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 sixth book from The Witcher series, and the fourth of The Witcher Saga, by Andrzej Sapkowski, entitled The Tower of the Swallow. 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, so keep an eye out for the remaining parts to follow.
Previous Parts to this Book
The Witcher Saga - The Tower of the Swallow - Part I
Chapter 3
The days after the battle where Geralt became a knight from Queen Meve were interesting, to say the least. The Queen enlisted them into her army, and Geralt did not complain as they were heading in the same direction as his company, towards Caed Dhu. As soon as word of a Nilfgaardian troop reached the army however, the Queen changed direction so they could attack and continue their guerrilla warfare tactics. This did not suit Geralt, and he requested to be dismissed. Laughable. He was in the army now. At night, himself, Cahir, Milva, Regis, and Dandelion had to sneak away, stealing some horses and other items as they did so and earning an unwanted noose around their neck if they were ever seen again, for that’s what abandoning your post brings. They managed to cross the Yaruga back at Red Timber Port, hiding amongst civilians. On the far side, the Nilfgaardian side of the river, they continued their journey. Geralt had an awful dream about Ciri, and once again mentioned going on alone. None of his company paid any attention to him. Dandelion had an awful dream also. His was about Yennifer, although he did not share the dream with anyone.
Triss is on a secret mission, incognito amongst a group of fisherman wives in Bremervood. She is listening to a tale, as a woman recalls how they found Yennifer of Vengerberg. She had flown to Skellige after escaping Montecalvo, and wound up caught in the women's fishing nets. They brought her to the jarl, Crach an Craite in Kaer Trolde on Ard Skellig. Triss could not contain herself when the woman uttered that Yennifer was dead, having killed herself with her own charms while making magic spells.
Dandelion has become secretive of late when it comes to his scribbling. Eventually the group press him to find out. He is writing a prose, “Fifty Years of Poetry” although he is still only thirty eight. It’s to be published in the future. He was writing about his companions, about their quest, and the world around them. Regis hinted that “Half a Century of Poetry” had a better ring to it, and from there the conversation flowed. Milva mentioned her stepfather and how she beat him for making advances on her, and before her eyes Dandelion scribbled it all down, no matter how much she protested. While Cahir had been accepted into the group and proved it at the battle of the bridge, Geralt still had a distrust for him. Due to Ciri. Part of Geralt still held regret for not killing Cahir on Thaneed, even though the knight had rescued Ciri from Cintra. Dandelion could not come to comprehend how Geralt felt.
Vattier de Rideaux is with the Emhyr, who is quite displeased with his spy. They have yet to find Cahir, Vilgefortz or the real Ciri. While Vattier suggest the Emhyr marries the girl they have anyway, as they need the nuptials for political reasons, Emhyr is not impressed. He demands where Lord Skellen is, while Vattier explains that Tawny Owl is busy recruiting for the unit the Emhyr requested he set up. Vattier also questions why Tawny Owl was spending money on hiring a bounty hunter to eliminate a gang of bandits, but once again the Emhyr is unimpressed by Vattier. He wants results and facts, not to hear about them.
As Vattier was finishing for the day and pondering going home to his wife, a tele-projection of Rience appeared before him. Created by Vilgefortz. Rience informed Vattier they could bring him Cahir’s head, as they knew he had been in Queen Meve’s army and who he was with now. All Rience needed in return was information on Tawny Owl. Back in bed with his eighteen year old wife Carthia van Canten, he tells her everything. Especially how he had spies amongst Tawny Owl and will know more about his plans before even Rience does. Little does Vattier realise, the very next day his wife tells Assire var Anahid about everything he told her.
Geralt and co had stumbled upon a bee keeper and his family in the forest. The keeper had kindly welcomed them into his home, after a short mix-up where it was thought he was a werewolf due to how hairy he was. While conversing in his home, the bee keeper explained how the Druid’s were no longer at Caed Dhu. They had been driven out by Nilfgaard and were now apparently on the slopes of the mountains. The following morning there was a large gathering outside the beekeepers shanty, as the other bee keepers and trappers in the area had arrived with wagons loaded with goods. They were heading for the slopes and wanted Geralt and his comrades to accompany them, keeping the safe in return for guidance and food. Suspicious, Geralt questioned the keeper, and under the advice of Regis it was decided they would go with them. For the Druid’s we’re not at Card Dhu. They might be in the slopes. They might not. Better to aim for somewhere than idle around for nowhere.
Centuries later, two corpses are found of a man and a woman, along with a tube bearing the Lyrian seal. It has been preserved for all these years, and it is Dandelions. Inside are his “Half a Century of Poetry” writings. The tube is stolen by three young men, thinking they will find ancient riches inside. When they finally open it and discover it is letters and writing, they burn the pages thinking it is witchcraft. Dandelions work which could have been a historical fact instead ended up as burnt paper and nothing more.
Chapter 4
Joanna Selborne is a witness at trial, explaining to the court how she is a psionic and a telepath. She was employed under Tawny Owl the previous year, as part of twenty two hired mercenaries to act on behalf of the Empire. She had encountered Skellen for the first time in mid September, at Fort Rocayne.
Dacre Silifant has arrived at Tawny Owl’s office having spend twenty two days gathering the finest warriors he could for Skellens hanza. Among the lieutenants were Neratin Ceta and Dufficey Kriel. Skellen and Dacre are unsure of Ceta’s gender, but know they have a fierce warrior and that’s what matters. They went and inspected the rest of the troops. Murderers, thieves, sadistic killers, all one in the same. Tawny Owl was pleased with the bunch, and reminded them they will be employed by the empire but are in no way to flaunt it or let it be known. They are a secret unit and will conduct their assignments in discretion.
