Geralt and his lover Yennefer travel to a town together called Aedd Gynvael. In their room at the inn, it's obviously apparent that they love each other, such as Yen showing concerns over the witcher's health and the negative effects his potions have on him. Yennefer recounts the story of the history of Aedd Gynvael. In the old language, it translate to a shard of ice. The fable tells of a Queen of Winter that would fly across the country through a blizzard on a sleigh pulled by white horses. Ice shards would fall in her wake, those who were stricken were cursed. Everything that ever made them happy were gone, except for snow and ice that they associated to the Queen of Winter. They dropped everything in their lives in search for her to be with her, until they died. For reasons he couldn't quite put his finger on, Geralt wants to leave after completing a job, but Yennefer inexplicably wants to remain for longer than usual. He discovers from the alderman (city council member) that she has been here many times before, and each time she stayed with the same particular person for a good while.
Immediately the next scene is of Geralt and the person whom she sees, Istredd. Istredd confirms that he and Yennefer have known each other for years, both being practitioners of magic and having the same interests and goals. The magician tells Geralt he had asked Yennefer to remain the rest of her life with her, offering her his ability to love and support a stable life with her that her endless traveling from town to town with the witcher could not give to her, to which she could not give an immediate answer. Geralt realizes in their conversation that he isn't some distant admirer with an unrequited love, this is real. He even has his own pet name for her, Yenna. The magician demands Geralt to leave without saying goodbye, as he had done once before.
Back at the inn, Yennefer immediately wants to talk about it. She admits that it's all true. They both ask each other to answer the question they knew they had in each others' minds but would not explicitly say aloud, neither could give an answer (I assume that this question is 'Do you love me?'). She summons a kestrel bird to seek into his mind and answer for him. The kestrel replies 'The truth is a shard of ice'.
Geralt and the magician meets once again to have another discussion. They conclude that the only way this could be resolved is if one of them dies, and thus agree to meet the next day to end it. Istredd asks the witcher 'Do you feel stupid?' to which Geralt replies 'Yes'. The magician admits that he is relieved and felt the same, never in his life would he had thought he would ever fight to the death over a woman but still believes it has to be done.
In the night, Geralt picked a fight with a gang of nameless people who beat the shit out of him. One of them recognizes him for what and who he is, they see he does not carry his swords imperative to his occupation and the realization dawns on them. 'Next time, when you want to kill yourself, witcher, don't try to get others to do it for you. Just hang yourself by your reins in the stables." They then all leave.
The next day they meet at the agreed upon location. The witcher notices Istredd has a sword and inquires why bother with a weapon when he can cast a bolt of lightning with ease to annihilate him. The magician tells him the later he received from 'Yenna' saying
'Goodbye, Val (Istredd's real name that only Yennefer uses). Forgive me. I cannot accept your gift, as I have nothing to give you in return that will adequately express my gratitude. That's the truth, Val. The truth is a shard of ice.'
Geralt repeats the words told to him by those he fought the night before. Istredd screams that he will follow Yennefer to the ends of the earth. The witcher walks away, towards the inn anticipating the very same letter sent to Istredd.
