Istredd exited his house in the ancient elven town of Aedd Gynvael. He looked to the sky. A sunny day. He made his way down the cobblestone street to the mayor's house. Since the success of his excavation made the town heaps of gold, Herbolth owed him dearly. Istredd was always collected on his debts. He stepped over a puddle of sewage, and entered the mayor's home.

Herbolth sat at a table that was dwarfed in comparison to his rotund figure. He was eating, in front of him a platter of roasted Cornish hens. He cleared his throat and wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve. "Istredd. What do I owe the pleasure?"

Istredd smiled politely despite his revulsion. "Mayor Herbolth. I've come to discuss the space you promised me for my research."

"Ah, yes. Cicada is clearing the squatters from the premises momentarily."

"As it turns out, I will need more space."

"Err. If we evict any more residents, there is likely to be a revolt."

Istredd smiled again with pursed lips. "I would like to remind you, Herbolth, that my research has made this town, and more specifically you, a significant amount of gold. I told you that in exchange for this wealth, you would need to grant my requests. This is one of those requests. If I do not have your complete cooperation, there would be no more gold."

Herbolth frowned. "Yes, yes. Very well. How much more space will you need?"

"Three more shacks along the coast. I will need them to be cleared as well. Give each resident five crowns for their trouble."

Herbolth's mouth fell open. "Each resident?"

"Yes. Each. We're taking their homes, Herbolth. We're not monsters."

Herbolth stayed silent, but nodded.

"And Herbolth?"

"Yes?"

"There will likely be some sounds over the course of the next few days. Precious materials will be transported here. I would like you to make sure that no one approaches the coast where I will be working. It's very important."

"Of course."

Triss couldn't believe her ears. "Istredd? Yennefer's…?" she trailed off.

Philippa nodded. "Yes, that Istredd."

Triss stared in disbelief at Philippa, before finally whispering, "Why?" Philippa turned and walked to the decanter at the table. She poured herself a large glass, and put the crystal to her lips. She was quiet. Triss pressed, growing angry, "What is this about, Philippa?"

Philippa, having drained her chalice, closed her eyes and sighed, "Where to begin."

Some time passed as Philippa spoke and Triss listened, barely controlling the rising anger she felt in her chest.

"So then," Triss finally spoke, "this is all just a grand gesture for Yenna?"

Philippa laughed sadly, "Yes, I suppose it is. He wants power and prestige to win her back. He doesn't care who is ruined in the process. He threatens my sight if I question his plans. Do you have any idea what it's like to have your eyes gouged out, Triss? It's horrid. I wouldn't wish it upon the lowest miscreant."

Triss crossed her arms, "Well we have to figure out a way to get you out of this."

Philippa smiled sadly, "But how?"

"We need to tell Yennefer. We need the Lodge."

Philippa grimaced, "Yennefer was never truly part of the Lodge."

"Phil, we need her."

"Fine, Triss. We need her. But he can't know that we've contacted them. You don't understand how powerful he's become. Istredd has created a magical system that monitors all megascope communication."

"He's what? He's spying on all of the mages? Why?"

"It's how he's been watching Yennefer. He's viewed every megascope conversation that mentions her or anyone close to her."

"Very well. I'll teleport."

He patted her on the side of the neck, and whispered "Not bad, Roach." The horse traversed the rocky mountain pass carefully and slowly. Geralt stayed alert, but he could feel Yennefer falling asleep as her arms around his waist loosened. "Yen?"

She jerked awake. "What?"

"Almost there."

She straightened up in the saddle behind him, and repositioned her arms. "Where are we?"

"We're nearly to Hengfors. Capital of Caingorn. Remember our time hunting dragons with King Niedamir?"

"I do." She squeezed him gently, moving her hands to his chest and placing her head against his back.

He smelled lilac and gooseberries and smiled slightly, "We'll need a roof over our heads soon."

"Since we were removed so unceremoniously from the last," Yennefer finished and then spat. "Unbelievable. I've never seen such bloody rudeness, such ingratitude. We will never return there! The whole lot of them can be taken by griffins!"

"Yen," Geralt said calmly, when he could feel her grip on him tighten from anger.

"Sorry – am I hurting you?"

"No."

