Chapter 6

           "Letusnotcommitamistake,"saidVizimir,KingofRedania,slidinghisringedfingersthroughthehairathistemples."Wecan’taffordtomakeablunderormistakenow."

           Thoseassembledsaidnothing.Demawend,rulerofAedirn,sprawledinhisarmchairstaringatthetankardofbeerrestingonhisbelly.Foltest,theLordofTemeria,Pontar,MahakamandSodden,andrecentlySeniorProtectorofBrugge,presentedhisnobleprofiletoeveryonebyturninghisheadtowardsthewindow.AttheoppositesideofthetablesatHenselt,KingofKaedwen,runninghissmall,piercingeyes–glisteningfromafaceasbeardedasabrigand’s–overtheotherparticipantsofthecouncil.Meve,QueenofLyria,toyedpensivelywiththeenormousrubiesinhernecklace,occasionallytwistingherbeautifulfulllipsintoanambiguousgrimace.

           "Letusnotcommitamistake,"repeatedVizimir,"becauseamistakecouldcostustoomuch.Letusmakeuseoftheexperienceofothers.Whenourancestorslandedonthebeachesfivehundredyearsagotheelvesalsohidtheirheadsinthesand.Wetorethecountryawayfromthempiecebypiece,andtheyretreated,thinkingallthewhilethatthiswouldbethelastborder,thatwewouldencroachnofurther.Letusbewiser!Becausenowitisourturn.Nowwearetheelves.NilfgaardisattheYarugaandIhear:"So,letthemstaythere".Ihear:"Theywon’tcomeanyfurther".Buttheywill,you’llsee.