Book Summary – The Tower of Swallows – The Witcher – Book 4
- Jason Montero
- Dec 14, 2025
- 24 min read
Updated: Dec 15, 2025
Book summary by chapter of The Tower of Swallows. Includes spoilers from the swamp’s first omen to the end of the book. The world folds inward around Ciri, as though every storm, every wound, every prophecy were a wingbeat driving her toward an unreal tower. Through bloodshed on ice and echoes of those she has lost, she realizes she isn’t fleeing fate but summoning it. And when the Swallow steps across the threshold, reality behind her fractures like glass under cosmic strain.
Introduction – The Tower of Swallows
Some stories don’t move forward—they fall. They plummet like a black star into a deep well, dragging prophecy, betrayal, and unfinished vengeance behind them. The Tower of the Swallow, sixth in The Witcher Saga, is no longer just a tale of witchers and sorceresses—it’s the heartbeat of destiny unraveling under its own weight.
In this novel by Andrzej Sapkowski, Ciri stops running and begins transforming. Hunted, betrayed, scarred by war and memory, she crosses swamps, frozen bloodfields, and shattered dreams until she finds what she feared the most: the tower. Not a prison—but a door. Meanwhile, Geralt walks through impossible lands, still separated by distance but drawn ever closer to the storm’s eye: the child of prophecy, the heiress of Elder Blood, the girl without a crown—but with fire in her veins.
Here, good and evil blur. What remains is choice: to kill, to survive, or to believe. If you’re new to this epic fantasy universe, check out our full reading guide: Reading order of The Witcher Universe ➤
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Chapter Navigation
Chapter 1 Summary – The Tower of the Swallow – Ciri, the Scar, and the Swamp Hermit
Chapter 2 Summary – The Tower of the Swallow – Bonhart’s Ambush and the Fall of the Rats
Chapter 3 Summary – The Tower of the Swallow – Meve’s Betrayal and Nilfgaard’s Secrets
Chapter 4 Summary – The Tower of the Swallow – Ciri’s Trial and the Bloody Spectacle at Claremont
Chapter 5 Summary – The Tower of the Swallow – Angoulême, the Blood Pact, and the Road to Belhaven
Chapter 6 Summary – The Tower of the Swallow – Schirru’s Trap in the Belhaven Mines
Chapter 7 Summary – The Tower of the Swallow – The Forest Trial and the Truth in Tir na Bea Arainne
Chapter 1 Summary – The Tower of the Swallow – Ciri, the Scar, and the Swamp Hermit
During the night of the autumnal equinox, when magical forces reach their peak, a storm of supernatural proportions sweeps across the continent. The sky fills with silhouettes of ghostly horses, and the Wild Hunt charges through the heavens, leaving a trail of death. The moon turns blood-red, and the nightjars chant a funeral song that foretells a terrible loss. This magical upheaval awakens key figures across the realm, from Emhyr var Emreis in Nilfgaard to Philippa Eilhart and Vesemir. While many sense the omen, only three individuals understand its true source: Triss Merigold, Jarre, and Nenneke, who reside at the Temple of Melitele in Ellander. That night becomes tense as the birds signal death, and all fear for a young woman. Triss and Jarre share prophetic dreams where blood and the suffering of “her” take center stage. Meanwhile, elsewhere, a different thread begins to intertwine.
In the swamps of Pereplut, an old hermit named Vysogota wakes with unease after a troubling dream. While checking his hunting traps on the cold morning after the equinox, he finds a black mare tangled in the underbrush. Nearby lies what he assumes is a corpse, but as he approaches, he realizes the figure is alive—a gravely wounded girl. Moved by her condition, Vysogota carries her to his hidden hut deep in the swamp and begins treating her with his medical expertise. A deep facial wound—inflicted by a curved blade—shows signs of infection. For hours, fever and delirium overtake the girl, but through risky treatments using potent herbal extracts, she survives. Days later, in a moment of painful lucidity, she sits up on her own and speaks her first conscious words, revealing a will hardened by suffering.