"Let's hurry to an inn, darling. We've been on this horse since last night. We all need rest, and my haunches are killing me!" Yennefer groaned rubbing her backside with one hand.

Geralt chuckled, "You're not used to life on the path."

"No, I'm –," Yen was interrupted by a rustling in the woods to their right.

An elf appeared, brandishing a bow and arrow pointed directly at Geralt. His face was painted, and he wore traditional elven garb. A second appeared, also with a bow and arrow. Another, and another stepped from the brush to block the road in front of them. Five elves total emerged from the brush, all pointing their weapons at Geralt and Yennefer. The last elf to emerge, a female, was clearly the leader of this small pack of Scoia'tael. Geralt pulled on the reigns of the horse slightly to bring their travel to a halt.

The leader picked her teeth with a small dagger. She spit on the ground and returned her dagger to its sheath on a necklace around her neck. She turned her head from side to side to crack her neck, and then looked directly at Geralt. "Where are you heading, dh'oine?"

Geralt spoke first, "Hengfors."

Yennefer sighed heavily, "Get out of the bloody way. What do you think this is? You can't hold up travelers like common bandits."

"I think that bitch needs to be taught a lesson. Shall I Folie?" said the elf behind the leader. He was very muscular for an elf, but short. Geralt glared at the elf in response.

Folie, the leader elf smiled, "No." She paused, "Not yet. Look how he bristles when you insult the lady. I'd like to see that again."

Geralt bear his teeth, "Enough of this. Why have you stopped us?"

Folie frowned slightly, "You're no fun, vatt'ghern." She turned around and placed a hand on the short elf's shoulder. "Tirth, tell them what we want."

He smiled nastily, "Give us everything you've got or we'll put an arrow between your eyes before you can move."

Geralt tightened the strap on his chest, "Not gonna happen." He replied dismounting from the horse. "Turn around and go back into the woods."

Folie stepped forward and the elves steadied their bows, "Do you think we're bluffing?"

"Do you think I am?" Geralt said, reaching for his sword. Folie gave the order to shoot. All four of the other elves unleashed their arrows. Yennefer impulsively created a magical shield, but she was still not strong enough, so it could not reach the witcher. It didn't need to.

Geralt pirouetted and deflected each arrow with quick reflexes, so quick that the elves did not see him move his sword. He stood still after the first barrage of arrows was deflected. "Go back into the woods."

"No!" shouted Folie as she lunged forward, drawing her dagger. Geralt lunged to the right instinctively, slashing to his left. Folie's attack missed, and she landed on two feet, before falling to the ground. A line of blood appeared at the base of her neck. Her head, partially detached, lay awkwardly away from her body. Tirth, seeing this gory scene roared, and lifted his bow to fire again. The other three elves quickly turned and dispersed back into the woods. Tirth fired an arrow which Geralt easily deflected.

"Go! Back!" Geralt shouted.

"No!" Tirth roared, and charged Geralt. At the last second, an arrow flew from the woods and caught Geralt by surprise. Yennefer quickly shot fire into the woods, connecting with the elves that had fled. She heard three screams and returned her focus to Geralt's fight. She couldn't involve herself without hurting him too. Geralt had successfully deflected the arrow, but could not regain his momentum in time for Tirth's attack. The short, but stout elf slammed into Geralt with full force, knocking him to the ground. Geralt gasped for air, as Tirth climbed on top of him to pin him down. Geralt luckily had not let go of his steel sword in the fall. He thrust the blade and stabbed at the short elf. The tip of the sword appeared behind Tirth. Blood from the elf's belly spilled onto Geralt. But Geralt winced. The elf hit his mark. He pushed the elf off, and removed a small dagger from of his side. He rolled over to his hands and knees. Blood poured out of the gash in his side.

"Damn," Geralt said, as Yennefer leapt from the horse and ran to him. He grasped his side with one hand and grunted, "My elixirs."

Yennefer returned to the horse, and removed a small wooden box from their bag. She removed the correct vial; she knew them all by heart now. She handed him the vial, and he gulped its contents. His eye dilated, and his breath grew short. The veins on his neck bulged from under the skin. But the blood stopped flowing, the wound had congealed. Yen knew this reaction all too well. He would have a burst of energy and then desperately need to sleep. She called the horse over, and helped Geralt up. He climbed onto the horse himself, but took the rear of the saddle. Yennefer grabbed the reigns.

