Ведьмак: Кровь эльфов

           Andboring!Ican’tunderstandwhatpinetreeshavetodowithmagic?What?LadyYennefer!Youpromisedtoanswermyquestions!"

           "Unfortunately,"sighedthemagician,pickingupthesheetofpaperandcriticallyappraisingthedrawing,"IthinkI’mgoingtoregretthatpromise.Whatdopinetreeshaveincommonwithmagic?Nothing.Butyou’vedrawnitcorrectly,andontime.Intruth,excellentforavirgin."

           Areyoulaughingatme?"

           No.Irarelylaugh.Ireallyneedtohaveagoodreasontolaugh.Concentrateonthenextpage,Surprise.Therearerowsofstars,circles,crossesandtrianglesdrawnonit,adifferentnumberof

           eachshapeineachrow.Thinkandanswer:howmanystarsshouldtherebeinthelastrow?"

           "Starsaresilly!"

           "Howmany?"

           "Three!"

           Yenneferdidnotsayanythingforalongtime.Shestaredatadetailonthecarvedwardrobedoorknownonlytoher.ThemischievoussmileonCiri’slipsstartedslowlytodisappearuntilfinallyitdisappearedaltogether,withoutatrace.

           "Nodoubtyouwerecurioustolearn,"saidthemagicianveryslowly,notceasingtoadmirethewardrobe,"whatwouldhappenifyougavemeasenselessandstupidreply.YouthoughtperhapsthatImightnotnoticebecauseIamnotintheleastinterestedinyouranswers?Youthoughtwrongly.Youbelieved,perhaps,thatIwouldsimplyacceptthatyouarestupid?Youwerewrong.