The young woman reveals her true name: Ciri. Though still weak, she insists on leaving, fearing her presence endangers Vysogota and certain that her pursuers will find her. He convinces her to stay, as the wound still requires healing. Gradually, Ciri regains her strength and begins to converse with the learned recluse, who quickly recognizes her intelligence. Through their exchanges, both share pieces of their pasts: Vysogota was once a physician, scholar, and philosopher, condemned for his beliefs; Ciri is a fugitive, scarred by violence and betrayal. They clash, challenge, and slowly begin to understand each other as broken souls shaped by a ruthless world. Vysogota’s wisdom and Ciri’s brutal experience forge a unique bond. In time, she decides to share her story with him—a tale marked by betrayal, pain, and loss, where all hope seems lost except for one: the quiet strength she finds in the silence of the swamp.
Chapter 2 Summary – The Tower of the Swallow – Bonhart’s Ambush and the Fall of the Rats
A nighttime storm shakes the village as an armed gang storms through, hooves pounding and voices shouting. They are not demons, but men: the infamous Rats. Hotsporn, posing as a merchant, arrives at a station where Giselher and his crew have taken shelter. Inside, Mistle inks herself with tattoos as the air fills with drugs and rising tension. Hotsporn scolds the Rats for ignoring a previous order, presenting a token of safe passage they had dismissed. In a charged conversation, he reveals the emperor Emhyr’s plans for amnesty. Listening silently, Ciri—hiding behind the alias Falka—overhears the most shocking detail: Emhyr intends to marry Cirilla of Cintra, allegedly found alive. Staggered by this theft of her identity, Ciri reels. Though Mistle tries to comfort her, she decides to leave before dawn, sensing a coming disaster and the deadly presence of the bounty hunter, Bonhart.
Ciri rides off in pursuit of Hotsporn, who greets her warmly with thinly veiled lust. Though she rejects his advances, she continues traveling with him. Along the road, they argue over the amnesty and her past, with the mercenary suggesting she play the victim to survive. Their talk is cut short by an ambush. Hotsporn is injured, and as they hide in the forest, he tries to seduce her, exploiting her vulnerability. Confused and desperate, Ciri yields out of curiosity—but Hotsporn suddenly dies in her arms. She spends the night beside his corpse, and at dawn, reclaims her magical mare, naming her Kelpie. Realizing the real danger lies ahead in the village of Jealousy, she gallops forward to warn the Rats. But she is too late. Bonhart has already slaughtered the group in a savage assault. Mistle dies in front of Ciri, who is then captured and forced to witness a scene of horror that will haunt her forever.
Agony grips Ciri as she recounts to Vysogota the gruesome details: Bonhart bound her and made her watch as he beheaded her friends one by one with a saw, preserving their heads in salt and vinegar. After the massacre, Ciri manages to escape thanks to Hotsporn’s enchanted bracelet, which summons Kelpie. From a distance, she gazes at Jealousy and the devastation wrought by the hunter. The tragedy changes her. Mistle’s final image—lover and companion—remains seared in her soul. Swearing vengeance, Ciri rides north, toward Cintra, toward a stolen past and an uncertain future. Her identity, her heritage, and her fierce will to reclaim it all merge into a fiery determination. She is no longer just the orphan of Cintra, nor the fugitive known as Falka—she is something more. A survivor who rides with the memory of those lost and the fury of what still must be taken back.
Chapter 3 Summary – The Tower of the Swallow – Meve’s Betrayal and Nilfgaard’s Secrets
Following the glorious Battle of the Bridge in Angren, the narrator steps back to recount the chaos that ensued. Meve, the Queen of Lyria, did not die as many believed; she survived and led a fierce guerrilla campaign from the dense Angren woods, where ambushes and savage tactics were the norm. After the retreat, Geralt’s group—including Regis, Milva, Cahir, and Dandelion—receive no honors, except the witcher, who is knighted by the queen for his bravery. However, this recognition only complicates matters: Geralt is wanted by multiple kingdoms for his role in Thanedd, Cahir is a Nilfgaardian deserter, Milva was once allied with the Scoia’tael, and Regis is a vampire. The situation becomes untenable when Meve, informed of an incoming imperial offensive, redirects her forces toward Mahakam, forcing the group to split. Ultimately, they escape with supplies and horses, evading the army and heading toward their true destination: Caed Dhu.
