"THE LIMIT OF POSSIBILITIES." "I'm tellin' you, he's not comin' out." "It's been an hour, he's dead." "Let's wait little more." "What for?" "He was eaten by the basilisk." "Like the others." "We had a deal, how can you..." "You had a deal with a living, mayor, and now the moron's dead." "He didn't even take a mirror, just a sword." "He may scratch the basil, not kill him." "He's ours, the local, and he's beaten better than him." "Am I right?" "Go away, mayor, you don't need to be here." "We'll take care of the horse and belongings." "Butchers guild always first." "How can you..." "Are you looking for trouble, mayor?" "I'm warning you." "Leave this." "It's not yours." "And who are you?" "It's none of your interest, dear." "I see you have no weapon." "It's not very good." "You're wrong." "My weapon follows me." "200 lintars, as we agreed, mr mayor." "I risk my life for the petty cash and you tamper with my stuff." "But - nothing was taken." "You forgot something." "What is it, sir?" "You've drawn a knife against me." "Beautiful cut of the Zerrican sabre." "I am Borch Three Jackdaws." "These are my Zerrican girls" " Tea and Vea." "Geralt of Rivia." "Thank you for saving my horse and goods." "Call me Borch." "Anything stops you in this beautiful town?" "Nothing." "Absolutely nothing." "Excellent." "I invite you to the Pensive Dragon Inn." "The've got a great cuisine there." "Borch, I'm a witcher." "So?" "Not everyone likes our company." "Afterwards they are dissapointed or frightened." "They are scared of us as if we were leprous." "Dear, we'll have a beer for a start." "Bring a cask." "Something sour and spicy to go with it." "I recommend an eel with garlic in vinegar." "Very good." "Next, the rafters' soup, roast lamb with onion then the crabs, put some dill on it." "And then, sheep's cheese, a salad and...and we'll see." "Oh, I forgot." "The mutton only for two of us." "The girls think of their figure." "I get it." "That's for a starer." "We may give a special order afterwards." "Do the girls speak common?" "Only little." "And they're not talkative, which is good." "Well then, You've been on the route for how long?" "Several years." "Let's drink." "I understand that you, being a witcher, travel the world and when a monster shows up you kill it." "For this you get paid." "More or less." "So they call on you, let's say a special order, and you go and execute it." "It depends who calls and what for." "And the price." "That too." "I do it for living." "Not a wealthy living is it?" "Don't you ever have doubts?" "Ever?" "Why pick on me, Borch, I told you to keep away." "Dissapointed, right?" "Forgive me, no offence was intended." "Just curious of you and your trade." "For your information, I don't accept every contract." "A witcher assignes himslelf a limit to his possibilities." "I only protect those people whose lives are threatened by monsters and monstrosities." "Convenient, don't you think?" "You could even be a witcher and not fight at all." "We live from what we earn, and we earn little." "That's the whole secret." "But... aren't you supposed to act in the name of justice, fighting the evil." "In the battle between the order and the chaos." "You witchers clean up this world." "You tire me." "Listen..." "I can have no doubts of a human." "But you're right, I've got my own principles." "destroy the aggressive creatures which follow people." "I I spare the ones which avoid human contact." "They were first, they have the right to be here." "They mean no harm." "An original theory but not always fitting people's interests." "I don't care for them." "But you defend them." "I defend their lives, not their interests!" "It's all complicated, Borch..." "There are monsters which changed only after encountering humans." "They dig in the graveyards and dumps, they lurk waiting for people around big cities, on routes, it's the easiest way to get food." "These I kill." "But there are other creatures of the same species that live in harmony with nature." "In mountains, woods." "These I don't chase." "I don't accept such orders despite they're the most profitable." "Leather, teeth, meat, claws." "For alchemists, wizards, quacks, jewellers." "And some I don't touch at all." "For example, I don't kill dragons." "For they're most dangerous." "No, Borch, it's simple." "Dragons don't attack people, it's people who hunt them." "They kill sheeps, cows..." "They have to, dragon isn't a mouse, it eats a lot." "People have grubed out the forests, killed out the animals, delimited their living space, what are they supposed to do?" "You amaze me." "I only get troubles because of this." "But tell me." "Aren't they a wonder of