Good day everyone,
I hope you are all having a good day, welcome to CryptoGod-1's blog on all things gaming and literature. Today I will be doing an analysis and review of the seventh book from The Witcher series, and the fifth book of The Witcher Saga, by Andrzej Sapkowski, entitled The Lady of the Lake. Within I will break down the chapters and give an overview of what happens within the story, with a conclusion on the overall book at the end. This will be done in a six part series for this book due to the number of chapters, so check out the previous parts linked in below and keep an eye out for the remaining parts to follow.
Previous Parts to this Book
The Witcher Saga - The Lady of the Lake - Part I
The Witcher Saga - The Lady of the Lake - Part II
The Witcher Saga - The Lady of the Lake - Part III
The Witcher Saga - The Lady of the Lake - Part IV
The Witcher Saga - The Lady of the Lake - Part V
Chapter 7
Condwiramurs was busy gazing over a number of etching's consisting of Ciri, a black mare, and a unicorn. According to Nimue, that was the only part of the story all historians agreed upon, as it was a fairy tale. The lady of the lake mentioned her belief that Ciri emerged from nothingness, over some lake or other, perhaps constantly the same lake.
Ciri, Kelpie, and Ihuarraquax had been travelling through time and space but were yet to arrive in her world. They had encountered a ridiculous boor in chequered clothing, filthy shabby heads with clubs, and even knights of the Teutonic Order all alongside lakes. Ciri did not want to complain, but she pleaded to Ihuarraquax to get them home quickly, as her friends needed her.
At eighteen years of age, a young Nimue had been by the lake with her lover. Sprawled out on a cloak, they were in the process of making love when a flash appeared before her. Suddenly a girl, a black mare, and a unicorn were floating in the air above her. Nimue knew that tale, for the wandering storyteller Pogwizd had told it to her. Ciri bemoaned to Ihuarraquax they were in the wrong time, and before Nimue could scream for them to stay, Ciri was gone in a flash.
Ciri, Kelpie and Ihuarraquax continued travelling through time and space, each time arriving near a lake. They visited a world with a blackened sky, horrific stench, and rubbish everywhere. Ciri reassured herself that it was the past, not the future. A world with continuous rainfall, and another with two moons instead of one. None were the right place or time. The next place they arrived in was a seashore, packed with seagulls and the carcass of a giant fish. As Ciri pondered if this could be her world, suddenly she heard a cracking in the air, and suddenly the Red Riders appeared. She galloped on Kelpie, while the riders closed in on her. Ihuarraquax showed Ciri a gap in the wall of her pursuers, and she rode with all her might from their grasp. Urging Kelpie on, they rode and rode until eventually she was away from the riders. She did not know what had happened to Ihuarraquax, and as she moved through time and space, she was alone, a vagabond.
Condwiramurs and Nimue were in discussion on the terrace, and Nimue felt that night would be a good night. While the king fisher cursed below, she pushed Condwiramurs to focus. It was the last night before the summer solstice. Nimue instructed Condwiramurs to search for her, search for Ciri among the stars and the moonlight.
Ciri travelled from place to place, from burning cities to worlds with two legged lizards fighting. None were home. She grew more confident in her abilities and realised she could aim for places. She thought of the world with two moons, and on her second attempt, they landed there. She was not so lucky with managing time, almost landing in the fire of a burning city when trying to arrive after, or before, the fire had begun. She thought of of Temple of Melitele, but arrived in a swamp. She aimed for Kaer Morhen, the Isles of Skellige, even the bank in Gors Velen. None were a success. She dared not think of Cintra, as Nilfgaard were in control of the city, so she aimed for Vizima, the city where Yennifer had taken her shopping.
An astrologer Aarhenius Krantz was busy gazing at the stars, and more importantly at the comet in the night sky which he considered its omen of war. The war with Nilfgaard had long since started, but perhaps he could figure out when the comet would next appear, and predict the next Great War. Suddenly below his terrace, to his amazement, appeared a girl and a black horse. She asked when and where they were. Krantz was too astonished to answer, and in a flash, the girl was gone.
Fed up with not knowing where she was, Ciri decided to think of Geralt and aim for him next. Before she knew it, herself and Kelpie landed in a blizzard upon a mountain. She urged Kelpie to move forward so her mare would not freeze in the snow.