The company seeks refuge in the Riverdell forests, where Geralt suffers physical pain from old wounds and nightmares of his separation from Ciri. Tension builds until he suggests disbanding the group and traveling alone. But no one agrees to leave. On the night of September 10, they cross the Yaruga River amidst a caravan of peasants, dodging Nilfgaardian patrols thanks to Cahir’s cunning. Soon, they learn that Yennefer was reportedly seen in Skellige by a fisherwoman, caught in nets like a magical creature. Triss hears this tale in a tavern and discovers Yennefer had been taken to Crach an Craite… and later died using her own magic. Meanwhile, Geralt, Milva, Regis, and Cahir journey toward Caed Dhu, enduring the cold and uncertainty of the woods. Dandelion, for his part, begins writing his memoirs, determined to document his experiences, though his companions remain skeptical of his “literary confessions.”
While passing through a region known as North Case, they encounter a beekeeper and his family, who warn them the druids have left Caed Dhu and might have moved south. The family proposes traveling together, fearful of the swamp monsters that roam the area. Though the group suspects the peasants are hiding something, they agree. The journey becomes safer and more efficient thanks to the beekeeper’s knowledge of the terrain, and surprisingly, they face no threats. Meanwhile, in Nilfgaard, Emperor Emhyr harshly reprimands Vattier de Rideaux for failing to find Ciri or Cahir. Amid conspiracies and political games, Rience offers to deliver Cahir’s head, revealing they know his location. This information even reaches Assire var Anahid through a courtesan spy. Thus, the threads of fate tighten: Cahir’s past, the hunt for Ciri, and imperial conspiracies signal the beginning of a new chapter in the witcher’s journey.
Chapter 4 Summary – The Tower of the Swallow – Ciri’s Trial and the Bloody Spectacle at Claremont
During an imperial trial for treason, the psionic Joanna Selborne testifies before the High Tribunal about her recruitment by Dacre Silifant for a special mission for the Empire. She accepted the offer and joined an assassination squad led by Stefan Skellen, known as “The Owl,” heading to Fort Rocayne. There, Joanna learned her task was to track down a girl named Falka—also known as Cirilla of Cintra. Her account unveils the ruthless nature of the mercenary group, including names like Til Echrade, Chloe Stitz, and Dede Vargas. Their objective was to locate Bonhart, the brutal bounty hunter, who after exterminating the Rats, kept Falka alive to sell her to an unknown buyer. Meanwhile, Bonhart takes Ciri to the blacksmith Esterhazy in Fano to commission a special sword. There, Ciri tests the weapon in combat and proves her skill, though Bonhart halts the duel, claiming she’s still unready to wield her fate.
In Claremont, Ciri is chained and handed over to Houvenaghel, a ruthless businessman who stages bloody spectacles to entertain nobles and commoners alike. Cunningly, Bonhart ensures Ciri enters the arena armed, igniting the crowd’s excitement. Several men attempt to subdue her for a reward, but Ciri, guided by instinct and her Kaer Morhen training, defeats them with brutal precision. The bloodthirsty audience roars for more violence, as figures like the Marquise de-Nementh Uyvar and Windsor Imbra watch in disbelief. Ciri faces not only her opponents but the human circus that has made her a public spectacle. Despite her rage, she refuses to kill those who pose no real threat, earning Bonhart’s scorn. The fight reveals that everyone wants to control her, but no one understands her true identity or the inner strength that drives her to resist.
After the massacre in the arena, Ciri attempts suicide to escape being used as a tool for amusement. With the sword pressed to her chest, she stops at the last moment, unable to follow through. Bonhart humiliates her publicly, claiming that killing is easy but ending one’s own life requires true courage. This humiliation wounds Ciri deeply, and later, she confides in Vysogota that she feels cowardly, defeated, and disgusted with herself. In the Pereplut swamps, the two share silence beside the fire, isolated from the world. Vysogota does not judge her, but his stillness reflects the weight of the story she has just told. The final scene is heavy with symbolism: the sword Zireael, the failed suicide, and the seclusion in the cabin portray a Ciri who is broken but not defeated, still standing amidst the horror. Thus, the path to her destined future begins—with blood, memory, and resistance.
Chapter 5 Summary – The Tower of the Swallow – Angoulême, the Blood Pact, and the Road to Belhaven
Geralt is interrogated by Governor Fulk Artevelde in Riedbrune, who distrusts his intentions in the North Case region. Although the witcher claims to have escorted a beekeeper to the city, the governor accuses him of collaborating with a criminal gang and confronts him with a young woman named Angoulême. In a dangerous game, the girl betrays him and declares that a group led by Nightingale intends to kill him in Belhaven, following the orders of a mysterious half‑elf. Despite her defiant attitude, Geralt realizes the accusation is real and conceals a much larger trap. Angoulême, a former member of the gang, is being used by the law as a witness: if her information proves true, she will be executed swiftly; if not, her death will be slow and brutal. Seeing the cruelty of the judicial system, Geralt agrees to form an alliance with the governor to ambush Nightingale, demanding in exchange that Angoulême be placed under his protection.
