Contains spoilers for this episode and earlier episodes.
Geralt travels with Jaskier and Milva, still injured and looking for Ciri. At a raided caravan he finds Cahir being carried back toward Nilfgaard as a prisoner. He refuses to forgive the man who pursued the princess, but spares him because Ciri did the same. Zoltan and his fellow dwarves join the travellers, offering supplies and company that Geralt resists. His pain and fear for Ciri leave him impatient with every delay, even when the others are trying to help him survive the road.
Yennefer searches for Vilgefortz as unreliable portals interfere with her movements. Attacks on the remaining mages suggest he is using those routes to reach anyone who refuses him. She returns to Triss, Sabrina and Rita with the warning and interrogates Burnita, one of his followers. Vilgefortz takes control of the captive and kills her before they can make her useful against him. The surviving sorceresses face an enemy able to reach inside their own efforts to gather information.
Ciri considers leaving the Rats and travelling north, but the group offers companionship and Mistle gives her a reason to stay. Kayleigh's knowledge of the bounty threatens that welcome until Mistle intervenes. Geralt meanwhile stops soldiers assaulting a woman living alone, killing them despite the danger of attracting attention. Cahir, following the party, kills the soldier who escapes. Geralt's search keeps drawing him into the suffering along its route.