69 pages • 2 hours read
Andrzej SapkowskiSword of Destiny
Fiction | Short Story Collection | Adult | Published in 1992A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Part 1Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Part 1: “The Bounds of Reason”
Part 1, Chapter 1 Summary
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes descriptions of imprisonment, violence, sexual assault, and misogyny.
A town hires a witcher—a mutated human who works as a monster hunter for hire—to eliminate a reptilian monster called a basilisk. After a tense wait, the townspeople, led by a cunning man, assume that the witcher is dead and attempt to steal his belongings, but a stranger and two sword-wielding women intervene. The witcher, Geralt, emerges from the basilisk’s lair, shows the basilisk’s severed head, and claims his payment, exposing the townspeople’s attempt at theft. Defeated, they disperse, but the stranger stops the leader, and one of the women swiftly decapitates him. Geralt thanks the stranger, Borch Three Jackdaws, and the Zerrikanian women (Téa and Véa) for their help. Three Jackdaws invites Geralt to an inn, revealing himself as a leper. Geralt agrees to join them.
Part 1, Chapter 2 Summary
At the inn, Three Jackdaws orders an extravagant meal, impressing the innkeeper. Geralt notes his apparent wealth, and the conversation turns to dragons. Geralt adamantly denies hunting dragons, even dismissing the existence of golden dragons as myths. Three Jackdaws probes further, and Geralt concedes the possibility of golden dragons as sterile mutations. Three Jackdaws leaves for a moment. Geralt questions Véa, who cryptically states that she is loyal to Three Jackdaws because he is the “most...beautiful.” Intrigued, Geralt joins the trio for ale and a bath.
Part 1, Chapter 3 Summary
Geralt, Three Jackdaws, Téa, and Véa face a barricaded bridge on their way to Hengfors, where the King of Niedamir insists on a letter of safe-conduct before allowing travelers passage. Despite Geralt’s explanation that they are in a different king’s territory, the guards remain unmoved. Dandelion joins the group, and they lament the need for a safe-conduct letter. Geralt suggests an alternative route, surprising Dandelion, who expects Geralt to partake in the dragon hunt. Pressed by Geralt and Three Jackdaws, Dandelion recounts a recent dragon attack in Barefield that prompted villagers to use a poisoned sheep to incapacitate the creature. The blocked path is the result of competing claims to the dragon’s hoard, with the villagers and King Niedamir both vying for it. King Niedamir, in particular, needs to kill a dragon to marry the princess of a nearby kingdom.
The king assembles a formidable dragon-hunting team that includes Eyck of Denesle, a knight obsessed with chivalry; the Crinfrid Reavers trio, led by Boholt; six dwarves led by Yarpen Zigrin; and an unnamed sorceress. Téa and Véa return with ale and a monster-friendly mage named Dorregaray, who seeks to save the dragon. Dorregaray identifies the King’s sorceress as Yennefer, and Geralt, initially uninterested in the quest, now attempts to bribe a guard. Three Jackdaws, choosing to follow Geralt, persuades the guard with a substantial sum. Dorregaray adds a magical touch, setting fire to a nearby tree to justify their passage. The guards finally allow the group to pass.
Part 1, Chapter 4 Summary
Geralt converses with the Reavers and the dwarves, discussing the impending dragon hunt. The hunters express discontent with the king’s lack of communication, as well as the condescension of the king’s Marshall, Lord Gyllenstiern. The Reavers and dwarves outline their agreement: the dragon slayer claims half the hoard, the king receives a quarter, and the remaining quarter is divided among the supporting parties. Dandelion, uninterested in taking a share, only aims to immortalize the event with a song. The collective grumbles about sharing spoils with the villagers and dealing with Eyck, who is a dedicated protector against evil. Yennefer joins the discussion, conveying King Niedamir’s acceptance of their conditions and departing.
Part 1, Chapter 5 Summary
Geralt seeks to reconnect with Yennefer and revive their past romance, but she rejects him. Their last intimate encounter concluded with Geralt silently departing, leading to four years of silence between them. Now, Yennefer angrily declares that she will never forgive him and storms off.
