King Vizimir of Redania speaks at a private meeting of royals at Hagge Castle in Aedirn. Also in attendance are King Foltest of Temeria, King Demavend of Aedirn, King Henselt of Kaedwen, and Queen Meve of Lyria. King Vizimir compares the Northern Kingdoms’ tension with Nilfgaard to the fraught history between elves and humans, arguing that the elves’ retreat did nothing to dissuade humans from instigating further conflict and seizing more elven lands. Henselt takes the comparison as an insult because (according to him) elves back then did not know how to fight. The royals ultimately decide to plan a false flag operation in order to convince the Brotherhood and the other Northern Kingdoms to support a second war against Nilfgaard. They also decide to have Ciri killed so that no one can use her to claim Cintra’s throne.

A short time later, Marshal Menno Coehoorn reports news of the rulers’ summit to Emperor Emhyr var Emreis of Nilfgaard. Emhyr directs Coehoorn to send word of the meeting to the Brotherhood and asks if Rience sent a report yet. Emhyr has new orders for Rience: Kill Geralt immediately, but do not harm Yennefer.