Philippa appeared on the megascope. "We have an issue."

He looked up from his desk, covered in scrolls and texts, at Philippa. "What is it? Have you made contact with Yennefer?"

"No. I had the witcher, but before I was able to bargain, she infiltrated the cave, and recovered him. I wasn't anticipating her being so…"

"Formidable? I warned you, Philippa. I've been watching her for some time. I know how she's changed. You thought you knew her. You were too confident in your idea of her, and you were wrong. Now we've lost her."

"Momentarily. I still have Triss with me. I've told her we are truly after Cirilla, that we need her to rule the North."

He was quiet for a moment. "Did you tell Triss of my involvement?"

"Of course not."

"Good. Come back for now. We need a new plan. Transport the minerals that we've gathered so far, and destroy the mine."

"What?" Philippa wasn't sure she had heard correctly.

"Destroy the mine. Blow it up."

"What of the people that we've gathered?"

"What of them? Their minds have been wiped. All they know is mining. There is no undoing what we've done to them. The only thing to do is to en them with the mining operation."

"And of Thom and Heloiza? I can only bring one other person with me in a portal. Triss is the same. We must keep the griffin."

"Kill one of them."

Philippa hesitated, "I know that I'm indebted to you for the regeneration of my eyes, but –"

He looked at her sharply, and she fell silent. "Philippa, I understand that you dislike taking orders. But do not attempt to exert your independence now. I've given you your sight, and I can take it away again. You did not regrow them yourself, you do not have the power to do so. Do what I ask, so I don't have to forcibly remind you what I can do. Do you understand?" With that, he ended the megascope projection.

He sat down at his desk, looking at the ancient texts. They had given him the knowledge to access incredible power. He lifted one scroll off of the desk and set it aside. A drawing of Yennefer was revealed. He studied her face closely. His hands found their familiar distraction. He rapped his fingers on a hollow skull, covered in runes.

Philippa stared where the megascope projection had been. She turned slowly and left the room. She entered the sitting area where Triss, Thom, and Heloiza sat together, drinking wine. Triss noticed Philippa's strange expression when she entered the room.

"Is everything okay?"

Philippa looked at her, "Of course, Triss. Everything is fine." She walked to a table and poured herself wine. She took a long drink from the chalice. "We need to move on away from this area. I need you to come with me Triss."

"I can't just leave Tancred. I'm his court mage." Triss began to protest.

"But first you are first a member of the Lodge. I don't want to argue, Triss. Just do it. Heloiza, I want to be alone with you. I trust you can entertain yourself, Triss. Thom I need you in the cave. As we discussed."

Heloiza smiled sweetly, and winked at Triss as she got up to follow Philippa from the room. They entered the private quarters, and Philippa smiled at Heloiza without teeth. Heloiza rushed to Philippa and embraced her. "I've been thinking of you all day. I want to be with you so badly." She said as she traced her lips from the base of Philippa's neck to her mouth. They kissed, and Heloiza began unfastening Philippa's blouse. She touched her breasts with her mouth, and moaned softly as Philippa slid a hand under her dress. They disrobed, and found themselves on the bed, kissing and touching every part of one another's body. After they had both reached ecstasy, they laid on the bed together in an embrace. Heloiza kissed Philippa's shoulder and then laid quietly with a content smile on her face. Philippa leaned down and kissed her passionately. Heloiza was distracted as Philippa quietly retrieved a steel sword from the table near the bed. This steel sword was linked with another scabbard holding a silver sword. Philippa broke the kiss, rose from the bed, and slid the sword over Heloiza's throat. Heloiza gurgled and grasped at Philippa. Philippa stood just out of reach and watched the life leave her eyes. Philippa closed her eyes.

She dressed herself, and returned to the sitting area. Thom had returned with the griffin. "Right then. Let's go. We're going to the bathhouse in Novigrad, formerly Dijkstra's bathhouse. He has no use of it now. Triss, you can open a portal for you and Thom. I'll be right behind you with the griffin."

Triss nodded, noticing some blood on Philippa's hand. She thought to herself what have you gotten yourself into Phil. Triss and Thom left.

Philippa led the griffin to the cave's entrance. She recited a spell, and shot fire balls from her hands into the cave. They flew through the cave's tunnels until they found the charges that Thom had set up earlier. The enchanted miners did not even notice the balls of fire flying behind them, igniting the charges. They didn't even scream when the charges exploded, melting flesh from bone. There was no sound except the sound of fire. Philippa closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She opened a portal and left.

Geralt looked through the woods, and adjusted the borrowed sword on his back. Smoke billowed over the treetops. "My swords," he muttered quietly. Yennefer had stayed back to gather her strength. She had used a great deal of power to retrieve him, and was slow to recover. Plus, he preferred being alone. He could move faster and quieter by himself. A fact he had forgotten before being ambushed with Triss. He ran silently through the woods, dodging twigs and snow mounds that would crunch under his step. He ducked to avoid hitting branches. He reached the mouth of the cave, thick black smoke poured from the opening. He smelled burnt flesh. He took out a vial of Killer Whale, removed the cork stopper and drank the contents. He took a big gasp of fresh air, and entered the cave.

He couldn't see through the black smoke, so he stayed against a wall. Yen had told him the cave wound around, with many different corridors, so he was prepared. He took a right. Another right. He found where he was held the previous night. The room was not yet engulfed in flames, but it was filled with smoke. He turned back and went down another hall. He found a small sitting area with much less smoke. He took the opportunity to grab a few breaths. He followed the tunnel back, and stumbled upon a bedroom.

