Ведьмак: Кровь эльфов

           Hewasyoung,apparentlythesameageasLambert,andworeashort,blackbeardwhichdidnothidetheseveredisfigurementleftbehindbysmallpox.Thiswasunusual;witchersweregenerallyhighlyimmunetoinfectiousdiseases.

           "TrissMerigold,Coën."Geraltintroducedthemtoeachother."ThisisCoën’sfirstwinterwithus.Hecomesfromthenorth,fromPoviss."

           Theyoungwitcherbowed.Hehadunusuallypale,yellow-greenirisesandthewhitesofhiseyes,riddledwithredthreads,indicateddifficultandtroublesomeprocessesduringhismutation.

           "Letusgo,child,"utteredVesemir,takingherbythearm."Astableisnoplacetowelcomeaguest,butIcouldn’twaittoseeyou."

           Inthecourtyard,inarecessinthewallshelteredfromthewind,CiriwastrainingunderLambert’sinstructions.Deftlybalancingonabeamhangingonchains,shewasattacking–withhersword–aleathersackboundwithstrapstomakeitresembleahumantorso.Trissstoppedtowatch.

           "Wrong!"yelledLambert."You’regettingtooclose!Don’thackblindlyatit!Itoldyou,theverytipofthesword,atthecarotidartery!Wheredoesahumanoidhaveitscarotidartery?Ontopofitshead?What’shappening?Concentrate,Princess!"

           Ha,thoughtTriss.Soitistruth,notalegend.Sheistheone.Iguessedcorrectly.

           Shedecidedtoattackwithoutdelay,notallowingthewitcherstotryanyruses.

           "ThefamousChildSurprise?"shesaidindicatingCiri.