Chapter 3

           "Yourfearswereunfounded,entirelyungrounded."Trissgrimaced,restingherelbowsonthetable."ThetimewhenwizardsusedtohuntSourcesandmagicallygiftedchildren,tearingthemfromtheirparentsorguardiansbyforceordeceit,islonggone.DidyoureallythinkImightwanttotakeCiriawayfromyou?"

           Lambertsnortedandturnedhisfaceaway.EskelandVesemirlookedatGeralt,andGeraltsaidnothing.Hecontinuedtogazeofftotheside,playingincessantlywithhissilverwitchermedallion,depictingtheheadofasnarlingwolf.Trissknewthemedallionreactedtomagic.OnsuchanightasMidinváerne,whentheairitselfwasvibratingwithmagic,thewitchers’medallionsmustbepracticallyhumming.Itmustbebothirritatingandbothersome.

           "No,child,"Vesemirfinallysaid."Weknowyouwouldnotdosuchathing.Butwealsoknowthatyoudo,ultimately,havetotelltheChapterabouther.We’veknownforalongtimethateverywizard,maleorfemale,isburdenedwiththisduty.Youdon’ttaketalentedchildrenfromtheirparentsandguardiansanymore.Youobservesuchchildrensothatlater–attherightmoment–youcanfascinatetheminmagic,influencethem—"

           "Havenofear,"sheinterruptedcoldly."IwillnottellanyoneaboutCiri.NoteventheChapter.Whyareyoulookingatmelikethat?"

           "We’reamazedbytheeasewithwhichyoupledgetokeepthissecret,"saidEskelcalmly.