt.

"Want me to wear it?"

"Yes. I'll cast a spell that will let me see through your eyes."

"Of course."

"This way. Already found the first spot."

Yennefer led the way through the ruined trees. Juray could feel the residue of the magic used here.

"I've never felt residue this strong," Juray said. "Powerful magic was used here."

Yennefer seemed surprised that Juray could sense it. Geralt looked at her slightly confused. When she'd asked Yennefer about Children of the Winter Moon, she never told her why she was asking. Only that she'd heard about them fairly recently and had a curiosity about them. The sorceress told her what she'd already gathered, and then some.

"Juray is correct," Yennefer said. "This is the spot. Put on the Mask."

"Any instructions?"

"Keep it on until we've seen everything. And don't stray far. Telepathy is limited in range."

Geralt put on the mask and Yennefer made a circular motion. A shimmering image appeared in the air, Yennefer having cast a spell so Juray could see what they were seeing as well. A portal opened and a man and woman emerged. The woman had ashen hair and moved like a Witcher, leaving no doubt in Juray's mind this was Ciri. The man she didn't know, as he was wearing a mask, but walked with confidence.

"What's that?" Geralt asked. "A portal?"

"Two people emerged from it," Yennefer confirmed.

"The woman was Ciri."

"How would you know?"

"She moved like a Witcher," Juray said.

"Seems they went that way." Geralt pointed.

"Come, let's find the next spot," Yennefer said, leading the way.

They found the next spot and Geralt put on the mask again, Yennefer casting the same spell. This time the two were surrounded by Wild Hunt warriors. The man suddenly slammed his hand into the ground. Juray felt the ripples of magic and instinctively threw up Quen.

"Watch out!" Yennefer cried, but the residual blast hit the shield Juray had erected, shattering it.

Ciri and her companion escaped.

"What was that?" Geralt asked.

"A magic explosion of some sort. So powerful even that echo was dangerous. It probably would have injured us if Juray hadn't put up Quen."

"Instinct. I could feel the power, despite it being residual."

"I wager that's what destroyed the forest."

"But Ciri and her companion weren't harmed..." Geralt said. "I saw them escape."

"Let's see where to."

"Anyone here when this happened had a slim chance of surviving," Geralt said as they trekked to the next spot.

"I know what you're thinking...," Yennefer said. "But don't worry. Ciri can take care of herself."

"She's well trained, remember?" Juray assured him.

They reached the next spot and the process was repeated.

This time, Ciri was alone, facing a large warrior. He struck her and she stumbled back. She then turned and escaped through a portal, the warrior growling.

"Someone chased Ciri," Geralt said. "See that? Might've wounded her."

"She escaped," Yennefer said. "Through another portal."

"Know where it led?"

Yennefer concentraited. "Magic residue trail leads to...Velen."

"Any chance you can figure out where Ciri's companion fled to? His portal's gotta be nearby."

"I'll try to find it. Come."

They found it several yards away.

Ciri's companion was fighting another Wild Hunt warrior. The man repealed him with a powerful burst of magic before he, too, fled through a portal.

"That was powerful magic," Juray commented. "Her companion's a mage?"

"Most likely," Yennefer said. "It's Ciri's companion and the one who wounded her."

"How do you know?" Geralt asked.

"Pretty hard to distinguish them," Juray added.

"Making an educated guess. They both appeared in the previous visions."

"Ciri's got a powerful ally."

"Know where he fled?" Juray asked.

Yennefer repeated her tracking spell. "His trace path leads to Velen as well... But the target coordinates of his portal differ from those of Ciri's..." She frowned. "The explosion must have disrupted his teleportation..."

"Hm," Geralt said. "Ran into Keira Metz in Velen. Coincidence maybe, but... She claimed a mage came to her looking for Ciri. Be surprised if it wasn't the same one."

"Whoever he is, he grows more interesting by the minute..."

"I'm going to see if the body of the one the mage hit with his spell is around here somewhere," Juray said, the storm beginning to subside. "Ermion must be getting a handle on the weather."

"Which means he'll be free to attack us again," Yennefer said.

"And whose fault is that?"

Yennefer leveled a look at Juray just as Erimon stormed up to them.

"Are you pleased with yourselves?!" he shouted. "Look at what you've brought down on us! If someone's death were to help you find Ciri, would you start making human sacrifices as well?!"

"People already love us," Juray said. "That would just make them love us even more."

Erimon glared at Juray while Geralt rolled his eyes.

"You've clearly got things under control."

"For now! But who knows what will be a week or two on!"

"Stop panicking!" Yennefer said, holding out the mask. "Here's your mask."