Once reunited with his companions, Geralt reveals the existence of a betrayal and casts direct suspicion on Cahir. The group is split by conflict: Milva lashes out with her belt at both men to stop the fight, while Regis insists there is no real evidence. At the same time, Geralt explains that sorcerers can track people through ancient mental bonds, and that the enemy failed to detect their full group because magical detection spells do not work on vampires. This proves there is a traitor among those who have known the company personally for some time. The witcher confesses that someone close to him has sold out Ciri and that it is time to strike back. He then decides to divide the company: he will travel with Angoulême and Milva toward Belhaven, while Cahir, Regis, and Dandelion head to Toussaint through the Sansretour Valley. Tension runs high among the travelers, but the determination to confront those who seek to destroy them now fuels their resolve.
As the group prepares to venture into the dangers of the mountains, Ciri relives a prophetic dream in Vysogota’s hut. In it, she sees Geralt in a canyon with two riders on the very night of the equinox and longs to warn him that she is still alive. Yet she cannot speak, as though drowning in an invisible abyss. Upon waking, she becomes convinced that Geralt believes her dead, deepening her despair and guilt. Meanwhile, the witcher, Angoulême, and Milva ride along the mountain paths toward Belhaven. Geralt declares that he no longer seeks only answers, but revenge for Ciri’s presumed death. His targets are the half‑elf and the mage who betrayed them. High in the Amell Mountains, surrounded by cold and cloud, their hearts burn with the certainty that only blood can restore balance. The journey is no longer a rescue mission—it is a relentless descent into hell.
Chapter 6 Summary – The Tower of the Swallow – Schirru’s Trap in the Belhaven Mines
Geralt, Cahir, and Angoulême traverse the treacherous mountain paths on their way to Belhaven, moving through waterfalls, rickety bridges, and narrow gorges. The rain is relentless, and they find shelter in a cabin with a leaking roof. There, Angoulême suggests a detour through the mines of the Sansretour Valley, where she claims to know someone who can help them. That night, around the fire, the young woman reveals her dark past: rejected by her noble family, handed over to indifferent relatives, and eventually sold to a temple disguised as an orphanage that turned out to be a brothel for pedophiles. She escaped with other youths, arming themselves with knives and sticks, and plunged into a life of banditry. Of those who fled with her, only she remains alive. The harshness of her story moves Cahir, who awkwardly tries to halt Angoulême’s teasing advances. Meanwhile, the group continues toward her contact: a dwarf who works as a foreman in one of the iron mines.
The group arrives at the “Little Babette” mine, where Angoulême searches for Golan Drosdeck, her dwarven acquaintance. Though he greets her with surprise and suspicion, he eventually reveals that the half‑elf they seek had been there, identified by the same reddish mud on his boots. Geralt, frustrated by Drosdeck’s evasive silence, intimidates him until he finally reveals that Schirru—the half‑elf—is hiding in the “Rialto” mine. When they reach it, they encounter five riders from Nightingale’s gang. Angoulême attempts to deceive them by pretending Geralt is dead and demanding the second half of her payment. The men do not believe her and unleash a bloody fight. In seconds, Geralt, Cahir, and Angoulême kill them all. As the villagers cry out for the guard, Schirru appears with reinforcements and betrays the protagonists. Angoulême is taken hostage, and although Geralt tries to negotiate, Schirru reveals he knew from the start who he was dealing with. Chaos erupts as more enemies and imperial soldiers arrive.
A surprise bombardment from the “Free North Case” insurgents breaks the siege. Firebombs, arrows, and screams turn the mine into an inferno. Amid the crossfire, Angoulême manages to wound Nightingale but cannot finish him. Geralt cuts down foes with fury as he searches for Schirru, but Cahir is struck in the head by a thrown axe. Angoulême escapes on horseback, leading another horse for Geralt and Cahir. The witcher hesitates between chasing Schirru or saving his friend, but ultimately chooses to carry Cahir. They flee along hidden paths, though the horses soon collapse. In a forest, they find a cave filled with human remains, where they spend the night. Cahir, delirious with fever, confesses to Geralt that he admires him, believes Ciri is alive, and follows him not for the emperor, but because he is in love with her. The next day, they continue toward Toussaint. At a camp along the way, they finally reunite with Regis, who waits for them beside the fire.
