up by a tempest which no one had foreseen. A tempest which should not have broken out…
Ciri turned her head away so that Yennefer would not see the tears swelling in her eyes. Why all this, she thought. Why these questions, these recollections? There's no returning to the past. There's no one there for me any more. Not my papa, nor my mama, nor my grandmother, the one who was Ard Rhena, the Lioness of Cintra. Uncle Crach an Craite, no doubt, is also dead. I haven't got anybody any more and am someone else. There's no returning…
The magician remained silent, lost in thought.
'Is that when your dreams began?' she asked suddenly.
'No,' Ciri reflected. 'No, not then. Not until later.'
'When?'
The girl wrinkled her nose.
'In the summer… The one before… Because the following summer there was the war already…'
'Aha. That means the dreams started after you met Geralt in Brokilon?'
She nodded. I'm not going to answer the next question, she decided. But Yennefer did not ask anything. She quickly got to her feet and looked at the sun.
'Well, that's enough of this sitting around, my ugly one. It's getting late. Let's carry on looking. Keep your hand held loosely in front of you, and don't tense your fingers. Forward.'
'Where am I to go? Which direction?'
'It's all the same.'
'The veins are everywhere?'
'Almost. You're going to learn how to discover them, to find them in the open and recognise such spots. They are marked by trees which have dried up, gnarled plants, places avoided by all animals. Except cats.'
'Cats?'
'Cats like sleeping and resting on intersections. There are many stories about magical animals but really, apart from the dragon,
the cat is the only creature which can absorb the force. No one knows why a cat absorbs it and what it does with it… What's the matter?'
'Oooo… There, in that direction! I think there's something there! Behind that tree!'
'Ciri, don't fantasise. Intersections can only be sensed by standing over them… Hmmm… Interesting. Extraordinary, I'd say. Do you really feel the pull?'
'Really!'
'Let's go then. Interesting, interesting… Well, locate it. Show me where.'
'Here! On this spot!'
Well done. Excellent. So you feel delicate cramps in your ring finger? See how it bends downwards? Remember, that's the sign.'
'May I draw on it?'
Wait, I'll check.'
'Lady Yennefer? How does it work with this drawing of the force? If I gather force into myself then there might not be enough left down below. Is it right to do that? Mother Nenneke taught us that we mustn't take anything just like that, for the fun of it. Even the cherry has to be left on its tree for the birds, so that it can simply fall.'
Yennefer put her arm around Ciri, kissed her gently on the hair at her temple.
'I wish,' she muttered, 'others could hear what you said. Vil-gefortz, Francesca, Terranova… Those who believe they have exclusive right to the force and can use it unreservedly. I wish they could listen to the little wise ugly one from Melitele's Temple. Don't worry, Ciri. It's a good thing you're thinking about it but believe me, there is enough force. It won't run out. It's as if you picked one single little cherry from a huge orchard.
'Can I draw on it now?'
'Wait. Oh, it's a devilishly strong pocket. It's pulsating violently. Be careful, ugly one. Draw on it carefully and very, very slowly.
'I'm not frightened! Pah-pah! I'm a witcher. Ha! I feel it! I feel… Ooouuuch! Lady… Ye… nnnne… feeeeer…'
'Damn it! I warned you! I told you! Head up! Up, I say! Take this and put it to your nose or you'll be covered in blood! Calmly, calmly, little one, just don't faint. I'm beside you. I'm beside you… daughter. Hold the handkerchief. I'll just conjure up some ice…'
There was a great fuss about that small amount of blood. Yennefer and Nenneke did not talk to each other for a week.
For a week, Ciri lazed around, read books and got bored because the magician had put her studies on hold. The girl did not see her for entire days – Yennefer disappeared somewhere at dawn, returned in the evening, looked at her strangely and was oddly taciturn.
After a week, Ciri had had enough. In the evening, when the enchantress returned, she went up to her without a word and hugged her hard.
Yennefer was silent. For a very long time. She did not have to speak. Her fingers, clasping the girl's shoulders tightly, spoke for her.
The following day, the high priestess and the lady magician made up, having talked for several hours.
And then, to Ciri's great joy, everything returned to normal.
'Look into my eyes, Ciri. A tiny light. The formula, please!'
'Aine verseos!'
'Good. Look at my hand. The same move and disperse the light in the air.'
'Aine aen aenye!'
'Excellent. And what gesture comes next? Yes, that's the one. Very good. Strengthen the gesture and draw. More, more, don't stop!'
'Oooouuuch…'
'Keep your back straight! Arms by your side! Hands loose, no unnecessary moves with your fingers. Every move can multiply the effect. Do you want a fire to burst out here? Strengthen it, what are you waiting for?'
'Oouuch, no… I can't-'
'Relax and stop shaking! Draw! What are you doing? There, that's better… Don't weaken your will! That's too fast, you're hyperventilating! Unnecessarily getting hot! Slower, ugly one, calmer. I know it's unpleasant. You'll get used to it.'
'It hurts… My belly… Down here-'
'You're a woman, it's a typical reaction. Over time you'll harden yourself against it. But in order to harden yourself you have to practise without any painkillers blocking you. It really is necessary, Ciri. Don't be afraid of anything, I'm alert and screening you. Nothing can happen to you. But you have to endure the pain. Breathe calmly. Concentrate. The gesture, please. Perfect. And take the force, draw it, pull it in… Good, good… Just a bit more…'
'O… O… Oooouuuch!'
'There, you see? You can do it, if you want to. Now watch my hand. Carefully. Perform the same movement. Fingers! Fingers, Ciri! Look at my hand, not the ceiling! Now, that's good, yes, very good. Tie it up. And now turn it around, reverse the move and now issue the force in the form of a stronger light.'
'Eeeee… Eeeeek… Aiiiieee…'
'Stop moaning! Control yourself! It's just cramp! It'll stop in a moment! Fingers wider, extinguish it, give it back, give it back from yourself! Slower, damn it, or your blood vessels will burst again!'
'Eeeeeek!'
'Too abrupt, ugly one, still too abrupt. I know the force is bursting out but you have to learn to control it. You mustn't allow outbursts like the one a moment ago. If I hadn't insulated you, you would have caused havoc here. Now, once more. We're starting right from the beginning. Move and formula.'
'No! Not again! I can't!'
'Breathe slowly and stop shaking. It's plain hysteria this time, you don't fool me. Control yourself, concentrate and begin.'
'No, please, Lady Yennefer… It hurts… I feel sick…'
'Just no tears, Ciri. There's no sight more nauseating than a magician crying. Nothing arouses greater pity.
