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 fourth book from The Witcher series, and the second of The Witcher Saga, by Andrzej Sapkowski, entitled Time of Contempt. Within the overall review 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 four part series for this book, so keep an eye out for the remaining parts to follow.

Previous Parts to this Book

The Witcher Saga - Time of Contempt - Part I

Chapter 3

Geralt has accompanied Yennifer to the gathering at Thanedd. Feeling like he will be out of place, as this will be an event full of spies and customary greeting, Geralt attends with Yennifer nonetheless. He will do anything for her now, after their talk on the causeway, but also he hopes to lure out the sorcerer who sent Rience after Dandelion, Geralt, and Ciri. Yennifer and Geralt mingle and meet many interesting sorcerers and sorceresses, as they politely roam around the grand hall. The females are greedily showing off their sublime figures, leaving little to the imagination as some do not even bother to cover their delicate areas with more than transparent material. The pair encounter Triss, who Yennifer scolds in private and makes it clear that Geralt is hers. As they wander through the gathering, Geralt admits he is in love with Yennifer, and she says it back to him. She must mingle and leaves Geralt alone, as he encounters some interesting characters including Dijkstra and Philipa Eilhart. Djikstra makes a proposition to Geralt, which the Witcher is unimpressed by, noting how all are there to spy or on business bar himself. Philipa on the other hand promises to reveal her knowledge regarding Rience to the Witcher the following day, but for now they must mingle. As Geralt discovers the members of the Council and Charter of Magicians, he learns that Yennifer is their newest member since her heroics at the battle of Sodden. Vilgefortz, the youngest and one of the most efficient and talented members of the Chapter, request a private chat with Geralt.

The pair take a tour of the history of magicians, portrayed by a variety of paintings completed by the students in Aretuza. These paintings show different significant events from the history of the sorcerers dating back to when they first arrived on these shores. The pair are joined by Lydia van Bredevoort, the mute secretary of Vilgefortz. As Vilgefortz explains the history and prolific events of the magicians past, he reveals to Geralt how some of the most ancient and famous are still alive, including Tissaia, and the oldest living sorcerer, Hen Gedymdeith. Vilgefortz takes Geralt outside and in the distance shows him where the Council and Chapter members will gather for private discussions the following day, a place known as Garstang. Above it lies the tower of Tor Lara - The Tower of Gulls, which according to elvish traditions contains a portal to Tor Zireael - The Tower of Swallows. The portal was blocked due to it being wrapped irreversibly and had caused casualties when previus mages had tried to use it. Legend says Tor Zireael was the mythical seat of Elven mages and sages.

The pair continue their conversation, where Vilgefortz  questions Geralt if the Witcher ever considered becoming a sorcerer. He then offers Geralt the chance to do so, which is immediately laughed off by the Witcher. Their conversation moves onto heritage, which Vilgefortz has been looking into regarding Geralt, and is aware of Geralt's elvish mother. He explains to the Witcher how he came from abandonment, found by druids until his magic revealed itself. Only after falling for a sorceress and realising he did not love her, instead hated her due to the fact she was exactly as his mother, did Vilgefortz decide to pursue his education in magic. Geralt is then told he must choose a side, as remaining neutral is not an option when the choice is between life and death. Geralt is unmoved, and unwilling to pick a side, but shows his true colours once Ciri is mentioned. He will not allow any harm to befall her, that is the side of the White Wolf.

Back in their chamber, Geralt and Yennifer are reminiscing about the events of the night, and Geralt is explaining all that was discussed to his beloved sorceress. They made love and pondered what shall happen next. Yennifer has all she desires in Geralt, and he the same with her. She reads his thoughts, and enjoys his ideas of them settling down and building a house together. A place where Ciri, Triss, Dandelion, and co could visit them. A nice dream. An unachievable dream. They continue making love into the night, not worrying about their noise or the others slumbering in the chambers near them, including Ciri.

Chapter 4

Ciri is awoken by a scream from Yennifer, and remembers how the sorceress was displeased that Ciri had fled to Hirundum, even though it reunited both her and Geralt. She had been dreaming again, this time seeing through the eyes of a cat, the cat of Codringher and Fenn. To her horror Ciri watches as the pair discuss who she really is, the child of Elder Blood, destined to carrying a son who will destroy and reshape the world. As she is observing this, a trio arrive and slaughter Codringher after he open the door, before setting the office ablaze and burning Fenn alive. They discovered the info the pair had unearthed, and were sent under the guidance of Rience. Ciri awakens with no memory of her dreams, but instead she remains in a sweaty haze. 

A coup has been staged, with a large cost of life a result of it. Viglefortz has been captured, while Lydia is found dead by her own dagger. The eldest of all the sorcerers, Hen Gedymdeith has almost died of a heart attack. The "loyal" members of the chapter anticipated the treachery from the other members of the chapter, and apprehended them in the early hours of the morning. Geralt, for all his luck, needed to answer natures call, and wound up in the middle of the events. Dijksta captures the Witcher, and brings him to Philipa. Nilfgaard had promised the traitors freedom, along with lands to rule with their brethern and the elves. All this would be theirs once the humans were slaughtered and eliminated. Viglefortz had lists of the traitors, hidden within the kingdoms throughout the lands, with plans to now use them as puppets before their execution. The council has captured nearly all the members of the chapter for treason, and Geralts immediate thoughts are of what has happened to Yennifer.

