[ After? The noise Geralt makes is wry, and possibly not the most reassuring, but despite his broad efforts not to delve into unnecessary fears, he is nothing if not realistic about what may lie ahead.

And unwilling to bother lying about it. ]

Time comes for us all. [ He is not interested in lending the Heralds much credence, but it would be remiss to pretend that they do not speak true when it comes to the inevitable tides of war. It's here. It was always coming.

He pauses, then continues. ] In my last memory of the Continent, I was preparing to kill the emperor. I believed he had Ciri in his grasp. I can't tell you what's ahead. But I don't intend to stand by.