She pulled his arms around her, so he leaned against her back. "I'm fine, Yen."

"For now. Don't argue, witcher. Let's get to Hengfors," she said, gesturing the horse forward. "Look at us," she said gently, "truly we're getting too old for this.'

Istredd sat alone in his study. He tapped his fingers on the rune-covered skull, while inspecting a black kestrel perched in the corner. He stood and approached the bird, and reached out to stroke it lovingly. The bird froze under his touch. "She'll return soon," he whispered.

He walked to the megascope and called for Philippa. She appeared, looking somewhat haggard. Perhaps she had been in love. Perhaps what I've asked her to do is too difficult, he thought to himself. "Status update," he paused, feeling a bit guilty, "please."

Philippa reported, "the materials will be delivered to you via teleportation beginning tomorrow."

"Good. Please teleport Thom back immediately."

Philippa paused, "Certainly."

"How is Triss? Does she suspect anything?"

Philippa twitched her posture, "No, nothing strange. She would like to recruit the rest of the Lodge, and bring them here for, what she believes the goal to be."

Istredd scratched his chin and stared at Philippa. "Very well. It will keep with appearances. Is that all?"

"It is."

"Very well." He signaled to end the megascope projection. The materials are arriving tomorrow. I must prepare he thought. He opened a drawer producing plans for a large coastal fortress made of the finest materials woven with magical resources.

Yennefer approached the counter at the inn, "How much for a room for the evening?"

"That'll be fifty coppers," said the inn keep, an older woman hunched over from years of hard work.

Yennefer smiled, and placed ten crowns in the woman's hand. The innkeeper looked at Yennefer with her mouth agape. "Mistress, this is too much."

"Keep it."

The woman shuffled from behind the counter, "follow me then please, mistress."

The room they entered was at the end of a hall off of the busy tavern room. The door was flimsy, and the bed was maybe half of the size of theirs at home. There was a small wooden chair in the corner. Yennefer smiled before the woman turned to leave. She grimaced after the innkeeper had left and muttered, "hopefully she uses that money to spruce this place up a bit." She returned to the tavern, where Geralt had entered. He was beginning to move slowly, she directed him to their room, and approached the counter once more. She asked for herb crusted lamb skewers and potatoes, two carafes of wine, and one of apple juice. The inn keeper gestured for a boy to fetch the requested items. "And also a tub please."

She returned to the room. Geralt was feeling the effects of the elixir on his body. He was laying on the bed, staring at the ceiling.

"Do you feel alright?" she asked, approaching him on the bed. She leaned over him so her face was above his.

"It'll pass."

"Let me see," she said, pulling his jerkin up. He lifted himself on the bed and raised his arms. She slid off his armor and jerkin. There was a knock at the door. "I ordered a bath." Geralt groaned. The boy that Yennefer had seen helping the innkeeper carried in a large tub.

"Do you need water, mistress?"

"Please." Yen replied, digging in the bag she and Geralt shared. The boy left and returned with two large buckets of water draped over his shoulders. He poured them carefully into the tub one at a time. When he was done, he bowed, and Yennefer handed him two crowns. She immediately began undressing the witcher, who had almost completely lost consciousness. She leaned over him to check his body for wounds. The cut had congealed, but was still very bloody. She found another gouge on his arm where an arrow had grazed, also congealed. She knew he would feel sick very soon, so she prodded him to get off the bed. She helped him to the tub, and held his hands while he lowered himself slowly. He sighed when the cold water surrounded his body. It helped. She washed him, scrubbing gently all over his body. She was especially careful around his new wounds. She helped him rise out of the tub and dry off. He hobbled over to the bed and collapsed.

Yen removed her traveling clothes, and began digging through the bag until she found what she was looking for. She retrieved a small leather bag, her makeup bag. She knew that Geralt loved to watch her. She sat at the chair, facing Geralt and removed a cork on a white cream, and the room filled with the scent of lilac and gooseberries. Geralt smiled at Yennefer before his eyelids grew too heavy to keep open.