Illyana Zerbst was a royal councilor in Kaedwen.
Biography[]
Illyana was born to a servant family and worked for the Wencks on their noble estate in Aedirn.[1] As a child, she often fantasized of a better life, of marrying a wealthy husband who loved her. She made friends with Vesemir, and started picking a snowball fight one day when he was going to market to buy blue gum for the lady, who was suffering from fits of madness. She convinced him to buy honey cake with his money, and steal the plants. She joined Vesemir in an alley after he stole the cake, but they were cornered by a witcher, Deglan, who stole the plants off them. Illyana angrily took back the plant, and the witcher was surprised by her gall around someone like him. Knowing what the plant was for, he then informed the children that their liege lady was being possessed, and that they would have to take him to her as he was really interested in the money from such a job, or he would turn them in as thieves at the market.
After Deglan took care of the mahr that had been possessing the lady and left, Vesemir told Illyana of his desire to become a witcher, and that he could earn money to support her dreams. Illyana grew angry at the suggestion of leaving a master she hated for one she loved, and turned away from him. Vesemir left for Kaer Morhen to become a witcher, leaving a honey cake under Illyana's bed before he departed. Sometime later, their town was attacked by soldiers from Kaedwen, who killed the lord and lady, as well as Vesemir's father. Illyana managed to escape though and was taken in by the Zerbst family, and wrote a letter to Vesemir at Kaer Morhen, informing him what had happened and telling him not to return home. However, despite everything, she was content where she was, as while she still worked as a servant, the Zerbsts taught her how to read and write as well as paint.
The forward-thinking son of the Zerbst family fell in love with Illyana and married her, despite her low station. The couple had three daughters before Lord Zerbst passed away. Illyana then converted their house into an orphanage, and one of Illyana's daughters had a grandchild. As was the custom in Kaedwen, Illyana inherited her husband's seat on the royal council. Despite her low origins and her honorary seat, Lady Zerbst became a respected and prominent councilor in Kaedwen.
When Madam Tetra Gilcrest testified to King Dagread about witchers setting up monster attacks within the country, Lady Zerbst ordered to see evidence to believe that such a thing had passed. She remained a vocal opponent of all policies that could lead to a war between Kaedwen and the witchers.
Lady Zerbst was reunited with Vesemir during this time when he was brought from a cell to a side room, and she revealed her identity to him, and what had happened since he left. She was surprised to see him still a young man, even though she knew that witchers aged differently, and explained that she knew about his fearsome reputation. She then formally offered to pardon him for his crimes in Kaedwen if he killed the monster in the woods outside Ard Carraigh, informing him that she would take care of Luka, and that he would be chaperoned by Madam Gilcrest.
When it was revealed that the witchers were responsible for causing terror in the kingdom with the appearance of the monsters, Dagread gave permission to attack Kaer Morhen. Illyana went there to warn the witchers about the attack and then hid in the basement with the children who survived the Trial of the Grasses. The children later escaped through a secret passage discovered by Geralt.
Lady Zerbst confronted Tetra, trying to dissuade her from killing the remaining mages and witchers. Tetra accused her of treason and orders her to join them. Suddenly, Vesemir broke through the ceiling to defend his allies, but before he could attack, Kitsu cast an illusion at him, causing the witcher to murder the mages and mortally wound Illyana with his sword. When she woke up, she was bleeding on the floor, and Tetra was going to give her the final blow, but Deglan attacked her from behind and killed the sorceress. Vesemir took Illyana to a nearby lake and melted the ice with Igni. Lady Zerbst contemplated the dream of her life for the last time, before succumbing to her wounds and dying in Vesemir's arms.
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