Geralt and his company came across tracks in the snow, tracks that could only belong to a horse. Intrigued and drawn to them, Geralt instructed his troop to follow them. However, the tracks soon disappeared, vanishing in the snow. Confused and unaware of what they were, they turned back to follow the river track. Frozen in the cold, they knew the real winter only began once they reached the Malheur pass.
Ciri found herself along a moor, but it was not the same one she had previously been too. Kelpie rode along the forest edge until Ciri noticed a track. She decided to follow it, and along the way encountered an old man. Forrest Gramps. He was old and withered with a stick to walk, and offered to give her food and water at his home. He claimed to know she had travelled across time and space, and with Ciri so hungry, she agreed. Once there Gramps gave Kelpie hay, and when the chance arose, he smacked Ciri in the head with his stick. He smacked her again, and leapt on her. Pulling down her pants, he was determined to have her. Ciri was trapped, but suddenly Kelpie arrived and bit Forrest Gramps by the hair and dragged the old man off her. He ran and grabbed an axe, swinging at Ciri, who just managed to grab her sword and fend him off. Ciri warned him, but he lunged at the young Witcher girl. A couple of skilful swings of her sword and he was on the ground, dead. Ciri searched his shack and to her horror found half of a child’s corpse hanging in the cellar. She realised had Forrest Gramps not been needing some sexual gratification, she could have been his next meal. Her arm was injured from the attack, but Ciri knew it would alright. She set fire to the shack and ensured it was destroyed, before setting out in Kelpie and getting away from this awful world.
Nimue and Condwiramurs were once again on the terrace, in conversation while the sun set in a majestic fashion. Nimue explained to Condwiramurs how the white frost which would destroy the world, as prophesised by Ithlinne, was in fact true. From the curvature of the earth to the elliptical way the earth circled the sun, it meant winters were getting harsher. A mere one hundred years ago vines grew and flowers blossomed where they no longer could. Nimue knew the destroyer of the world was the ice from the north, and it would, within 300 years according to her, destroy civilisation. The one who could have saved the world, Ciri, for reasons unknown, the one who had the opportunity to open a path to hope, turned her back on it.
Ciri next found herself in a port, but one filled with a foul stench and odour. Death wrangled the air as Ciri passed corpse after corpse among the screaming of pain. The nightmare would stay with Ciri forever, as she became covered in fleas. She leap through space and time with Kelpie, and found herself in another port. To her dismay, she realised she was in Nilfgaard. Quickly she got out of there, but before she did, a flea which had managed to travel on her clothing leapt onto the docks. It found a rat to nestle on, and that rat found its way onto a barge called Catriona. That barge would go down in history for all the wrong reasons, although nobody knew it at the time.
Ciri continued to jump through space and time and she next found herself at a tavern, which she believed to be the Black Cat Inn. She entered and gestured for food, cutting off a silver button in payment. She ate her food and dozed off, seeing Jarre marching with soldiers. Next she saw Yennifer with her hands destroyed, and as she called to her Mummy suddenly Coën was telling her to toughen up. She suddenly saw Eredin, claiming she could run, but he made it clear they would catch her. They would find her once she reaches the Spiral, and he would have her. Ciri was awoken by the innkeeper, and the kind and warm lady saw Ciri off as she rode away on Kelpie. Ciri was in France, and soon leapt once more.
Nimue and Condwiramurs were suddenly not alone. Condwiramurs screamed, while Nimue remained calm. Ciri had arrived above the lake, sitting atop Kelpie. Nimue immediately sprang into action, and cast an incantation to open a portal. She screamed for Ciri to enter, for it was the way home. She called out to Ciri that she had met her before, and Ciri remembered. The Witcher girl thanked them, and rode through the portal of worlds. Once it closed, Condwiramurs broke into tears and hugged Nimue, while both of them wished the girl luck.
Chapter 8
Julia “Pretty Kitty” Abatemarco and her mercenaries were preparing for what would become known as the battle of Brenna. They had reconnaissance information regarding the Nilfgaardian army, who had sent some 40,000 Calvary to stop the reinforcements at the fortress of Mayena. Pretty Kitty had rode out with her scouts to see with her own eyes the troops heading their way. She planned how to ambush them, with the leader of the Free Company Adam ‘Adieu’ Pangratt. They scouted the terrain, an area with hills and fishponds, perfect for a command position among the smooth level ground. They had sent messengers to King Foltest.