nature!" "I like dragons - they're not envious." "Why kill'em?" "They're beautiful." "They took it as a compliment." "Watch out, Geralt, they're tireless also in the love battles." "They like you, damnit." "They truly do." "What's your name?" "Alveaenerle." "Nice." "You've got a pass?" "What pass?" "Why do you block the way?" "The order states not to let anyone through." "Bullshit, It's a free land, Holopole, do you get it?" "Leave him alone." "No big deal." "We'll go to Henfros by the Braa left bank." "You don't go for a dragon?" "What dragon, dear?" "Geralt!" "I'm Jaskier." "A bard and a poet." "Known as Unmatched - for some girls." "Listen then, noble men, what happened a week ago near the free city that is called Holopole." "In a morning twilight, just when the rising sun emerged..." "Speak normally." "I am." "A dragon has flown in the grasslands at Holopole." "Are you sure it wasn't just oshlusg?" "A dragon fits better in your ballad." "Don't insult me!" "I've seen him..." "On the second day he was there again." "He made two laps over the city, eaten up two ships on the grassland and disappeared." "There was a fair in the city that very moment." "People in a bounch found the courage and thought up a way to get rid of the reptile." "What?" "A local cobbler, certain Kozoyed, had this idea." "They killed a sheep, stuffed it with hellebore, belladonna, fool's parsley, brimstone and heelball." "Then they left the sheep with the herd." "To be frank, not many believed the dragon will be tempted by this stinking shit but, believe it or not, he eaten the bait." "Conitnue, sir Jaskier." "I've ordered a beer." "I suppose you won't refuse the treat?" "Why haven't I met such a noble knight earlier." "You'll tell us or what?" "I will." "At first it looked as if it got him." "He started roaring, kicking, snorting with smoke, then he weakened and freezed." "Two volunteered to check whether he's still alive." "We built them a nice kurgan afterwards." "He was alive." "Oh yes." "He pulled himslef together and flew away." "He fell down a couple of times though." "The bravest had followed him and you know what?" "The dragon dissapeared in Pustul Mountains." "He's hiding in the caves." "Everything's clear." "The dragon's been in a lethargy for some time." "He must have a vault in his cave, that's why the ford's blocked." "Someone wants this treasure." "Someone called king Niedamir of Caingorn." "This must be it." "He blocked the way for the competition and Holopolans." "They also want to get the dragon." "That's why he sent out his people for the best dragon-killers around." "Who arrived?" "Almost everyone." "They only lack a wizard." "There's Eyck of Denesle." "Pious, virtuous Eyck." "The flawless and spotless kinght." "And crazy about dragons?" "Not only." "He killed mantikors and griffons." "Slayed some dragons as well." "He's good." "He doesn't take money which is bad for my business." "Who else?" "Crinfrid haggers." "The dragon's already dead." "I know them." "They don't play fair but they're effective." "Anyone esle?" "There are six dwarfs under Yarpen Zigrin." "I heard about them." "They killed the dragon Ocvist from the Quartz Mountain." "That's everyone?" "Yep." "The wizard still hasn't arrived." "And there's you of course." "Don't count me in, I don't do dragons." "Then what brings you here?" "I killed a basilisk in the town, I'm on my way to Hengfors." "At last." "I hope it didn't froth." "No, thank you." "I want to talk to you, Geralt." "Geralt, let's join them." "Why?" "For the loot?" "No." "The dragon?" "You see, some want to kill him, some have principles like yours." "I see the third way." "If I understand correctly, you want to stop them." "Don't try." "And don't tell anyone about it, they'll kill you at the first oportunity." "No." "To save a dragon you have to kill people." "I cannot do that and I don't wanna see it." "I'm sorry." "Shame." "I'll go alone." "Thanks for the warning." "The king has set off." "We were waiting for you, sir." "Welcome, Yennefer." "You know each other?" "Yes..." "Once..." "You're...very pretty, lady." "Call me Yennefer." "I'm a sorceress." "We have similiar jobs." "Your orders, mr officer, apply to the riffraff, the rabble, not us, the nobility and the knights." "I cannot, sir." "I can only let those... who can slay the dragon." "You know what it is?" "You know who killed the basilisk?" "What would the king say, if he knew you don't want to let us, the wtichers, through?" "You're...you're witchers?" "I didn't know..." "The king doesn't want the knight nor you." "We need no help." "The king has enough force at his command to destroy the dragon." "That's a misunderstanding." "We're