Blood of Elves

Ye

The magician put the comb aside but, lost in thought, kept gazing through the window at the swarms of ravens and crows croaking horrifically as they flew east. On the table, next to the mirror and an impressive array of bottled cosmetics, lay several letters. Ciri knew that Ye

Splashing with her left hand so as to mislead, she arranged the fingers of her right in a gesture, concentrated on a formula, fixed her eyes on the letters and sent out an impulse.

'Don't you even dare,' said Ye

'I thought…' She cleared her throat. 'I thought one of them might be from Geralt…'

'If it was, I'd have given it to you.' The magician turned in her chair and sat facing her. 'Are you going to be long washing?'

'I've finished.'

'Get up, please.'

Ciri obeyed. Ye

'Yes,' she said, 'you've finished with childhood. You've rounded out where necessary. Lower your hands. I'm not interested in your elbows. Well, well, don't blush, no false shyness. It's your body, the most natural thing in the world. And the fact that you're developing is just as natural. If your fate had turned out differently… If it weren't for the war, you'd have long been the wife of some duke or prince. You realise that, don't you? We've discussed matters concerning your gender often enough and in enough detail for you to know that you're already a woman. Physiologically, that is to say. Surely you've not forgotten what we talked about?'

'No. I haven't.'

When you visit Jarre I hope there aren't any problems with your memory either?'

Ciri lowered her eyes, but only momentarily. Ye

'Dry yourself and come here,' she said coolly. 'No splashing, please.'

Wrapped in a towel, Ciri sat down on the small chair at the magician's knees. Ye

'Are you angry with me?' asked the girl reluctantly. 'For, for… going to the tower?'

'No. But Ne

'But I haven't… I don't care about Jarre in the least.' Ciri blushed a little. 'I only…'

'Exactly,' muttered the enchantress. 'You only. Don't play the child because you're not one any more, let me remind you. That boy slobbers and stammers at the sight of you. Can't you see that?'

'That's not my fault! What am I supposed to do?'

Ye

'Don't toy with him. It's base.'

'But I'm not toying with him! I'm only talking to him!'

'I'd like to believe,' the enchantress said as she snipped her

scissors, cutting yet another wisp of hair which would not allow itself to be styled for anything in the world, 'that during these conversations, you remember what I asked you.'

'I remember, I remember!'

'He's an intelligent and bright boy. One or two inadvertent words could lead him on the right track, to matters he should know nothing about. No one, absolutely no one must find out who you are.'

'I remember,' repeated Ciri. 'I haven't squealed a word to anyone, you can be sure of that. Tell me, is that why we have to leave so suddenly? Are you afraid that someone's going to find out I'm here? Is that why?'

'No. There are other reasons.'

'Is it because… there might be a war? Everybody's talking about another war! Everybody's talking about it, Lady Ye

'Indeed,' the magician confirmed coolly, snipping her scissors just above Ciri's ear. 'It's a subject which belongs to the so-called interminable category. There's been talk about wars in the past, there is talk now and there always will be. And not without reason there have been wars and there will be wars. Lower your head.'

'Jarre said… that there's not going to be a war with Nilfgaard. He spoke of some sort of analogies… Showed me a map. I don't know what to think myself any more. I don't know what these analogies are, probably something terribly clever… Jarre reads various learned books and knows it all, but I think…'

'It interests me, what you think, Ciri.'

'In Cintra… That time… Lady Ye

Ciri raised her head and her voice stuck in her throat. Ye

'Unfortunately,' she said quietly, 'unfortunately, you're right, my ugly one. If the ability to make use of experience and draw conclusions decided, we would have forgotten what war is a long

time ago. But those whose goal is war have never been held back, nor will be, by experience or analogy.'

'So… It's true, after all. There is going to be a war. Is that why we have to leave?'

'Let's not talk about it. Let's not worry too soon.'

Ciri sniffed.

'I've already seen a war,' she whispered. 'I don't want to see another. Never. I don't want to be alone again. I don't want to be frightened. I don't want to lose everything again, like that time. I don't want to lose Geralt… or you, Lady Ye

'You will.' The magician's voice trembled a little. 'And I'm going to be with you, Ciri. Always. I promise you.'

Ciri sniffed again. Ye

'When I arrived here,' the lady magician suddenly said in her usual, melodious, slightly mocking voice. 'When we first met… You didn't like me.'

Ciri did not say anything. Our first meeting, she thought. I remember. I was in the Grotto with the other girls. Hrosvitha was showing us plants and herbs. Then Iola the First came in and whispered something in Hrosvitha's ear. The priestess grimaced with animosity. And Iola the First came up to me with a strange expression of her face. 'Get yourself together, Ciri,' she said, 'and go the refectory, quick. Mother Ne

Strange, meaningful glances, excitement in their eyes. And whispers. Ye

I knew immediately, thought Ciri, that it was her. Because Yd seen her. I'd seen her the night before. In my dream.

Her.

I didn't know her name then. She didn't say anything in my dream. She only looked at me and behind her, in the darkness, I saw a closed door…

Ciri sighed. Ye

'You're right,' admitted the girl seriously, looking straight into the magician's violet eyes. 'I didn't like you.'

'Ciri,' said Ne

The girl bowed, interlocking her palms in a gesture of full respect. The enchantress, rustling her long, black dress, approached, took Ciri by the chin and quite off-handedly lifted her head, turning it right and left. The girl felt anger and rebellion rising within her – she was not used to being treated this way. And at the same time, she experienced a burning envy. Ye