Contains spoilers for this episode and earlier episodes.
Vilgefortz attacks Montecalvo through the portal network he controls. Yennefer's novices raise a shield, forcing the invaders to spend power breaking into the castle. The witchers and sorceresses fight together, but the enemy can disappear through portals whenever the defenders gain ground. Rita and others die in the assault. Yennefer briefly traps Vilgefortz and enters his mind, discovering his plan to drain Ciri's life force. The shock gives him an opening to escape and resume the attack.
Fringilla breaks out and frees Istredd, who knows how to restore the portals. Powering the monolith machinery will kill him, but he insists on continuing. At Montecalvo, Vesemir fights Vilgefortz and is killed. Philippa releases water from the tower, giving Yennefer a defence against the fire directed at the surviving mages. Istredd's intervention then breaks the enemy's exclusive control of the portals. The defenders strike back, forcing Vilgefortz to retreat. Istredd reaches Yennefer long enough to identify Stygga Castle before dying.
Ciri and the Rats kidnap a wealthy boy for ransom. When guards intervene, she kills them with a ferocity that alarms Mistle even as Kayleigh finally welcomes her. Their celebration does not stop Bonhart closing in: he tortures survivors for information about the gang. The mages burn the Book of Monoliths, and Yennefer uses the restored portals to enter Emhyr's fortress, demanding to see the girl she still believes he holds.