Part 1, Chapter 6 Summary
Gyllenstiern lectures Geralt on his place and expresses frustrations with witchers and their moral code, cautioning Geralt about Dorregaray’s inclination to protect all monsters. Eyck pointedly ignores Geralt, and Dorregaray, disapproving of both Eyck’s idealism and Geralt’s professional approach to monster hunting, engages in a heated exchange with Geralt. Yennefer interrupts, sparking a contentious discussion with Dorregaray about their differing views on monsters and dragons.
Dorregaray, after a parting shot at Yennefer, departs, leaving her visibly upset about her infertility, which is a side effect of sorcery. Geralt notes the convenience of Yennefer being a sorceress for the goldsmith’s guild due to the lucrative nature of dragon hoards. In a fury, Yennefer rides ahead while the dwarves mock her.
Three Jackdaws questions Geralt’s motives for joining the hunt, and their argument reveals the varied goals of the party members. Niedamir seeks the kingdom of Malleore, Eyck aims to protect people from the dragon, Dorregaray wants to save the dragon, Yennefer seeks a cure for her infertility, and the dwarves and Reavers pursue the treasure. Geralt claims that his goal is the hoard, but Three Jackdaws points out his sudden interest upon hearing of Yennefer’s involvement. Their conversation ends as the party encounters a questionable bridge. Sheepbagger, the local guide, believes it will hold, but as the party begins to cross, a landslide occurs. Most members cross, but the bridge collapses before Yennefer and Geralt reach safety. Geralt and Yennefer hang precariously over the chasm as the party deliberates whether to throw them a rope. Many hope that one or both will fall to their deaths. Eventually, someone throws a magic rope, and they are pulled to safety.
Part 1, Chapter 7 Summary
The party suffers significant losses, including Three Jackdaws and the Zerrikanians. Eyck attributes the calamity to divine punishment for allowing pagans like Yennefer, Geralt, and the dwarves into the group. Tensions rise, and Geralt decides to abandon the group. As the villagers warn of an approaching dragon, the party anticipates a wounded green dragon. However, they encounter a golden dragon named Villentretenmerth. Dorregaray argues for protecting the legendary creature and faces opposition from the reavers, who threaten him into silence. The golden dragon calls out to the party and challenges the group to single combat, insisting that they refrain from magic use. Yennefer reveals that the dragon can read their thoughts. The Reavers dismiss this warning and plan a mass attack, but Eyck intervenes and proceeds to face the dragon himself. However, Villentretenmerth effortlessly evades Eyck’s attacks, eventually sending the knight and his horse flying. Declaring Eyck incapacitated, the golden dragon requests the next challenger.
Part 1, Chapter 8 Summary
Yennefer deems the dragon unbeatable and urges Geralt to slay it, promising a revival of their romance. Geralt reluctantly declines. Disputes over treasure lead to King Niedamir’s decision to return home with his men. Dandelion advises against killing the dragon, but Yennefer, the dwarves, and the Reavers thwart Dorregaray’s attempt to protect the dragon with magic. Yennefer’s spell paralyzes Geralt, and all three men are bound to a wagon. Yennefer confronts the Reavers and dwarves, expressing her intent to face the dragon alone. Yarpen disorients her, and they bind her to prevent magic use. Boholt inappropriately touches her, and Dandelion makes jokes at her expense.
As the dragon approaches, the party attacks, but Villentretenmerth quickly overwhelms them. The dwarves retreat, and the Reavers are left severely injured or dead. Villagers from Barefield approach with wagons, surrounding the dragon. Villentretenmerth nudges a newly hatched dragon toward the wagon where Yennefer, Geralt, Dandelion, and Dorregaray are tied. The villagers trap Villentretenmerth in nets. The two Zerrikanians appear, dispatching several villagers. Sheepbagger plans to crush the warriors under the wagons, and Yennefer urges Geralt to use a fire spell to burn the ropes that bind her. With one ankle free, Yennefer casts spells with her foot, transforming the villagers into various animals. The Zerrikanians eliminate the remaining villagers and free Villentretenmerth, who prevents Véa from killing Yennefer.