The land was desolate, having seen a settlement burned to the ground by the Scoia’tael the previous year. King Foltest and his Constable Jan Natalis stood atop the hill, looking over the battlefield. Their 12,000 strong Temerian and Redanian infantry were protected by 10,000 Calvary. To the right was the Volunteer Regiment, including the Mahakam Dwarves, and to the left were the Redanian Royal Corps. About two miles across from them the Nilfgaardian Field Marshall Menno Coehoorn deployed his troops. A forest of standards and spears, and an army of 46,000 stood like a black wall. Many years later Jarre was writing his version of the battle from memory, as an old man while looking after his grandchildren.
Nilfgaard stood on, waiting, as Menno Coehoorn studied his maps of the area. As he looked upon his men, he made it clear they would begin only once his scouts had returned to inform him of what lay beyond the hills. Menno was troubled by them and needed to know what he faced. His two scouts finally returned after venturing a mile or so into enemy territory, ascertaining no enemy was waiting for them there. However, they had not gone beyond the hills to fully ensure it. Once back with Menno Coehoorn, he gave the order to attack.
A halfling known as Rusty, although named Milo Vanderbeck, was preparing with three nurses for the battle ahead. Their job would be to treat the wounded as best they could. The nurses comprised of two girls and a woman. The girls were Iola from the Temple of Melitele, and Shani from Oxenfurt. The sorceress and healer called Marti Sodergren was also with them. He cursed his luck that they were four gingers, and reminded the women their raison d’être was to help those in need.
King Foltest was informed by Constable Jan Natalis that the Nilfgaardian army had set off. The battle was about to begin. The young ruler ordered his men to meet them with dignity. Death to the black cloaks.
Jarre struggled to find the words to describe just how gruesome that day was. The moment the battle began, when the two armies clashed.
The Nilfgaardian Calvary division known as Alba thrust into the wedge of the Temerian infantry. They pressed hard into the armoured warriors, their horses trampled and slipped in dead soldiers blood. The infantry were stronger than they looked, and held firm, ensuring the Calvary were surrounded as they rode into the soldiers. Hacking, stabbing, clawing, bit by bit men fell to their death, including the lieutenant Oberst Eggebracht of Nilfgaard. As his standard feel, fellow warrior Devlin aep Meara slashed and battled, wondering why, what all this was for, and who was the cause of this bloodshed.
Novice Nimue, a mere fourteen years old at the time, recalled in her class how the battle of Brenna had happened. The sorceresses Lodge had caused the battle, the bloodshed, the inhumane fighting. Assire and Phillipa had contrived to ensure the battle took place, the result of which led to the forced signing of the “Peace of Cintra.”
Rusty and the girls were kept extremely busy, with wounded solider after solider arriving on their table. An amputee, a man with his gut sliced open. Rusty, experienced as can be, was used to the horrors a doctor could face. His helpful ladies not so much, but they did as they could to save each and everyone who arrived for their aid. Rusty ensured that the girls got practice, whether or not they wanted it, in dealing with all sorts of wounds. As much as they tried, not everyone survived.
The war raged on and Nilfgaard were striking through at all angles. The true strength of the valiant Mariborian, Vizimian, and Tretorian armoured companies held strong and put it up to the fierce Nilfgaard army. The Free Company were needed to reinforce the right wing, although at a high price of blood, while the dwarven company were in danger of being surrounded. Jan Natalis sent a messenger, Cornet Aubry, on a mare called Chiquita to reach dwarf Colonel Barclay Els. Cornet rode as fast as he could, getting entangled in the raging battle and encountering Pretty Kitty. Her mercenaries battled the Nilfgaardian soldiers as they brought Cornet to Els. His orders were for them to fall back as the Nilfgaardian troops were about to breach. Only then, covered in blood of the fallen Nilfgaard soliders, did he realise he was too late. Pretty Kitty scoffed, Els grinned. The dwarf merely told the lad that he was not late, but that Nilfgaard were early. Els and Pretty Kitty argued over the orders, blaming the men from Brugge for not holding out. Els summoned Yarpen Zigrin and Dennis Cranmer, who were bespattered in blood from the heaviest of fighting. Els informed them, along with Cornet, that they would make it back to King Foltest and Constable Natalis.