Inside of the bedroom, Geralt noticed a naked body, covered in blood, on the bed. He approached. Strong features. This must have been Heloiza. He closed Heloiza's eyes, and noticed his sword, covered in blood lying next to her body. He made a face, picked up the sword and wiped the sword off on the bed. He returned it to its scabbard, and slung both swords over his back. Another deep breath, and he navigated his way back outside. It was time to return to Tancred.

Yennefer heaved over a bucket. She had overestimated her strength. She had used more energy than she had taken in, and she now paid the price for that error. She wiped her mouth, and crawled back to the bed. Feeling depleted of power was much like a hangover after a night of imbibing. She had tried to join Geralt, but had collapsed just outside of their chamber doors. He had to carry her back to the bed. She took the opportunity to sleep off her predicament.

Geralt entered the castle, and walked up the stairs slowly, stoically. He carried bad news for the king, and he was unsure how it would be received. The king's troubles had begun to take their toll, and he was losing patience quickly. Geralt reached the landing of the stairs and entered the chambers of the room he was sharing with Yennefer. She looked awful still. Sorcerers and sorceresses are very vain, so for a sorceress to look awful, they must feel truly terrible. She woke up, and groaned. He sat on the bed beside her. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," she lied. "You got your swords back. What happened?" She croaked.

"I have to speak with Tancred. The cave was on fire when I got there. The missing people are all dead. So it Heloiza. I'm not expecting Tancred to take the news well."

"So, we may have to leave," Yen said solemnly.

"Yes."

"I'll prepare to open a portal then," she said, sitting up slowly.

"No, you can't."

"Don't tell me what I can't do, Geralt," she snapped.

"Yennefer, you don't have the strength. If we leave, we will take a horse. I won't allow you to try to open a portal. You've done enough." He stood from the bed.

Yennefer looked angrily at him, and then looked away. She scowled, and refused to look at Geralt. He knew that she hated to admit that she was too weak to do something. She hated being unable to look after herself. If Yennefer valued anything, it was independence.

Geralt left the room, and approached the king's quarters. He knocked softly. Hendon opened the door for Geralt to enter. Tancred sat in a chair hunched over by the fire. He was not taking this situation very well. Hendon bowed and excused himself.

Geralt cleared his throat. Tancred turned to look at him. Geralt began recounting his exploration into the cave. The king sat quietly, but blanched and grew whiter and whiter as the story progressed. He gripped the arms of his chair, and his hands were completely white. When Geralt finished the tale, he stood in silence, waiting for Tancred's response. Tancred's face drooped and turned into a full grimace. "Hendon!" He shouted.

Hendon entered the quarters quickly, bowed, and stood at attention for his king's orders. "Yes, your majesty?"

Tancred looked at Hendon, "Get this miscreant, this charlatan, this swindler, this failure of a witcher out of my sight, out of my castle, out of my kingdom! Remove him forcefully! Get his whore of sorceress out too! I want them flogged if they don't leave tonight! If I see either of them again, I'll have their heads."

Hendon bowed, and gestured emphatically for Geralt to follow. They left the room, and heard Tancred throwing things in his room and roaring like an animal. "It's time for you to go. Now." Hendon spoke more calmly than Tancred.

Geralt nodded, and allowed himself to be escorted to the guest chambers. Hendon entered the room with him, to encourage them to leave. He stood in the doorway, and guards soon appeared as well. About a dozen guards stood at the ready. Geralt set the sword that he had borrowed on a chest, and strapped his own swords over his shoulder. Yennefer slowly pulled up stockings, and fastened her shoes. She stood slowly, and required Geralt's help to stand and walk. He threw their bag over his shoulder, and supported her with his other arm. They were escorted from the castle grounds. When they reached the gate, Hendon said, "Be gone by morning, or you'll regret it."

Yennefer had regained some strength, she turned around and hissed, "Don't make threats you can't keep."

Geralt pulled her away before she said anything else. They walked through the dirt streets. They villagers didn't yet know that their missing loved ones were burned in a cave. Geralt felt relief that they would be gone before the villagers found out. He led them to a stable at the gates of town. He approached the stable master. "We need a horse."

Philippa fondled the necklace she wore between her breasts while she peered at the vault door. Triss entered the room quietly and shut the door. "Hello Triss," Philippa said without turning around.

"I think we should talk, Phil."

"I suppose you're right. Let's chat," she said, turning to face Triss.

"Why do I have the feeling that I'm no longer at liberty to come and go as I please?"

"Because you're not, Triss. You're now a part of something very big, that you can't just leave. It's dangerous to even think about it. I can't leave. You can't either now."

"The other Lodge members are not a part of this plan, are they?"

"No. I haven't shared the details of this situation with them. Margarita is busy rebuilding Aretuza, Fringilla is with her cousin in Toussaint, and Francesca is refusing to leave her lands. I didn't want to involve them anyway. Or you."

"This isn't about ruling the North, then?"

"Of course not. Do you think I'd try something twice? It was a convenient lie."

"What is this Philippa?"

Philippa sighed, "I wish I could tell you, but I cannot."

Triss stayed quiet, racking her brain for answers. "What happened with Heloiza?"

Philippa looked down, and held her pale blue eyes shut.

Triss nodded. "I see. So you're not in charge here."

Philippa didn't say anything. She just looked up at Triss.

"Well we need to make a plan to get out of this."

"I can't, Triss. I'm in this. For good. It's a debt that I can never repay."

"Your eyes? You didn't do that yourself?"

"No."

"Who then?"

Philippa's resolve broke, and she whispered, "Istredd."