The Witcher

- - Move! No, stay back!

Move to the hall!

Hey, you! Stop!

- -

Move!

Ciri!

Who are you?

I'm Cirilla of Cintra.

You are not my daughter!

Where is she?

Where is she?

You won't find what you're looking for here.

You'll only get us both killed.

You came from Vilgefortz.

You're one of the novices from Aretuza.

- Come with me. You'll be safe. - Nowhere is safe!

You'll be with mages. Your sisters.

Vilgefortz… tortured my body.

My mind!

Where were my sisters then?

I'm not an experiment here.

I'm a princess.

I will not leave.

- - Intruders in the royal chambers!

Sound the alarm!

When Emhyr finds Cirilla, he'll kill you.

- Please, help us find her first. -

What do we do here?

Intruders! Move!

We knew Ciri was in danger, but now we know just how much.

We won't let it happen.

You've crossed these lands. How do we reach Emhyr's castle?

This is all swamp land to the east.

The Aldiss Pass takes us through forest.

It could provide cover.

Those forests are being cleared for war timber.

They'll be heavily guarded by northern soldiers.

Aye. I'm not fightin' anyone again

till the Wolf here ditches that toothpick on his back

and gets himself a real weapon.

Hah! At least the Nilfgaardian's sword is made of the right stuff.

- To Mahakam's finest. -

For the last time, I'm not Nilfgaardian.

Take it from me, protesting will only make it worse.

If we've exhausted our tolerance for fighting, there's only one option.

We'll cross the swamp lands.

Everyone agreed?

Aye.

So be it.

- Milva? - I have something to say.

I never dreamed of sharing this with anyone,

let alone the wretched lot of you.

I thought it would take care of itself. It hasn't.

It's all right. You can tell us.

- You're among friends. - Aye.

I told you of my time with the Scoia'tael.

The night I joined their… celebration.

The story goes on 'cause I'm carrying one of theirs.

No?

I've been waiting for you to tell it in your own time.

- I'm so glad you did. - You knew?

The second heartbeat, of course.

Also, I would have smelled your blood had your monthly bill come due.

I won't ride with you much longer. And I don't do goodbyes.

- Gah! - Bloody hell!

I've tended to many a woman in her condition.

For some, riding a horse is out of the question.

She'll need rest and nutrition at regular intervals.

Of course. All of which is in ample supply on our journey.

Maybe there's a village where she'll be safe.

Ya mean one that isn't burnin'?

The warrior Queen Garla was said to have suckled a grub

while wielding a warhammer against the demon riders of Caerbannog.

- Aye! -

What we need to consider is what this means--

Stop it!

I did not ask for opinions.

This was information. Nothing more.

Hmm.

So, what was the other way you said would take us to Nilfgaard?

Can't be that bad, can it?

The Ysgith Swamp.

- It's not gonna be easy. - We don't know what's out there.

Ah, all kinds of slithery slickerits.

Snakes. Eels.

Leeches. I hate bloodsuckers.

- Aye. - Mmm.

Sorry.

Oh, I hate water.

I'm fine.

Here we go.

This journey seems endless, but I'm glad our purpose is united now.

The dreams of Ciri, what else have you seen?

The images are vague. Terrifying.

I've seen her kill.

Smiling with blood on her lips. Darkness in her eyes.

Do you worry, Geralt,

that she's no longer the child that you swore to protect?

I worry that she's in a place of such darkness.

The flora here are exquisite.

Truly rare. I could prepare all sorts of medicaments with these.

- Yes, it's very pretty. Let's not linger. - No longer than necessary.

Milva, can I ask you a question?

Yes, it takes nine months, and no, it isn't contagious.

- Does that about cover it? - No, I…

I… I just wondered if I can… I can help.

Oh.

No.

Thanks.

Ugh.

- Don't linger too far behind. - Ugh.

Geralt.

Listen.

What is that?

What's what?

Geralt.

- Voices. - You came for me?

I don't hear anything.

Geralt.

But if we're not alone,

that does not offer me comfort whatsoever.

Stay close. Something's not right.

"Well, here you go, Jaskier. Yes, a pair of brand-new boots."

"Let's go walk in a swamp in them."

Hah!

Everyone across?

We don't have all day.

Hang on to your stones, lads!

- You don't wanna fall in this-- -

- Zoltan! - Shite.

- Zoltan? - Zoltan!

What's going on?

- Do you see him? - I don't know. I can't bloody see!

- Zoltan! - Zoltan!

Where are they?

- Zoltan! - Yarpen?

- What's happened, Geralt? - Yarpen! Zoltan!

Zoltan! Percival?

Fuck!

- Zoltan! Percival! - They're not here.

- They have to be! - Not if something took them.

What do you mean, "something"?

Ah, curious, these disappearances.

Curious? This is fucking terrifying! Yarpen?

- - I can hear them.

- I don't. - Yeah, me neither.

What the…

Uh… is everyone seeing this?

You listen.

This swamp is alive.

You will… Geralt… find me.

- It's a girl's voice. Can't you hear it? - No.

- Is he all right? - It speaks only to him.

- "It" is what, exactly? - Help!

- I don't know. - No!

Help!

But it's taken them, and we need to follow it.

Ah, ain't nothin' like a day off.

No risk, all reward.

Can't relax. I always feel something bad's about to happen.

That's the past talkin'. Tell it to take a day off too.

Look at that horse. It shouldn't be tethered to a cart like that.

It has the grace of a kelpie.

He's here, finally.

You're late.

Those carrying news are never late.

It's those who depend on them that are merely early.

- You better have coin. - The man from the fair?

Let's start with the news.

The Baron of Casadei has vowed to see you all hang

from the corbels of his castle.

Except for Miss Falka, I presume.

And who are you?

I'm Hotspurn.

And you're the one he wants to flay alive.

Let him try.

Don't be too brave.

If the rumors are true, then Leo Bonhart himself is after the bounty.

It is said that graveyards could be filled with the bodies of those he's slain.

We know Bonhart. We've dealt with him before.

- Maybe we hunt him instead. -

An alternative suggestion that may spare your lives.

The emperor is in a… celebratory mood

since announcing his engagement to the Lion Cub of Cintra.

What?

Your loyal service has done him much good.

If I were to… walk you in, as they say,

we could get those wolves off your tails by royal decree.

He… he can't be marrying the Lion Cub of Cintra. That's not possible.

Hmm. We have ourselves an expert in international diplomacy.

Yeah, sure. Turn ourselves in

to be fitted with armor and plugged into his war machine.

I've already given that army my pound of flesh. No way.

- Mm-mm. - Not us.

Well, in that case… the White Flame wishes to thank you for your service.

And I'm sure he wishes for you to share your libations.

Long live the Rats.

- Long live the Rats. - Hell yeah.

- Long live the Rats. - To that end, my humble advice.