The Time of Contempt (The Witcher #2)

by Andrzej Sapkowski

“Have you only now realised who Cirilla, Princess of Cintra, really is? The Child of the Elder Blood; the last offshoot of that bloody tree of hatred! The last branch and, on it, the last poisoned apple…” “The Elder Blood… So far back in time… Pavetta, Calanthe, Adalia, Elen, Fiona…” “And Falka.” “By the gods, but that’s impossible. Firstly, Falka had no children! Secondly, Fiona was the legitimate daughter of—” “Firstly, we know nothing about Falka’s youth. Secondly, Fenn, don’t make me laugh. You know, of course, that I’m overcome with spasms of mirth at the sound of the word ‘legitimate.’ I believe that document, because in my opinion it’s authentic and speaks the truth. Fiona, Pavetta’s great-great-grandmother, was the daughter of Falka, that monster in human form. Damn it, I don’t believe in all those insane predictions, prophecies and other poppycock, but when I now recall the Ithlinne forecasts…” “Tainted blood?” “Tainted, contaminated, accursed; it can be understood in various ways. And according to legend, if you recall, it was Falka who was accursed—because Lara Dorren aep Shiadhal had put a curse on her mother—” “Those are just stories, Codringher.” “You’re right: stories. But do you know when stories stop being stories? The moment someone begins to believe in them. And someone believes in the story of the Elder Blood. In particular, in the part that says from Falka’s blood will be born an avenger who will destroy the old world and build a new one on its ruins.”...