Cornet was amazed as he witnessed the dwarves marching in line, surrounded on all sides by raging Nilfgaardian warriors. They marched and battled, in line and singing their song, with the Free Company among them. The mercenaries fought hard, and pushed back the Nilfgaardian offensive. However, a Nilfgaardian warrior broke through and managed to hack a dwarf down. Cornet sliced him in the head, but he himself got knocked from him horse. The seventeen year old had no chance to scream, as his skull was crushed by iron-shod horse hooves almost immediately.
Shani was struggling with the pressures of wounded solider after solider. She prayed for Melitele to help her. As much as she wanted to faint from the smells of puke, excrement, and blood, she wouldn’t. She struggled on as Rusty gave them order after order.
Menno ordered his units to stand by, planning his assault. The elven unit, led by Isengrim Faoiltiarna, was to strike at the junction between Temerian and Redanian units. Although they were fighting side by side, Menno felt no connection to the elves. They were alien to him.
The latest wounded warrior on Rusty’s table had not survived. He had been stabbed with a pitchfork of sorts, right in the heart. While they had managed to bring him from the battlefield to the medics tent, the man had passed. Rusty realised by the victims eyes that he was a Witcher. The soldiers explained his name was Cöen and that he had volunteered to help them. Rusty wished he could do a post mortem as it would be fascinating, but alas, more patients had arrived. Iola was crying, but she was alright.
Triss Merigold was in the Temple of Melitele while the battle raged. She pleaded with Nenneke to forgive her, but she had been convinced not to take part in the fighting. She was talked out of it, for there were more and less important matters. Nenneke, visibly angry when considering she had sent her girls, and Jarre had fled, to the battle. She merely told Triss we all have our hills to stand upon.
Rusty and his girls were saving as many as they could. Including the higher ups such as the Count of Garramore, Daniel Etcheverry. Rusty made him wait his turn, as whether peasant or royal, everyone was the same to him. When the Count was on the table, Rusty had no choice but to amputate.
King Foltest was informed that the Free Company had fallen, that Adieu Pangratt was dead, Frontino was dead, even Pretty Kitty was dead. The dwarves were holding, but only for so long. Foltest informed Natalis to send in the reserves, Bronibor with his infantry from behind the hill. Another scout arrived with a report that the elves had broken through the lines and were slaughtering all in their path.
A soldier rushed into the tent and told Rusty and the girls to run. Nilfgaard had broken through and were murdering all in their path. Rusty continued to operate on his patient, ignoring the soldiers pleas. Suddenly the soldier was struck down, causing Iola to leap away from the wounded on stretchers. Elves entered the tent. The notorious Vrihedd Brigade. The elves began striking down the wounded in the tent, stabbing those in stretchers. Iola threw herself one of the wounded before the elves could kill him. Rusty jumped to her defence, and the elves pushed him aside along with the girl. Suddenly they saw the battlement, the colonels crest. They called for their leader Yaevinn. He entered and saw the victim. Then left with the elves. Rusty and the girls stayed still, crying, with Rusty needing some hooch to calm himself. Iola curled up beside the colonel the elves almost killed. The Nilfgaardian colonel. All wounded were being treated. All victims of war.
General Blenheim Blenckert rallied his troops behind the hill, and ordered them into a trot. They would emerge in the Nilfgaardian right wing, and roar Redania as they did so, ensuring King Foltest knew that the relief had arrived.
The Nilfgaardian unit turned to fact the new prospect of the Redanian Calvary, but the soldiers of Tretegonia could not allow the Black Cloaks to organise. They charged, causing confusion in a suicidal attack. The Nilfgaardians were drove into by the Redanian Calvary and they were struck from multiple sides.
Menno cursed the scout he had sent to check beyond the hills. At least ten thousand Redanian Calvary had arrived, slaughtering the Nilfgaardian troops. Menno wanted that scout and his entire company hanged, but little did he know the scout was already being trampled by the Redanian Calvary.
The relief company was charging through the Nilfgaardian forces, with the Kaedwen Dun Banner also rushing in to provide relief. Menno and his troop quickly changed tact, as Menno ordered De Wyngalt and his troops, the 7th Daerlanain, to follow the elves and attack from the rear. They would sow confusion in the relief units, giving Nilfgaard a chance once again.
