Ведьмак: Кровь эльфов

           Wetalkedoversupper,gossipedaboutthisandthat.ItriedtoguidetheconversationtotheChildSurpriseseveraltimestonoavail.Theychangedthesubjectatonce.

           Shehadwatchedthem.Vesemirhadbeentenseandtroubled;Geraltuneasy,LambertandEskelfalselymerryandtalkative,Coënsonaturalastobeunnatural.TheonlyonewhohadbeensincereandopenwasCiri,rosy-cheekedfromthecold,dishevelled,happyanddevilishlyvoracious.Theyhadeatenbeerpotage,thickwithcroutonsandcheese,andCirihadbeensurprisedtheyhadnotservedmushroomsaswell.Theyhaddrunkcider,butthegirlhadbeengivenwaterandwasclearlybothastonishedandrevoltedbyit."Where’sthesalad?"shehadyelled,andLamberthadrebukedhersharplyandorderedhertotakeherelbowsoffthetable.

           Mushroomsandsalad.InDecember?

           Ofcourse,thoughtTriss.They’refeedingherthoselegendarycavesaprophytes–amountainplantunknowntoscience–givingherthefamousinfusionsoftheirmysteriousherbstodrink.Thegirlisdevelopingquickly,isacquiringawitcher’sinfernalfitness.Naturally,withoutthemutation,withouttherisk,withoutthehormonalupheaval.Butthemagicianmustnotknowthis.Itistobekeptasecretfromthemagician.Theyaren’tgoingtotellmeanything;theyaren’tgoingtoshowmeanything.

           Isawhowthatgirlran.Isawhowshedancedonthebeamwithhersword,agileandswift,fullofadancer’snear-felinegrace,movinglikeanacrobat.