"It is worthless!" He took it anyway. "It's an unwieldy ashtray at best." He then sighed, looking at the Witchers. "I hope you've learned something useful at least."

"Very."

Erimon looked at Yennefer. "I'm talking to Geralt and Juray. You... You I'll deal with later." He turned his attention back to the Witchers. "So?"

"We think a powerful curse was cast here," Geralt said.

"Plausible, considering what happened to the wood. Do you know upon whom?"

"Not yet. But we know Ciri was here. She stepped out of a portal. A mage was with her. Someone chased them, they fought. Ciri was wounded but managed to escape."

Juray turned away while Geralt explained, trying to track where the warrior was thrown.

"Where to?"

"Velen, probably – the mage opened a portal for her. Then he fought her attacker."

"Juray, what are you doing?"

"Tracking," she said. "I'm pretty sure he was thrown over here." She was crouched next to a fallen tree, a groove leading under it. "Would one of you mind lifting this?"

Yennefer stepped forward and levitated the tree, moving it aside, revealing empty armor.

Juray whistled. "Ciri's friend vaporized the bastard."

"Exquisite," Erimon commented. "The armor... Though the workmanship's unfamiliar. Can't even tell where it's from."

"Whatever world the Wild Hunt's from."

"What?!" he looked at Geralt, who nodded to confirm Juray's assessment. "So it's true... the Wild Hunt... I feared as much. First here, then on Hindarsfjall. What did they want?"

Juray looked up. "They've been seen elsewhere in Skellige?"

Erimon nodded.

"They're looking for Ciri," Yennefer said.

Erimon looked shocked. "But... why?"

"Her Elder Blood." Juray stood.

"'Tis true she can trace her lineage clear back to Lara Dorren – which is why the women in her family have always had extraordinary abilities... But could that truly be so important?"

"Ciri's exceptional. She travels between places – here and other worlds. Space is no obstacle for her."

"Which is why the Wild Hunt wants to capture her," Geralt said. He turned to Erimon. "Speaking of the Wild Hunt – mentioned it appeared on Hindarsfjall."

"Well, it happened at least a fortnight after the cataclysm struck here on Ard Skellig. The wraiths raided Lofoten, at dusk, in a blizzard. Itself a strange occurrence for that time of year. The islanders said the wraiths, they barged into their huts. Killed anyone who resisted, then galloped inland, laughing fiendishly."

"Anyone survive?" Yennefer asked.

"A dozen or so women and an old man."

"Looks like we're heading to Hindarsfjall," Juray said.

"I'll meet you there," Yennefer said.

"We'll go together."

Juray raised a brow. "You know she's going to travel by portal, right?"

"Don't exactly like potions either, but I drink 'em when I have to."

Yennefer scoffed. "You also drink them when there's no need at all."

Geralt shrugged as she opened the portal.

"Let's go."

They stepped out of the portal on the beach outside Lotofen.

"Quite a few years since I was last on," Yennefer said, turning to the two Witchers. "But if I remember correctly, Lofoten should be this way." Yennefer led them to a ruined village. "Razed huts and fresh graves. Hm, this must be it."

"You have such amazing powers of observation, Yennefer."

Yennefer ignored Juray. What was left of the village were gathered and seemed to be doing some sort of ritual.

"Gathering of some kind...," Geralt observed. "We've come at a bad time."

"There's no good time to talk about the Wild Hunt."

"We shouldn't interrupt," Juray said. "They're honoring their dead."

"We'll do no such thing," Yennefer walked over to the women.

"Yen!"

"Dear sisters... Pardon the interruption, but we've an important matter to discuss."

"Can you not see we're commemorating the dead?" the woman conducting the ritual snapped. "So..." Juray figured she was a priestess or some sort of spiritual leader.

"And we're looking for someone who's still alive. Please... This is urgent."

She gave a disgusted noise. "Then speak."

"They say the Wild Hunt destroyed this village..." Geralt said.

"That is true... Though few believe us. You don't either, I'm sure."

"We believe you," Juray said. "It's why we're here."

"Did you see riders on skeletal horses?" Yennefer asked. "Wearing frost-covered armor?"

"Aye..." an old woman said. "That's how it was... They landed on our shores in a ship made of the claws of dead men... Like in the ballads. Leif yelled to grab the children... Then they came... Cut him 'cross the face. He tried to whisper... Only blood came out..."

Juray could tell what she'd witnessed had traumatized her.

"You were to ask about someone, not prod their wounds," the priestess said. "That's enough."

Yennefer ignored her. "What happened then?"