Jarre was in the second row or pikemen within the Vizimian regiments, led by Voivode Bronibor. They were standing firm, preparing for the galloping Calvary of the 7th Daerlanian Brigade. Bronibor rallied his troops to stand firm, ensuring they do not break formation. They must hold out against the Nilfgaardians, they could not falter. Their heroism on the left wing stopped the Nilfgaardian advance, as the dwarves and Free Company held firm on the right flank, and the tide of battle changed. Nilfgaard were losing, and Menno Coehoorn was out of options. He fled on horseback among a small unit of fighters, and de Wyngalt. They managed to break the lines and looked to escape over an open marshy plain, but to their dismay it was bogland. Their horses sank into the murky waters, and suddenly a group of dwarves were firing arrows upon them. De Wyngalt tried to surrender but was shot down. Menno pleaded to the dwarves on the bank that he was the commander, and should be taken alive in surrender. One of the crossbow men, Zoltan, could not understand what Menno was shouting. All he understood was the silver scorpion on the mans clothing. A bolt hit Menno in the chest, another in the hip, and a final one in the collar bone. The commander of the Nilfgaardian troops fell back into the bog, sinking as his lungs flooded with the bloodied and muddy waters of the River Chotla.
Iola stepped out of the tent, and to her amazement she encountered Jarre. He was injured, and barely conscious. She brought him into the tent, where commander Voivode Bronibor had just died on Rustys table. The halfling looked at Jarre next, and the only option was to remove the lads arm from beneath his elbow.
The victory at the Battle of Brenna saw Nilfgaard lose around 44,000 troops. Those who remained fled south, but Foltest and Natalis pursued. All Nilfgaardian troops who remained fled, with their siege units left behind. The planned assault on the North faltered, as Queen Meves guerrilla units attacked, and Kings Henselt and Demavend joined forces to drive back their Nilfgaardian invaders. The corsairs of Skellige fought their own guerrilla war to oust the remaining Nilfgaardian warriors, and those who survived fled to the strongholds of Cintra, Nastróg, Rozróg, and Badróg. Only after the peace of Cintra was signed were they allowed to honourably leave with their standards intact. Rumours abound of what happened to Menno, with none certain of his fate. Numerous high level ranking officers of Nilfgaard has perished in the famed battle of Brenna.
Rusty, Shani, Iola, and Marti only finished well after midnight. The four exited the tent and sat under the black night sky. Marti used a magical spell to clam them, while they all had a swig of vodka. Rusty pondered who had won the battle.
Two weeks later Marti died. She had gotten with an officer of the Free Company, and when she moved on to a Temerian Calvary soldier the mercenary stabbed her. He was hung for it, but nothing could be done to save the healer.
A year later Rusty and Iola died in Maribor. A plague like none had seen before, known as the Red Death or Catriona plague from the ship it was brought on, took them both. They had stayed to help the sick when other physicians fled, even though there was no cure. Both became infected. Rusty died in Iola’s arms. Four days later, she died alone.
To be continued.......
If you would like to check out my analysis on the World of the Witcher, please follow this link here: The Witcher
While if you wish to check out my review on the first book of short stories in the Witcher series, it is available here: The Witcher: The Last Wish
Finally if you want to see what I wrote about the second book of short stories from the Witcher, it is available here: The Witcher: The Sword of Destiny
The Witcher Saga
Book 1
The Witcher Saga - Blood of Elves - Part I
The Witcher Saga - Blood of Elves - Part II
The Witcher Saga - Blood of Elves - Part III
The Witcher Saga - Blood of Elves - Part IV
Book 2
The Witcher Saga - Time of Contempt - Part I
The Witcher Saga - Time of Contempt - Part II
The Witcher Saga - Time of Contempt - Part III
The Witcher Saga - Time of Contempt - Part IV
Book 3
The Witcher Saga - Baptism of Fire - Part I
The Witcher Saga - Baptism of Fire - Part II
The Witcher Saga - Baptism of Fire - Part III
The Witcher Saga - Baptism of Fire - Part IV
Book 4
The Witcher Saga - The Tower of the Swallow - Part I
The Witcher Saga - The Tower of the Swallow - Part II
The Witcher Saga - The Tower of the Swallow - Part III
The Witcher Saga - The Tower of the Swallow - Part IV
The Witcher Saga - The Tower of the Swallow - Part V
The Witcher Saga - The Tower of the Swallow - Part VI
Have a great day.
Peace. CryptoGod-1.
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