Istredd hasn't mentioned how he got stabbed and he would have just said 'to help others escape.' It was generally true, but his instinct was to protect Ciri in particular. His conversation with Geralt afterward has reframed some of his behavior for him, another place in which he understands he has to change, but he feels in a decent place with both of them. They'll never be friends, but in a truce is good.

By not a big fan, I think neutral is somewhere in there. We will continue to talk about the Singularity or relevant topics, and that's about it. He does answer any questions I have about the original days. And that is why sometimes Istredd sounds so confident about the history of the Summoned. He does have one of those originals who doesn't mind answering what he's asked so far.

Geralt wants an anchor here as well, if we find one. He wants to stay here with Ciri. Istredd understands that. It doesn't sound like her life on the continent was anything good. Worse than he imagined. Leave Dean to them. You shared what you could with them. That was more than enough.

And Istredd doesn't want him anywhere near Dean. Or near anyone who would mean him harm.