Djikstra and the Redanian guards are leading Geralt away, planning on releasing him far enough away from the gathering at Thaned so he cannot interfere and try rescue Yennifer. Djikstra informs Geralt that he plans on using the Witcher to get Ciri from the school before bringing her to King Vizimir. Geralt takes a pause to have a drink of water, and in this moment attacks the guards and Djikstra with all his might. Dandelion arrives just in time, giving Geralt his sword, along with Ciri's, and informs the Witcher that the girl is missing. In the escape, Geralt manages to break Djikstra's ankle to stop the spy following him. In this moment he has committed treason of his own. Geralt rushes back to the chambers, but Yennifer is nowhere to be found. He does not know what has happened to her, but assumes she has been taken to Garstang along with the others.

Total war has erupted in the Tower by the time Geralt arrives, as the Scoia'tael have been snuck in by the treacherous mages. As Geralt attempts to gain access, he is foiled by the Scoia'tael and battling mages. He makes it across on his second attempt, and encounters a sorceress by the name of Keira Metz. She has been thrown from a window by Terranova, and by luck landed on Geralt who broke her fall. He gives her aid, in return for her showing him a way into the Tower. During this time she reveals exactly what has happened to the Witcher:

'Viglefortz, Francesca, Terranova, and Fercart have been accused of siding with the Nilfgaard to ensure another battle similar to Sodden does not take place. It is Philipa who is making the accusations, with Tissaia remaining neutral between all parties. As far as Tissaia is concerned, she believes the Chapter have sided with the Nilfgaard and the Elves, but the council have sided with the Kings of the Northern Realms. Blood has been shed because of all of this, and before any further arguments can take place, Yennifer bursts into the chamber with Ciri in tow. The girl is in a trance, and tells of the armed forces from Lyria committing acts of aggression against Nilfgaard. They attacked a border post in Dol Angra, and Emhyr of Nilfgaard has responded by sending armed forces into Lyria and Aedirn. War has been ignited, and the armies of Temeria, Kaedwen, and Redania are all launching on the river Yaruga. King Vizimir has been assassinated, and Tissaia interjects that it was really Philipa who had the ruling power in Redania for a long time in her role at the Kings Court.'

Horrified by what happened and ensuring Keira is alright, Geralt pleads with her to finish the tale of what happened, and where Ciri is.

'Tissaia proceeded to life the spell binding the accused Viglefortz, Francesca, Terranova, and Fercart. This was her mistake, as in that moment, free, they used their magic to allow the Scoia'tael in. Immediately, fighting erupted and many were left dead. Amongst the Scoia'tael are Reince and the Nilfgaard solider with the winged helmet.'

At this moment Geralt can wait no longer, and leaves Keira to her wounds so her could find Yennifer and Ciri. 

Yennifer manages to lead Ciri to safety during the battle, taking her towards a flight of stairs. Here she explains there is a horse in the stables at the bottom of the stairs, and Ciri must take it and escape, bidding farewell to the girl. Ciri is frightened and confused after her trance, but does as she is told. As Ciri looks at Yennifer for the final time, the sorceress exclaims 'I love you, my daughter.' As Ciri is running down the stairs she encounters two elves and a man. Dashing down a corridor towards a window, she manages to climb onto the ledge outside. She is trapped between the Elves at one side and the man at the other, none other than Rience! Bravely, Ciri jumps, and manages to land safely thanks to her training at Kaer Morhen. As she is running to escape, Terranova catches her. He ponders what reward Emhyr will give him for capturing Ciri, but it reamins nothing more than a fleeting thought. An owl, Philipa, swoops down upon him, disorientating him and tearing at his eyes. As the old traitor tries to heal himself, Geralt appears and finishes the job.

Geralt and Ciri run for it, and are chased by the knight with the winged helmet from Nilfgaard, Cahir. Geralt returns her sword to Ciri, and tries to slow their chasers as Ciri runs on ahead to safety. Cahir managed to catch up with Ciri and traps her, leaving the girl terrified in fear. Instinctively, her Kaer Morhen training kicks in, and she manages to slash him to the ground with her sword. As she is about to kill him, his helmet has flown off, and all she sees before her is a young man following orders. Before his allies arrive, Ciri runs away, leaving him to his wounds. As the Scoia'tael try to assist Cahir, Geralt appears and slashes the group of Elves and Dwarves to death with calmness and precision. He stands above Cahir, as the Nilfgaard knight pleads for mercy. 'Why?' questions Geralt. It is here that Cahir reveals it was he who saved Ciri and got her out of Cintra when the city was burning. Geralt leaves him be, and the knight faints.

Ciri has fled to the Tower of Tor Lara, to avoid the pursuing Scoia'tael. Geralt chases after her, and here he encounters Viglefortz at the only entrance to the tower. Geralt is ready to fight until the death to save the child, as Viglefortz reveals it was him who sent the assassins after Geralt, along with him siding with Emhyr ling ago. The Witcher, in his fury, made the grave mistake of battling the sorcerer. Viglefortz had power unbeknown to Geralt, power strong enough to kill the Witcher, breaking his body along the way. Nearly dead but still alive, while unaware of what happened to Ciri, Geralt is being treated by Triss for his wounds. Tissasia is repelling the invading royalists, exclaiming the island still belongs to the Chapter. Tissaia banishes Triss for her part in the revolt, but indignantly helps the sorceress aid Geralt and teleport him away before Djikstra and the guards can lay their hands on him.

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 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 from the Witcher, it is available here: The Witcher: The Sword of Destiny

The Witcher Saga

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

Have a great day.

Peace. CryptoGod-1.

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