Chapter 7 Summary – The Tower of the Swallow – The Forest Trial and the Truth in Tir na Bea Arainne
After reuniting with Regis, Geralt learns that Milva, Dandelion, and Angoulême are safe under the protection of the druids in Caed Myrkvid. The vampire recounts how they crossed the border into Toussaint and how Angoulême caught up with them to warn of an ambush. Now, guided by Regis, Geralt reaches a cave in the Gorgon Mountains, where he must enter unarmed by order of the flaminica, the druids’ leader. Inside, stripped of weapons and surrounded by subterranean creatures such as barbegazis, vespertyls, and knockers, the witcher endures mockery and aggression, bearing every obstacle with patience. Eventually, he is brought before Avallac’h, a wise and enigmatic elf who shows him a cavern adorned with elven carvings and frescoes. There, he reveals that everything has been prophesied: the war, the fate of the elves, and Ciri’s essential role as the descendant of Lara Dorren—the prophesied Swallow, symbol of rebirth through the Elder Blood.
During their long conversation, Avallac’h explains that Ciri represents the last hope for the survival of the elves, but she is also a key link in a greater conflict involving magic, genetics, and predestination. He affirms that the experiments with the bloodlines of Lara and Riannon grew beyond the sorcerers’ control, and that Ciri is the spontaneous result of that ancient inheritance. He warns Geralt that his mission is futile: he can no longer save her, and if he tries, he will only bring death to his companions and provoke an even greater catastrophe. Yet Avallac’h also admits that someone else will help her. Geralt rejects the elf’s fatalism, declaring he does not believe in prophecies. Before leaving, Avallac’h leads him to a magical wall, revealing a vision of Ciri’s surroundings: blood, death, Yennefer in chains, and a black tower. Alarmed, Geralt insists he must return to his friends, who are now in danger. Avallac’h grants him an unusual means of transport: a knocker swift as the wind.
The knocker’s mad dash along the cliffs brings Geralt to the Myrkvid forest, where he finds Milva, Angoulême, and Dandelion. But they are soon captured by an enormous tree‑being and brought before the druids, who have judged Nightingale, Schirru, and other bandits. The flaminica orders their execution by burning them alive inside a wicker cage. Geralt pleads to stop the punishment, as he still needs information from Schirru, but the flaminica—gentle in tone, unyielding in action—refuses. The druids set the cage ablaze as Geralt and his companions watch helplessly. Amid smoke and screams, Angoulême reminds him that his witcher medallion was with Schirru and is now gone forever. With resignation, Geralt understands he is no longer a witcher in truth: his identity has been reshaped step by step—at Thanedd, in Brokilon, in the Gorgon cave, and now in the heart of the sacred forest. Without a medallion, without certainties, he continues the search.
Chapter 8 Summary – The Tower of the Swallow – King Esterad, the Linters, and the Secret Pact with Redania
Under the grey sky of Lan Exeter, Dijkstra arrives in Kovir seeking desperate aid: a loan to finance resistance against Nilfgaard. The city, built on canals and protected by massive sea walls, dazzles with its wealth and power. In private, Dijkstra meets King Esterad Thyssen and Queen Zuleyka, who receive him without ceremony but with clear intention. Esterad recalls Kovir’s long struggle for independence, its economic rise, and its historic refusal to be treated as Redania’s vassal. Despite restrictions from the treaty with Nilfgaard, the king cynically weighs the possibilities of supporting the northern cause. Dijkstra requests a loan of one million linters, but Esterad rejects the request outright in official terms. Later, in the quiet of night, the king reflects on passages from the “Good Book,” which urges charity—but wisely. And so he decides to act on his own terms.
Without Redania’s knowledge, Esterad finds a way to finance his army without compromising Kovir’s official neutrality. He secures the million linters by selling shares to merchants from Novigrad seeking to expand their maritime enterprises. Ironically, many of these companies include Nilfgaardian investors. Thus, Nilfgaard unwittingly ends up funding the defenses of its own enemies. Esterad also orders the release of thousands of criminals, rebels, and mercenaries—nicknamed “the alley cats”—who will become the famed condottieri of the North. Queen Zuleyka, advised by sorceress Síle de Tansarville, contributes secretly to the plan, isolating her troublesome son, Prince Tankred, from harmful influences. Síle claims that, with magic and time, Tankred will become an exemplary heir. Meanwhile, the king gives Dijkstra a tin figurine as a sign of recognition to collect the funds, orchestrating a masterstroke of intelligence, politics, and economics that strengthens Redania without breaking the law.
