I’m here, Lady Yennefer!
= She flew into the chamber like a shot from a catapult =
= and the door thumped open, slamming against the wall =
= She could have broken her legs on the stool standing in her way =
= but Ciri jumped over it deftly, gracefully executed a half-pirouette feigning the slash of a sword, and joyfully laughed at her successful trick =
= Despite running briskly, she did not pant but breathed evenly and calmly =
= She had mastered breath control to perfection =
I’m here!
= she repeated =
At last
Get undressed, and into the tub
Quick
= The enchantress did not look round =
= did not turn away from the table, looked at Ciri in the mirror =
= Slowly. She combed her damp, black curls which straightened under the pressure of the comb only to spring back a moment later into shiny waves =
= The girl unbuckled her boots in a flash, kicked them off, freed herself of her clothes and with a splash landed in the tub =
= Grabbing the soap, she started to energetically scrub her forearms =
= Yennefer sat motionless, staring at the windowm =
= and toying with her comb =
= Ciri snorted, spluttered and spat because soap had got into her mouth =
= She tossed her head wandering whether a spell existed which could make washing possible without water, soap and wasting time =
= The magician put the comb aside but, lost in thought, kept gazing through the window at the swarms of ravens and crows =
= croaking horrifically as they flew east =
= On the table, next to the mirror and an impressive array of bottled cosmetics, lay several letters =
= Ciri knew that Yennefer had been waiting for them a long time =
= and that the day on which they were to leave the Temple depended on her receiving these letters =
= In spite of what she had told Jarre =
= the girl had no idea where and why they were leaving =
= But in those letters . . . =
= Splashing with her left hand so as to mislead, she arranged the fingers of her right in a gesture =
= concentrated on a formula, fixed her eyes on the letters and sent out an impulse =
Don’t you even dare
= said Yennefer, without turning around =
I thought . . .
= She cleared her throat =
I thought one of them might be from Geralt . . .
If it was, I’d have given it to you
= The magician turned in her chair =
= and sat facing her =
Are you going to be long washing?
I’ve finished
Get up, please
= Ciri obeyed =
= Yennefer smiled faintly =
Yes
= she said =
you’ve finished with childhood
You’ve rounded out where necessary
Lower your hands
I’m not interested in your elbows
Well...
well
don’t blush, no false shyness
It’s your body, the most natural thing in the world
And the fact that you’re developing is just as natural
If your fate had turned out differently . . .
If it weren’t for the war
you’d have long been the wife of some duke or prince
You realise that, don’t you?
We’ve discussed
matters concerning your gender often enough and in enough detail for you to know that you’re already a woman
Physiologically, that is to say
Surely you’ve not forgotten what we talked about?
No
I haven’t
When you visit Jarre I hope there aren’t any problems with your memory either?
= Ciri lowered her eyes, but only momentarily =
= Yennefer did not smile =
Dry yourself
and come here
= she said coolly =
No splashing, please
= Wrapped in a towel, Ciri sat down on the small chair at the magician’s knees =
= Yennefer brushed the girl’s hair, every now and again snipping off a disobedient wisp with a pair of scissors =
Are you angry with me?
= asked the girl reluctantly =
For, for . . . going to the tower?
But Nenneke doesn’t like it
You know that
But I haven’t . . . I don’t care about Jarre in the least
= Ciri blushed a little =
I only . . .
Exactly
= muttered the enchantress =
You only
Don’t play the child because you’re not one any more, let me remind you
That boy slobbers and stammers at the sight of you
Can’t you see that?
That’s not my fault!
What am I supposed to do?
= Yennefer stopped combing Ciri’s hair =
= and measured her with a deep, violet gaze =
Don’t toy with him
It’s base
But I’m not toying with him!
I’m only talking to him!
I’d like to believe
= the enchantress said as she snipped her scissors, cutting yet another wisp of hair =
= which would not allow itself to be styled for anything in the world =
that during these conversations, you remember what I asked you
I remember, I remember!
He’s an intelligent and bright boy
One or two inadvertent words could lead him on the right track, to matters he should know nothing about
No one, absolutely no one must find out who you are
I remember
= repeated Ciri =
I haven’t squealed a word to anyone, you can be sure of that
Tell me, is that why we have to leave so suddenly?
Are you afraid that someone’s going to find out I’m here?
Is that why?
No
There are other reasons
Is it because . . .
there might be a war?
Everybody’s talking about another war!
Everybody’s talking about it, Lady Yennefer
Indeed
= the magician confirmed coolly, snipping her scissors just above Ciri’s ear =
It’s a subject which belongs to the so-called interminable category
There’s been talk about wars in the past, there is talk now and there always will be
And not without reason
there have been wars and there will be wars
Lower your head
Jarre said . . .
that there’s not going to be a war with Nilfgaard
He spoke of some sort of analogies . . .
Showed me a map
I don’t know what to think myself any more
I don’t know what these analogies are, probably something terribly clever . . .
Jarre reads various learned books and knows it all, but I think . . .
It interests me, what you think, Ciri
In Cintra . . .
That time . . .
Lady Yennefer, my grandmother was much cleverer than Jarre
King Eist was clever, too
He sailed the seas, saw everything, even a narwhal and sea serpent
and I bet he also saw many an analogy
And so what?
Suddenly they appeared, the Nilfgaardians . . .
= Ciri raised her head =
= and her voice stuck in her throat =
= Yennefer put her arms around her =
= and hugged her tightly =
Unfortunately
= she said quietly =
unfortunately, you’re right, my ugly one
If the ability to make use of experience and draw conclusions decided
we would have forgotten what war is a long time ago
But those whose goal is war have never been held back, nor will be, by experience or analogy
So . . . It’s true, after all
There is going to be a war
Is that why we have to leave?
Let’s not talk about it
Let’s not worry too soon
= Ciri sniffed =
I’ve already seen a war
= she whispered =
I don’t want to see another
Never
I don’t want to be alone again
I don’t want to be frightened
I don’t want to lose everything again, like that time
I don’t want to lose Geralt . . .
or you, Lady Yennefer
I don’t want to lose you
I want to stay with you
And him
Always
You will
= The magician’s voice trembled a little =
And I’m going to be with you, Ciri
I promise you
= Ciri sniffed again =
= Yennefer coughed quietly =
= put down the scissors and comb, got to her feet =
= and crossed over to the window =
= The ravens were still croaking in their flight towards the mountains =
When I arrived here
= the lady magician suddenly said in her usual, melodious, slightly mocking voice =
When we first met . . .
You didn’t like me
= Ciri did not say anything =
Our first meeting
= she thought =
I remember