Sword of Destiny

Yennefer of Vengerberg, Geralt’s former lover and a formidable sorceress, is a crucial figure in the short story collection. Described as a slender woman with long black hair, violet eyes, and a distinctive scent of lilac and gooseberries, Yennefer can extend her lifespan through use of a potion. However, she is estimated to be around 80 years old during “The Bounds of Reason.” Notably, she is the only character aside from Geralt who is mentioned in every story of the collection.

Motivated by powerful ambitions, Yennefer is a complex character. Her pursuit of goals can be ruthless, as exemplified by her attempts to manipulate Geralt into slaying a dragon by leveraging his feelings for her. Nevertheless, she also reveals unexpected vulnerability when she subtly questions Geralt’s love. While she often seeks power and control, her deepest desire is to bear a child—an unattainable wish given that her magical powers render her infertile.

In contrast to Geralt’s initial resistance to destiny, Yennefer accepts their fated connection but emphasizes that “[d]estiny alone is insufficient, it’s too little. Something more is needed” (332). This sentiment becomes Geralt’s guiding principle throughout Sword of Destiny. Despite appearing in person in only two of the six stories, Yennefer’s presence lingers, influencing Geralt’s experiences and choices throughout the collection.

Dandelion, the renowned bard, is often seen wielding a lute and stands out for his vibrant fashion sense and flamboyant mannerisms. At age 24, he is already famous for his ballads. Despite his contrasting personality, Dandelion is Geralt’s closest friend. He is described as a slender man who is easily recognized by his colorful bonnets, which are often adorned with egret or heron feathers. As a plot device, Dandelion’s antics frequently propel Geralt into quests and predicaments that he would otherwise avoid. The bard also provides crucial exposition to flavor several different stories, and in a world primarily marked by seriousness, he injects an element of boisterous humor that contrasts with Geralt’s silent stoicism.

Serving as Sapkowski’s tribute to the power of storytelling, Dandelion often references events that he plans to turn into ballads, tweaking details for dramatic effect. While he may alter the truth, Dandelion’s versions often convey universal truths more effectively than the events themselves. Crucially, Dandelion’s primary function is to humanize Geralt and elicit the deeper, unarticulated aspects of his personality. Acting as an outlet for Geralt’s anger and irritation, Dandelion provides a space for the protagonist to express himself in uncharacteristic ways. Simultaneously, Geralt remains fiercely protective of his friend, and his refusal to leave Dandelion in jeopardy showcases the depth of their bond.

Cirilla of Cintra, who is approximately 10 years old when Geralt encounters her in the Brokilon forest, possesses fair, mousy hair and huge green eyes. She is the daughter of Duny and Pavetta, who passed away before she turned five, and she is also the granddaughter of Calanthe, the Queen of Cintra. However, Ciri’s significance to the saga extends far beyond her royal lineage; she is a “Child of Destiny” whose fate is intertwined with Geralt’s due to the Law of Surprise, which the witcher invoked as payment for rescuing Ciri’s father years ago. Possessing the rare Elder Blood, Ciri becomes a sought-after figure, coveted for her unique powers.

Driven and often impulsive, Ciri frequently acts without weighing the consequences, as exemplified by her decision to run away from Verden. Despite her behavior, Geralt adopts a protective and uncharacteristically playful attitude toward her. While Ciri evolves into a central figure in subsequent installments of the series, her role in Sword of Destiny is to symbolize the inevitability of Geralt’s fate as her protector. As such, she is a crucial catalyst for his character growth. If Yennefer aids Geralt in understanding that destiny necessitates something more, Ciri, in turn, helps him to recognize that the additional element is choice itself. Thus, Geralt’s decision to choose Ciri as his destiny makes a pivotal difference in the path that his life will take.

Queen Calanthe of Cintra is described as “a woman of iron” (335) and appears in Geralt’s dreams in both “Sword of Destiny” and “Something More.” Calanthe, who shares her granddaughter’s mousy hair and green eyes, exudes a determined nature. Throughout the narrative, she takes decisive actions to thwart destiny and safeguard Ciri. Although she initially contemplates killing Geralt to prevent him from claiming Ciri, she ultimately discards this idea for unspecified reasons. Instead, when Geralt returns six years later, she attempts to deceive him by orchestrating a scenario in which the witcher must choose the Child of Destiny from a group of children, fully aware of Geralt’s belief that the child is a boy. Calanthe eventually leaves Ciri an orphan, for the queen’s life is cut short during the Nilfgaardian attack on Cintra as she valiantly fights to defend her realm.

While Calanthe serves as an obstacle to Geralt’s destiny, she also functions as a harsh reality check. She is the first to compare Geralt to an agent of death, becoming a conduit for Geralt to articulate his beliefs about destiny. Despite her determination to actively oppose both destiny and Geralt, Calanthe does not strike Geralt as being as an enemy, and their parting is amicable. In many ways, Calanthe acts as an antagonist in Sword of Destiny, for she actively complicates Geralt’s path as he navigates the complexities of destiny and his personal convictions.

Mousesack, Calanthe’s druidic advisor, is portrayed as a formidable figure with “a flaxen, fan-shaped beard” (308). Despite his role as Calanthe’s advisor, Mousesack actively works against her interests by encouraging Geralt to take Ciri under his protection. While Mousesack is loyal to Calanthe, he maintains brutal honesty with Geralt regarding the queen’s true intentions. Additionally, he serves as a logical counterpoint to Geralt’s skepticism about destiny. Mousesack assumes an almost seer-like role in the narratives, foretelling dire consequences if Geralt resists the will of destiny. Mousesack’s guidance leads Geralt to significant personal revelations concerning his destiny, contributing to the narrative’s complex exploration of The Interplay of Choice, Chance, and Destiny.

Visenna, a sorceress, is Geralt’s birth mother. She does not struggle with the infertility that is typical of her kind, and despite her delicate stature and flame-red hair, she often dons men’s clothing and works as a healer. Notably, she refuses payment from witchers, perhaps in deference to her son. Geralt’s emotions toward Visenna are intricate and layered. The bitterness stemming from her abandonment lingers, fueling his desire to confront her about her reasons for doing so. However, when Geralt finally seeks answers, Visenna evades the question and lulls him to sleep. Visenna’s role in Geralt’s life contributes significantly to his character development. Acknowledging her belief in destiny, she reinforces Geralt’s conviction that, like Ciri, he too is a “Child of Destiny.” His unresolved resentment toward Vienna ultimately shapes his adult relationships, impacting his commitment to Yennefer and contributing to his reluctance to fully accept Ciri as his responsibility. Driven by the fear of that others might experience suffering similar to his own, particularly Ciri, Geralt begins to reconsider his destiny upon realizing that even Visenna grappled with the difficulty of leaving him behind. Thus, her brief appearance in the tale offers a more nuanced perspective of his life’s journey.