Villentretenmerth resumes human form as Borch Three Jackdaws, sharing the story of the poisoned dragon who sought his help. He presents himself as a witcher for monsters, protecting them from human chaos—a reversal of Geralt’s role. The dragon acknowledges Geralt and Yennefer’s compatibility but notes that his magic cannot alter their infertility. Geralt questions why Villentretenmerth takes human form, and he reveals his liking for humans. As the dragon and the Zerrikanians depart, Geralt agrees with Véa, calling Villentretenmerth “the most beautiful” (80).
Part 1 Analysis
Disguised as a rollicking adventure tale, the primary purpose of “The Bounds of Reason” is to scrutinize The True Nature of Monstrosity, which soon becomes a dominant theme within Sword of Destiny. Ironically, despite Geralt’s vocation as a monster-killer, he often serves as a voice of moderation and reason amongst the more vehement perspectives in the debate, for rather than killing monsters wholesale like the reavers and the dwarves or unconditionally saving all monsters like Dorregaray, he takes a more pragmatic approach and assesses each threat individually. He also refrains from killing dragons, emphasizing that those who pursue them are driven by greed, and the story’s events soon prove the truth of this statement. Thus, despite his pragmatic nature, Geralt adheres to a strictly ethical code and always makes it a point to acknowledge extenuating circumstances without compromising his moral stance.
Against the backdrop of Geralt’s measured moral code, the other characters provide a varied array of contrasts, and under the guise of penning a stereotypical quest narrative, Sapkowski proceeds to engage in a critical debate on the nature of monstrosity. Within this framework, Dorregaray’s vehement opposition to monster killing, while valid, is viewed critically due to his absolutist perspective. Despite moral objections from figures like Geralt and Dorregaray, the majority advocate hunting dragons, citing them as dangerous despite their near-extinction status. Various groups, such as Sir Eyck, the Reavers, and the dwarves, actively participate in dragon hunting, justifying their actions by claiming the need for survival. However, the Reavers and dwarves both reveal their moral bankruptcy through their disregard for the other members of their company. Their discussions about eliminating Sheepbagger, the cobbler who successfully poisoned the green dragon, highlight their innate ruthlessness, and their intentions to eliminate competition and manipulate Dandelion for profit underscore their lack of ethics. Similarly, when Geralt and Yennefer face peril, they refuse to provide assistance, viewing the witcher’s demise as an opportunity to maximize their profits from the venture—a testament to their moral deficiency.
Additionally, while the villagers of Barefield initially poison the dragon out of self-preservation, their motives shift to greed when they discover the potential of the dragon’s hoard. Sapkowski uses this development to comment on the corrupting influence of wealth. Perhaps the only morally questionable character to undergo a form of redemption is Yennefer, for although she initially desires to secure the dragon hoard to fund a cure for her infertility, she desists in her pursuit of the dragon when she discovers its goal of safeguarding a baby. This shift adds new layers to her character and portrays her in a more sympathetic light: a necessary development given her intrinsic role as a mentor for Princess Ciri in the larger series.
Like Geralt, the dragon Villentretenmerth also holds to an internalized moral code, for his actions are predicated on the assumption that humans are chaotic creatures whose actions must be controlled. This view implies that just as humans employ witchers to protect them from monsters, sentient monsters are equally justified in protecting themselves from monstrous humans. As Villentretenmerth asserts, “For some time, creatures, which you usually call monsters, have been feeling more and more under threat from people. They can no longer cope by themselves. They need a Defender. Some kind of…witcher” (79). Thus, although humans depict the conflict between themselves and monsters as a struggle between the forces of order and chaos, respectively, the monsters in question hold the opposite view. In this way, Sapkowski employs “The Bounds of Reason” to set his story apart from the typical fantasy adventure tale, for he simultaneously embraces and challenges the traditional tropes and patterns of the genre to craft a far more sophisticated philosophical debate. Ultimately, the story lays bare the flaws of humanity and emphasizes people’s rampant greed, lack of empathy, and inflexible thinking. By depicting certain characters as morally bankrupt despite their outwardly noble causes, Sapkowski prompts a deeper reflection on the morality of killing sentient beings, for he reveals the unethical core lurking beneath such seemingly honorable acts of heroism.
Related Titles
By Andrzej Sapkowski
