Ведьмак: Кровь эльфов

           AndIthoughtthebloodinwhichIwaslyingwasCoral’sblood.Butitwasmyown.AndthenIsawwhattheyhaddonetome,andIstartedtohowl,howllikeabeatendog,likeabatteredchild—Leavemealone!Don’tworry,I’mnotgoingtocry.I’mnotalittlegirlfromatinytowerinMariboranymore.Damnit,I’mTrissMerigold,theFourteenthOneKilledatSodden.TherearefourteengravesatthefootoftheobeliskontheHill,butonlythirteenbodies.You’reamazedsuchamistakecouldhavebeenmade?Mostofthecorpseswereinhard-to-recognisepieces–nooneidentifiedthem.Thelivingwerehardtoaccountfor,too.Ofthosewhohadknownmewell,Yenneferwastheonlyonetosurvive,andYenneferwasblind.Othersknewmefleetinglyandalwaysrecognisedmebymybeautifulhair.AndI,damnit,didn’thaveitanymore!"

           Geraltheldhercloser.Shenolongertriedtopushhimaway.

           "Theyusedthehighestmagicsonus,"shecontinuedinamutedvoice,"spells,elixirs,amuletsandartefacts.NothingwasleftwantingforthewoundedheroesoftheHill.Wewerecured,patchedup,ourformerappearancesreturnedtous,ourhairandsightrestored.Youcanhardlyseethemarks.ButIwillneverwearaplungingnecklineagain,Geralt.Never."

           Thewitcherssaidnothing.NeitherdidCiri,whohadslippedintothehallwithoutasoundandstoppedatthethreshold,hunchinghershouldersandfoldingherarms.

           "So,"themagiciansaidafterawhile,"don’ttalktomeaboutmotivation.