In the eighth episode of The Witcher Season 4, Geralt's band of adventurers embark on a perilous journey across Nilfgaard to reach Caed Dhu, the druids' enclave. As they seek a ferry to cross the river, a flashforward reveals the ageless storyteller, Striborg, continuing to weave Geralt's tale. The young and now-adult Nimue arrives, revealing that Geralt's crew would come to be known as the hanza.
The journey is fraught with danger as various factions of soldiers along the riverbanks mistake the hanza for their enemies and launch attacks every few miles. The river opens into a treacherous sea that poses a threat to Regis, prompting Geralt to decide to disembark. They reach a bridge held by the Northern armies, but just as they do, Milva suffers a miscarriage. Nilfgaard is poised to take the bridge, and if they succeed, Milva's fate would be sealed. Regis and Jaskier tend to Milva while Geralt, Cahir, and Zoltan assist the North in fending off the Nilfgaardian assault. Queen Meve is about to join them when a troll strikes. Geralt not only saves Cahir but also slay the troll, allowing Meve to cross the bridge unscathed. Impressed by Geralt's bravery, Meve grants him the honor of knighthood as Sir Geralt of Rivia, fulfilling his childhood dream. However, the oath ends with Geralt vowing eternal allegiance to Meve, a decision he regrets deeply.
As for Yen, she returns to Montecalvo with news of the fake Ciri. Philippa feels hopeless, but Yen finds a new path. They will form a new Sisterhood, with the remaining mages agreeing to join and protect each other. Yen asks Triss to track Vilgefortz using the knife Vesemir wounded him with. She also asks Triss to rebuild Aretuza as she prepares to confront Vilgefortz, even if it means her own death. Triss agrees reluctantly and sends Yen through a portal to Stygga Castle.
Meanwhile, Vilgefortz kills his remaining mages and harnesses their power in preparation for Yen's attack, setting the stage for a cat-and-mouse game between the two powerful mages that will test their wits and wills to the limit.
Let's embark on an enchanted journey through the realm of The Witcher's world, where the tale of Nimue unfolds like a poetic scroll. A budding mage, Nimue, shares her aspirations with Striborg, longing to tread the paths of magic and knowledge at Aretuza, a sanctum reborn after a century-long hiatus. Her heart beats in harmony with Ciri's, a connection she cannot shake, believing her destiny intertwined with that of the elusive child. As a parting gesture, Striborg bestows upon Nimue a cherished volume—Jaskier's poetic chronicle of the hanza's exploits—a testament to the bard's ascension to viscountly heights.
Meanwhile, in the dark underbelly of Jealousy, Leo plays his own brand of twisted theater with the Rats, a pack determined to slay him for their leader's throne. Despite their absence of Ciri, Mistle's resolve remains unshaken. As they make their presence known, Leo emerges, his eccentricity cloaking a ruthless predator. One by one, he dispatches the Rats with a brutality that echoes through the streets. His quest for Ciri's whereabouts sees Kayleigh as the final stand, her refusal triggering Leo's final flourish. Ciri's arrival is met with fury and a fierce fight that echoes through the city's chambers. Though her bravery shines bright, her might is no match for Leo's mastery. Intrigued by her identity and fueled by a higher reward, Leo binds Ciri in chains, forcing her to witness his gruesome act—the beheading of the Rats.
As Season 4 nears its climax, Xarthisius presents Emhyr with a captive monster, a creature tasked with tracking down and terminating Geralt. To aid its quest, Emhyr imbues it with Renfri's brooch, a relic left behind by the witcher at the Nilfgaardian checkpoint in the previous season. With this grim specter in pursuit, the stage is set for a new chapter in the Witcher's saga, where fate, magic, and destiny intertwine in a web of intrigue and violence.