Dijkstra and Esterad part ways knowing their agreement will alter the fate of the continent. The spy, haunted by his past and well aware of the threat Nilfgaard poses, finds in the king a blend of pragmatism and vision. They share a conversation about justice, prophecy, and the war to come. Esterad mentions strange dreams involving Ciri, whom he imagines as a potential political match for his son. Zuleyka, interpreting the dreams through the “Good Book,” guides her husband toward decisions wrapped in wisdom disguised as parable. In the end, Esterad’s grandson, the elderly Duke Guiscard, remembers how his grandfather died protecting Zuleyka from assassins. He also recalls that the “alley cats” released in that era became essential to the war effort. With melancholy, he repeats the king’s words: cats always return home… and when they do, they bring wealth to be taxed. A silent strategy that wove a web of resistance under the guise of trade.
Chapter 9 Summary – The Tower of the Swallow – Yennefer, the Brisingamen, and the Sacrifice at Sedna‑Depth
At Kaer Trolde, Yennefer witnesses the return of the Skellige ships after battle. On the beach, women await their men; some reunite with tears of joy, others find only the silence left behind by the missing ship “Daria.” Yennefer aids a fainting pregnant woman, displaying compassion in front of the priestesses. There, she reunites with Crach an Craite, who informs her that she will be sent to Novigrad accused of treason for her involvement in the Thanedd affair. Though he despises her, Yennefer confronts him with dignity, reminding him of his oath to Ciri and invoking the old promise made to Queen Calanthe. She seeks neither refuge nor redemption—only the chance to help Ciri. She convinces Crach to support her financially and travels with him to the temple of Hindarsfjall to retrieve the Brisingamen, a sacred diamond needed to construct a magical megascope for gathering crucial information.
At the temple of Modron Freyja, the priestess Sigrdrifa recalls seeing Yennefer help the pregnant woman on the beach, a gesture that changes her view of sorceresses. Despite her respect for Yennefer, she refuses to hand over the Brisingamen, as it is fused to the neck of the goddess’s statue. During a collective prayer, Yennefer enters a deep trance where she is confronted by visions of suffering, abandonment, and betrayal. She sees herself crucified on an ash tree, questioned by a mysterious figure urging her to reflect on sacrifice, pain, and purpose. Amid Nordic symbols, prophecies, and visions of Ragnarök, she hears destiny’s call toward the Tower of the Swallow. Upon awakening, she finds the Brisingamen miraculously lying at the statue’s feet. She returns to the temple, grateful yet determined, and begins constructing her megascope, contacting sorcerers and enemies alike, facing blackmail, as time runs out and the threat to Ciri grows more urgent.
In secret, Yennefer contacts Philippa Eilhart and Triss Merigold. In a tense conversation, she reveals she has been betrayed by those meant to help her. Philippa denies her any posthumous absolution, prioritizing the Lodge’s interests over her memory. Triss, heartbroken, fails to defend her. Left without reliable allies, Yennefer chooses to act alone, requesting two ships to sail to the Sedna‑Depth, believing she will find answers about Ciri’s fate there. Only volunteers may join her, and she leaves behind Hjalmar, Crach’s son, who once shared a bond with Ciri as a child. The expedition sets off aboard the “Alcyone” and the “Tamara,” but upon reaching the cursed zone, a magical storm drags the “Alcyone” into the abyss. None survive; only two bodies are recovered. Yennefer’s disappearance, like Pavetta’s before her, follows an unsettling pattern. To Crach, it is no coincidence. Meanwhile, Ciri and Vysogota uncover an ancient source revealing the Tower’s location. Ciri realizes her path is written: she must find it.