Joanna continues to explain to the court how after they had all metn Tawny Owl he had requested to speak to her personally. She confirmed her ability as a psionic, and was required by Tawny Owl to use her talents on a mysterious personage, a teenage lad, Nycklar. He had been captured by Tawny Owls men for he was present when Bonhart killed the Rats and captured Falka. The lad had seen Falka be given a collar by Bonhart when he dragged her into the Chimera's Head tavern after the battle. Nycklar was paid by Bonhart to deliver letters to his associates, Master Esterhazy, a sword smith in Fano, and Houvenaghel, a merchant from Claremont. Within Bonhart had given a secret code for them to flee, according to the mercenaries. Tawny Owl ordered his lieutenants to organise the troops and search for these people, while Nycklar explaining how he had gotten a good look at Falka. Ciri had been forced to strip naked and remove all jewellery so Bonhart could ensure she had no magical items, before throwing her rags on. He beat her twice more that day, and had her collared like a dog. She reclused inside herself, like when the trappers caught her after her trek through the desert.
Soon after the interrogation of Nycklar, Joanna and her group were sent to find Bonhart and Falka, with Ceka and Borus Mun led the group of eight. The group discusses the assignment on their way, questioning why they are going after Bonhart. Apparently the bounty hunter went against his word, as Tawny Owl had paid him to kill Falka instead of keeping her alive. It was their mission to find out why this girl was so important for Bonhart to keep her breathing. It was not for the Baron of Casadesi, for Bonhart refused to hand the girl over when four of his men came for her. The same men who had killed Hotspurn. They feared the night of Bonhart, and left him having broken his oath to the Baron, before Bonhart took Falka to Fano.
Joanna and her group arrived in Fano, where they went straight to swordsmith Esterhazys abode. He was unwilling to give up information on Bonhart at first, and then Joanna used her psionic abilities to make him speak. Bonhart had been there four days prior, with a girl named Falka. Bonhart had brought her there to get her a proper sword, as he had stated in the letter. Esterhazy made Bonhart remove the collar from Ciri, as he would not allow it in his house. They proceeded to the back, through the courtyard, where his wares were kept. Ciri was given a sword to try out, and Bonhart briefly sparred with her but she was no match for him. The bounty hunter sneered he knew who she was and would make her reveal it, before making Esterhazy get the special sword just for Ciri. It was an elven mandala, and it was inscribed with a symbol of chaos and destruction; a tower being struck by lightning with a swallow above it. A Zireael; Ciri’s name. A genuine gnomish gwyher. Esterhazy gave Ciri the sword as a free gift, for what was to come about was to come about. Bonhart would not let her hold it, not yet.
The bounty hunter took Ciri to Claremont next, to a large house in the town square. They were at Houvenaghel’s abode. Bonhart and the merchant discussed a multitude of matters, including how Houvenaghel planned to getting men to sign up for the ploys of lands in the north as part of the extended empire and sign them over to him. He may need Bonhart at hand to ensure they do as they agree. Matters turned to Ciri, and she realised from their talks what they planned to do with her, willing or not.
There were three members of the group with Houvenaghel. The marchioness de Nementh-Uyvar, Nilfgaard captain Lord Declan Rod aep Maelchlad, and Mayor of Claremont, Lord Pennycuick. Bonhart forced Ciri to take the strong drug Fisstech, and during the euphoric high she was brought to the amphitheatre. Ciri was shoved into the pit which had been dug out in the centre of the arena. The crowd roared and booed. The Baron of Casadei’s men arrived, led by Windsor Imbra, while Ciri was feeling the full effects of the drugs. They wanted Falka, but the Mayor, and the crowd, wanted her for entertainment, and the Baron had no ruling power in Claremont. Bonhart made it simple, he did not care for the girl, if they wanted her, they merely needed to enter the arena and claim her. He threw the sword acquired in Fano into the arena for Falka to defend herself with.
Imbra wanted Falka alive, to bring her back to the baron, but his men were goaded and spurred on by the promise of thirty florins for whatever man would face her in the arena and emerge alive. The only condition was no armour, as Falka had none. A warrior named Stavro stepped forward and jumped into the arena. Falka warned him not to do it. He claimed "business is—" but before he could finish she did a move known as “three little steps” to feint him and pin him against the the barrier. She did not kill, and exclaimed to the crowd that she would not kill. Embarrassed, Stavro saw his chance to strike her from behind, but again she was again too quick, leaving him face down in the sand. Falka roared at that crowd to stop, if they wanted blood they could come down themselves and get it. Two more of Imbra’s troop entered the arena alongside Stavro. They tried to gang up on her but in the blink of an eye Falka displayed her swords skills and sliced them, leaving two lifeless and one badly wounded. Again she roared at the crowd to stop.
Imbra and his men removed the wounded and dead, and the crowd roared for him to attack Falka or he will be known as a coward. She warned him not to. He turned to leave as the crowd jeered. Before departing he warned Falka that she will merely be sport for Bonhart forever, until they get tired of her and kill her. She will be forced to battle daily until they have had their fill. Ciri took the sword and pressed it against her chest, about to kill herself. Just don’t cry she thought. She couldn’t do it. She didn’t have it in her to did and give up.
Vysogota listened so intently to all of this take in his cabin in the woods with Ciri, that he almost forget he was holding a pelt. More than two weeks had passed since he found Ciri and still the tale was nowhere near complete.
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
Have a great day.
Peace. CryptoGod-1.
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