Ведьмак: Кровь эльфов

           YenneferdidnotslowherstridebutCirisuddenlyknewthatthisdoorwouldnotopenofitsownaccord.Andshesuddenlyhadanoverwhelmingcertaintythatthisdoormustnotbeopened.Thatshemustnotgothroughit.That,behindthisdoor,somethingwaswaitingforher…

           Shestoppedshort,triedtopullaway,butYennefer’shandwasstrongandunyieldingandunrelentinglydraggedherforward.AndCirifinallyunderstoodthatshehadbeenbetrayed,deceived,soldout.That,eversincethefirstmeeting,fromtheverybeginning,fromthefirstday,shehadbeennomorethanamarionette,apuppetonastring.Shetuggedharder,toreherselfawayfromthatgrip.Thedarknessundulatedlikesmokeandthewhisperinginthedark,allofasudden,diedaway.Themagiciantookastepforward,stopped,turnedroundandlookedather.

           Ifyou’reafraid,turnback.

           Thatdoormustn’tbeopened.Youknowthat.

           Ido.

           Butyou’restillleadingmethere.

           Ifyou’reafraid,turnback.Youstillhavetimetoturnback.It’snottoolate.

           Andyou?

           Forme,itis.

           Cirilookedaround.Despitetheomnipresentdarknessshesawthedoorwhichtheyhadpassedthrough–andalong,distantvista.Andthere,fromadistance,fromthedarkness,sheheard..Theclatterofhooves.Thegratingofblackarmour.Andtheflutterofthewingsofabirdofprey.Andthevoice.