"Yen..." Juray said. "Stop."

"You don't understand. You don't have a child. If we can learn where—"

"I understand plenty. Now stop."

Yennefer opened her mouth to continue to argue.

"Yen," Geralt said. "Enough."

"We're looking for a young woman," Juray said. "Her name is Ciri. Ashen hair, green eyes..."

"I'm sorry." The priestess said. "She is not here."

"Unless she lies in a grave..." a middle-aged woman standing next to the old woman said. "That is, I do not recall one by that name, but I've buried so many... I may have forgotten."

Yennefer seemed to deflate and Juray looked at Geralt to see sadness in his eyes.

"This... This Ciri..." another old woman said. "Has she a scar? Here, on her cheek?" She motioned to her left cheek.

"Yes," Yennefer said, perking up. "Yes. What happened to her?"

"Don't know. Saw her for a moment, right before... before it all. She was in the stables with... Craven." She said the name with disdain.

"A thousand curses upon him," the first old woman said, her voice full of hate.

"Remember anything else?" Geralt asked. "Anything at all?"

"Only that she seemed tired," the second old woman said. "Very tired. And... and her hair was wet."

"Great," Yennefer said. "So we know she bathed. Progress."

Juray sighed and rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry. Skja—"

"Craven," the priestess quickly corrected.

"My apologies. Craven. Craven could've told you more."

"So his name isn't actually Craven," Juray said.

"He had a name..." the priestess said. "Until the elders struck him from the Saga of Ancestors."

"It's as if he has ceased to exist," a young woman said. "The law forbids anyone from touching him, speaking to him... Even uttering his name."

"What did he do to deserve that?" Yennefer asked.

"He fled from the Wild Hunt..." the first old woman said. "He alone!"

"We need to talk to him..." Geralt said. "Even if it's not in keeping with your customs."

"You've come too late," the priestess said. "He went to the garden, to fight Morkvarg."

"A coward who willingly seeks battle..." Juray said. "Am I the only one who sees the contradiction here?"

"That's why he did it. Craven knew he could prove the elders wrong only if he killed Morkvarg."

"And thus regain his honor – and his name," Geralt said.

"Trial by ordeal," Yennefer said. "Very Skelligan."

"Shut up, Yen," Juray said, annoyed by her lack of respect.

"At least one of you shows respect."

"Who or what is Morkvarg?"

"The vilest man ever to inhabit Skellige," the young woman said. "Nothing was ever sacred to him. He attacked his own clan's lands, took gold from Nilfgaard, killed children, pregnant women..."

"Know the type," Geralt said.

"They said he feared only one thing – the wrath of the gods. Morkvarg sought to prove how wrong they were. So he sailed to Hindarsfjall to ransack the goddess' garden. This was over a decade ago."

"Arch priestess Ulve stood in his way," the priestess took up the story. "He thrust a blade between her ribs and cast her down in the mud. As her lifeblood left her, she cursed him... And Morkvarg transformed into a beast."

"A curse, a monster..." Yennefer said, looking at the Witchers. "You've got some work to do..."

"Need to find out what kind of beast Morkvarg is," Juray said. "Silver sword and the right potions and oils should do the trick."

"It's not that simple. There have been those that bested Morkvarg... Yet he always returns."

"So, it's a complex curse..." Geralt said, looking at Juray. "Your specialty."

Juray rolled her eyes. "Meaning I need more information."

"I understand...," the young woman said. "But I've told you all I know."

"Speak with Toradar's son, Einar," the priestess said. "He was in the garden when Morkvarg and his men attacked. He saw what happened. Of all the pilgrims there at the time, he alone escaped with his life. He settled in Larvik. You'll find him there at the landing, provided he's not out to sea when you arrive."

"Where is this holy garden?" Geralt asked.

"Not far from here...," the priestess pointed. "North. We cultivated healing herbs there once..."

"And now?" Yennefer asked.

"Now we walk only as far as the tree the goddess planted," the young woman answered. "We place our offerings and make our pleas before it."

"Those who venture below...," the priestess said. "Remain in the garden, forever."

"Thanks for your help," Geralt said.

"I understand you intend to enter the garden?"

"I'll need to if I'm to deal with Morkvarg and return your garden to you," Juray said.

The priestess sighed. "I dislike it when foreigners enter the sacred grounds... But so be it."

"Custom demands pilgrims make an offering of their own blood before the tree. Craven surely did so... Unless he lacked not only courage but respect for Freya as well."

"You needn't worry about us," Yennefer said. "We always give the gods the respect they are due."

By pure miracle, Juray managed to not scoff and roll her eyes.