Chapter 10 Summary – The Tower of the Swallow – Saovine, Imperial Betrayals, and the Witch’s Vengeance
Joanna Selborne, a psionic known as Kenna, returns from testifying before the imperial tribunal, exhausted and furious over being accused of conspiracy. Locked up with the violent Scarra sisters and the cowardly Kohout, she recalls her failed attempt to capture Bonhart in Claremont. The witch hunter had vanished with Ciri, and the trail had gone cold. When they finally found him, she read his thoughts: a bottomless pit of cruelty. Kenna senses an unseen presence near Skellen’s camp and suggests setting a trap. Using flour, cream, and a well‑aimed frying pan, they capture Rience, Vilgefortz’s spy mage. Under torture, he reveals he was searching for Ciri on his master’s orders and that Skellen has been betrayed from within. Kenna is horrified to discover that Neratin Ceka is a spy for Vattier de Rideaux, plunging her into a deep crisis of loyalty—who should she serve amid the maze of imperial betrayals?
Ciri, chained and guarded, remains under the control of Skellen, Bonhart, and Rience in the village of Unicorn. During interrogation, Bonhart admits to torturing her until she confessed to being Cirilla of Cintra, heir to the throne and future wife of Emperor Emhyr. Through a magical device, the mage Vilgefortz proposes a pact: pay a fortune for Ciri and conduct an experiment with her blood. As the betrayal unfolds, Neratin Ceka, now revealed as Vattier’s agent, secretly frees Ciri. She unleashes her reawakened magic in a devastating assault: leaving Kenna bleeding, guards unconscious, and escaping on Kelpie. During the chase, she strikes back with lethal force, killing enemies like Chloe Stitz and Cabernik Turnet. Helped by the traitor Mekesser, she clears a seven‑foot gate with an impossible leap and vanishes into wind, shadow, and ominous signs, while her pursuers are overcome by supernatural visions that drive them to panic.
Taking refuge in the swamps, Ciri bids farewell to Vysogota, who begs her not to go, fearing for her life. But the young woman, resolute, smears herself with soot and grease to appear demonic and rides toward Dun Dare, where four imperial soldiers oppress the villagers. At the inn, the men drink themselves into a stupor, celebrating Saovine and convinced that Ciri is dead. Disguised, she enters, confronts them, and unleashes a massacre. She slaughters them one by one in brutal, precise combat, leaving behind a pool of blood and silence. With cold determination, she declares she is not Falka, but Ciri, witch of Kaer Morhen, come to kill monsters. Outside, the howl of a Beann’shie heralds death. Vysogota, aware that his end is near, prays—despite his disbelief—for the gods to protect Ciri. Saovine ends in blood, and the legend of the black‑eyed witch and her black horse echoes powerfully in the darkness.
Chapter 11 Summary – The Tower of the Swallow – The Massacre on the Ice and the Opening of the Magic Tower
Iola and Eurneid, novices of the Temple of Melitele, receive their final blessing from Nenneke before departing for the front lines as volunteer healers. Though they feign confidence, their gestures betray fear. Triss Merigold watches silently, while Nenneke warns of the risks of war: addiction, exhaustion, and desire. Jarre, outraged at being denied permission to join them, bursts out, claiming he wants to go to war to save Ciri. Nenneke firmly scolds him: the girls are leaving as medical specialists, not martyrs. Later, in a psychic ritual, Iola the First and Triss conduct a dangerous prophetic vision using items that once belonged to Ciri. Triss insists on participating, driven by her emotional debt to the young woman. The ceremony unveils powerful images: a golden‑eyed woman, horrified priestesses, and shadows of the past. As snow falls on the temple, magic awakens a deep connection with Ciri, now on her way to the mysterious Lake Tarn Mira.
In the region of the Hundred Lakes, Ciri appears suddenly before Gosta, a terrified fisherman. Dressed in men’s clothing, her face marked by a scar, she carries a sword. She asks for directions to Lake Tarn Mira—also known as the Bottomless Lake—where local legends speak of haunted ruins. Fearing she is a specter, Gosta shows her the way. After her departure, a patrol of fourteen men led by Bonhart, Skellen, and Rience pursue her. They have been tracking her for weeks without rest, guided by a magical artifact that has now gone silent. Elsewhere, Yennefer has been captured. Vilgefortz, disfigured by the explosion at the Tower of Gulls, tortures her brutally to extract information about Ciri. He connects her to a machine to create an empathic bond. However, in her resistance, Yennefer projects images of Geralt instead of Ciri, revealing the deep emotional connection between them. Vilgefortz, disappointed but intrigued, orders the search for the witcher to continue.
