Ведьмак: Кровь эльфов

           AllIneedisonesmallpieceofinformation:whatreallyhappenedtoCirilla,theQueenofCintra’sgranddaughter?Manypeopleclaimshewaskilledduringthesiegeofthetown;thereareeveneye-witnessestosupporttheclaim.Fromyourballad,however,itwouldappearthatthechildsurvived.Iamtrulyinterestedtoknowifthisisyourimaginationatwork,orthetruth?Trueorfalse?"

           "I’mextremelypleasedyou’resointerested."Dandilionsmiledbroadly."Youmaylaugh,Masterwhatever-your-name-is,butthatwaspreciselywhatIintendedwhenIcomposedtheballad.Iwishedtoexcitemylistenersandarousetheircuriosity."

           "Trueorfalse?"repeatedRiencecoldly.

           "IfIweretogivethatawayIwoulddestroytheimpactofmywork.Goodbye,myfriend.YouhaveusedupallthetimeIcanspareyou.Andtwoofmymanyinspirationsarewaitingoutthere,wonderingwhichofthemIwillchoose."

           Rienceremainedsilentforalongwhile,makingnomovetoleave.Hestaredatthepoetwithhisunfriendly,moisteyes,andthepoetfeltagrowingunease.Amerrydincamefromthebawdy-house’smainroom,punctuatedfromtimetotimebyhigh-pitchedfemininegiggles.Dandilionturnedhisheadaway,pretendingtoshowderisivehaughtinessbut,infact,hewasjudgingthedistancetothecorneroftheroomandthetapestryshowinganymphsprinklingherbreastswithwaterpouredfromajug.

           "Dandilion,"Riencefinallyspoke,slippinghishandbackintothepocketofhissepia-colouredtunic,"answermyquestions.Please.