Sword of Destiny (The Witcher, #0.7)

by Andrzej Sapkowski

“Yes,” Borch said, picking a bone clean. “Let us continue our talk, if you will. I understand you aren’t keen on being placed on either side. You do your job.” “That’s correct.” “But you cannot escape the conflict between Chaos and Order. Although it was your comparison, you are not a farrier. I’ve seen you work. You go down into a dungeon among some ruins and come out with a slaughtered basilisk. There is, comrade, a difference between shoeing horses and killing basilisks. You said that if the payment is fair, you’ll hurry to the end of the world and dispatch the monster you’re asked to. Let’s say a fierce dragon is wreaking havoc on a—” “Bad example,” Geralt interrupted. “You see, right away you’ve mixed up Chaos and Order. Because I do not kill dragons; and they, without doubt, represent Chaos.” “How so?” Three Jackdaws licked his fingers. “Well, I never! After all, among all monsters, dragons are probably the most bestial, the cruellest and fiercest. The most revolting of reptiles. They attack people, breathe fire and carry off, you know, virgins. There’s no shortage of tales like that. It can’t be that you, a witcher, don’t have a few dragons on your trophy list.” “I don’t hunt dragons,” Geralt said dryly. “I hunt forktails, for sure. And dracolizards. And flying drakes. But not true dragons; the green, the black or the red. Take note, please.” “You astonish me,” Three Jackdaws said. “Very well, I’ve taken note. In any case, that’s enough about dragons for the moment,...