Ciri reaches Lake Tarn Mira, still pursued by Skellen’s group. To escape, she straps skates onto her boots and glides across the ice. Her enemies, disorganized, lose sight of her in the mist. One by one, Ciri strikes with precision and fury, slitting throats, setting traps, and vanishing into the fog. Confusion and terror consume them; the massacre at Dun Dare is relived. Rience, in desperation, tries to cast a spell but fractures the ice, opening a fissure into which several—including himself—fall. Ciri leaves him dangling, begging for his life, then returns to sever his fingers, letting him sink beneath the ice. Bonhart, now isolated, tries to reach her, but a unicorn and the Wild Hunt intervene. Ciri arrives at the mound where the Tower of the Swallow should be—and it rises magically. She enters as the world behind her dissolves. Inside, she passes through vision doors showing the past, the present, and possible futures. Finally, an elf greets her with a single question: “What took you so long?”
Conclusion – The Tower of Swallows
Nothing truly ends in The Tower of the Swallow. What collapses is the illusion of control—the belief that destiny can be dodged, that bonds are stronger than chaos. Ciri steps through the threshold, and reality cracks like glass beneath the hooves of time. She is no longer the orphan of Cintra, the captive of Bonhart, or the witcher-in-training. She is something else. Something no one—not even the elves—can contain.
Yennefer burns. Geralt chooses. And the world braces for a war where steel alone won’t be enough. In this story, pawns learn to move, traitors fall into their own snares, and the gods—if they exist—stay silent. Only the tower speaks, and it speaks through her.
But the end is not yet written. To find out what happens after the Swallow vanishes through the portal, continue reading: Book Summary by Chapter – The Lady of the Lake ➤
FAQs – Chapter by Chapter Summary – The Tower of Swallows
Why does the massacre on the ice matter so much in The Tower of Swallows?
The massacre on the frozen lake is the book’s emotional and narrative climax. It's the moment where Ciri becomes the hunter instead of the hunted. Skating across the mist-covered ice, she slaughters her enemies with surgical precision, embodying everything she’s learned. But beyond the violence, it’s what follows that transforms the story: the magical rise of the Tower. That surreal image signals a shift from mere plot to legend. As she steps into that impossible structure, Ciri leaves behind not just her pursuers—but the rules of the world as she knew it.
How does Bonhart's character shape Ciri’s transformation?
Bonhart isn’t just a villain—he's a mirror reflecting the abyss of a world without mercy. His brutality and psychological games force Ciri to confront the deepest corners of her trauma. Yet through him, she also discovers her strength. The more he tries to break her, the more she resists. Even in humiliation, even after the arena, she never gives him full control. Bonhart’s role is pivotal: he’s the crucible in which Ciri’s resilience is forged. Every scar he leaves becomes a piece of armor. She survives him—not as a victim, but as someone reborn through fire.
What is the significance of Vysogota’s relationship with Ciri?
Vysogota isn’t a hero or a mentor—he’s a quiet witness, a philosopher exiled from his time. His bond with Ciri is based on listening rather than guiding. In his swamp hut, she finds the rare freedom to speak, reflect, and remember. Their dialogues reveal pain, defiance, and an aching need for truth. He offers no solutions, only presence—and in that silence, Ciri reclaims her agency. This relationship, fragile and fleeting, gives her the emotional pause she needs before stepping into her final transformation. He doesn’t save her—but he gives her space to save herself.
Why is the Tower of Swallows such a powerful symbol in the story?
The Tower isn’t just a magical location—it’s a metaphor for inevitability. Throughout the book, everything points toward it: visions, omens, prophecies. When it finally appears, it's not a twist—it’s destiny arriving on cue. For Ciri, it’s the crossing point between the known and the unthinkable. The real world collapses behind her like glass under pressure. Stepping inside is an act of surrender and defiance in one: she accepts her fate, but on her own terms. In a saga full of violence and betrayal, the Tower is the first moment that feels sacred—and terrifyingly final.
How does the death of the Rats impact Ciri's sense of identity?
The slaughter of the Rats is the final rupture in Ciri’s journey from survivor to warrior. With Mistle's death and the desecration of her chosen family, her past is incinerated. The alias “Falka” dies with them. What remains is raw grief and a vow for vengeance. From that moment on, she stops trying to blend in or disappear. She reclaims her name, her power, and her purpose. The pain doesn't break her—it refines her. That loss doesn’t just mark a turning point in her emotional arc; it reawakens her connection to her bloodline, to Cintra, and to war.
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