Istredd/Netflix series

Istredd is sorcerer who was romantically involved with Yennefer during their time at Aretuza.

Meeting Yennefer
While tending to his studies in the Aretuzan ruins, Istredd meets Yennefer after she portals for the first time. He informs her that she’s been marked, so he creates an untraceable portal to send Yennefer back home and assures her that he’s to be trusted. Istredd reconvenes with Yennefer after she is brought into Aretuza by Tissaia de Vries.

Several weeks have passed since Yennefer’s arrival in Aretuza. After she fails to complete a trial and is scolded by Tissaia, Yennefer retreats to Istredd and details her shortcomings. He advises her to keep trying. He didn’t give up and now he can read minds. He even helps Yennefer read his mind, revealing glimpses of cicadas, warm bread and other things that she might enjoy.

After losing control of her emotions, Yennefer finds Istredd and informs him of her fear of being sent home. Istredd insists that they’ll find a way to be together. He can’t show Yennefer what he knows because he has to ensure that the knowledge never reaches the Brotherhood of Sorcerers. What that would require is magic other than that of which they’re taught. It’s too potent and can open doors that can’t be closed. Istredd instead shows her the skulls of the elves who built Aretuza. They’re the original sorcerers of the continent. When humans and monsters arrived after the Conjunction of the Spheres, elven mages showed the first humans how to turn chaos into magic. And then the humans slaughtered them so they could pretend the power had always belonged to them, rewriting history. Istredd wishes to honor them rather than continue telling the false history. He gives Yennefer a Feainnewedd that only grows where Elder Blood has spilled. Using this plant, Yennefer summons a portal with no difficulty and reveals that her real father was half-elf. He was killed during the Great Cleansing. His blood is why she’s cursed with a twisted spine and why no one could ever love her. Istredd then kisses her, as if to prove Yennefer wrong about no one loving her.

After gaining Yennefer’s trust, Istredd reveals her elven heritage to Stregobor.

Betrayal of Trust
It’s initiation day, and Istredd and Yennefer are having sex in front of an illusory audience. Afterward, they share their mutual fears of being separated with Istredd exploring ruins and Yennefer working as a mage to King Virfuril. Yennefer recalls the frightened girl she once was, completely unaware of her power. She wants to go back home to Aedirn and never be that girl again.

Istredd goes searching for Yennefer after she fails to attend the initiation. He finds her in the ruins forging her father’s name on a deed to declare her as his natural born daughter. Istredd apologizes for telling Stregobor her secret. She wants him to go back to the Chapter and tell them that he lied, but it’s too late as Yennefer missed initiation and the enchantments are done. Istredd offers to right his wrong. The Brotherhood offered him a seat on the research chapter. He wishes to bring Yennefer along with him. However, she wants more than a life holding dustpans while he brushes bones. Yennefer storms off, but not before Istredd exclaims that she’s just angry because she lost her chance to be beautiful. Not only beauty, Yennefer wants power, she admits.

Much to Istredd’s displeasure, Yennefer arrives at the Aretuzan ball completely transformed. Appearing almost entirely like a new person.