not going to take part in the hunt." "We wanted to pay our respect." "I understand but this area is closed." "It's not closed to us." "It's a free country." "We're coming with an important mission and we won't go back." "But...we can overtake you." "Rubbish!" "You're out of your mind!" "I will order to tie you up!" "Easy, chancellor." "Why the threats?" "We'll go together." "You'll kill the dragon and we'll split up." "I'll keep an eye on you." "What is it made of?" "Scorpions?" "There's enough room." "Just between us, witcher, what were you talking about with the king?" "I didn't." "He didn't come out." "He sent some fat arse." "Glendwiern, the fat pig." "And?" "Didn't he chase you away?" " No." "It's not good." "Hordes of people come for a dragon." "I don't like to fight in a crowd." "Don't worry, Neshchuka." "When the dragon swows up, you know who'll be left on the field." "Us!" "Not anyone else." "Apart from the witcher - that's a problem." "So?" "The witcher can fight if he wants." "But he'd better stay away from the treasure." "Only when it's divided, the heads fall like pears." "I haven't heard of you hunting dragons." "Since when?" "Finally you stopped the gibberish." "I don't kill dragons and I don't want the loot." "Period." "I can assure you I don't bother the dragons as well." "And the king?" "He doesn't believe us." "Just like you." "He's afraid it's a ruse." "I believe you!" "We will not fight." "Who's left in our way?" "Jaskier?" "You forget Eyck of Denesle." "He doesn't take money." "I saw him kneeling on rocks and looking to the sky." "As always, they say he talks to gods." "At my place, Crinfrid, the ones like him are kept chained and given a piece of coal so they can draw stuff on the walls." "Yennefer." "She's with Niedamir all the time plotting how to dupe us!" "If they come to terms, our contract won't be worth shit." "What contract, Boholt?" "The truth is, we can handle the dragon without Niedamir, not the other way round." "The deal's fair." "Those who'll go into hand fight with the dragon take half of the treasure." "The king takes the quarter, the other quarter for the others, if they help." "What do you think?" "What Niedamir thinks?" "He didn't say yes, neither no." "Jolly good, you've already counted your dragons." "I understand that Kozoyed, the cobbler, and the mob from Holopole will go away empty-handed." "Guides from Holopole lead us in the damn mountains." "The mob is the real problem." "Something should happen to this fuckin' cobbler before they make him a legend." "Maybe it will..." "What is that sulphur smell?" "It's a musk or other perfume." "Hail, noble Yennefer, we welcome you warmly." "You talk business here, gentlemen?" "Without me?" "What brings you here, lady?" "They say you want to get the dragon by yourself." "That's right." "I can handle it." "We'll do it without magic." "We don't need your help!" "You're so sure?" "Because you've got the witcher?" "That's not 'bout the witcher!" "If king signs our contract we go further, if not, we return!" "The king accepts your terms." "Contrary to my opinion." "Yennefer" "Yes, Geralt?" "I..." "Why are you here?" "Because of the dragon?" "Things hasn't changed, I suppose?" "No, nothing has changed, nothing." "No, we're not meant to be together." "I couldn't live with someone who goes out into night and may not return." "Who needs me as a lover, and as a mother." "Nothing has changed." "You're like a mistletoe on the wind." "Yesterday you killed the basilisk and today?" "You go somewhere, not knowing why." "Being a witcher you can't have a purpose." "You just go and kill another monster." "That's how they made me." "What's your purpose?" "Why are you here?" "Don't you know?" "The same dreams." "To be a woman, a mother." "I heard about a medicine, you get it from dragon's tissue." "I understand." "You don't know me, Geralt." "It's your imagination, Instead it may burn." "I ain't good." "I am..." "like a piece of ice.." "it won't quench your thirst." "Halt!" "Halt!" "May I, sir witcher?" "Speak." "For the first time in my life I see a witcher who doesn't hunt dragons." "Not only dragons, does it disturb you?" "Isn't this strange?" "On top of that there's this Borch with Zerrican escort, where the sacrafices are made in front of a dragon's effigy." "Well, mr chanchellour, these are my principles." "I know them." "Stupid theories of balance, preservation, all this crap." "What then?" "Nothing." "Nice conversation." "I'm warning you, Geralt." "I can lose my patience." "You shall stay at back." "You're suprised by simple and obvious things." "I'm suprised about king Niedamir being here, with an army, in the foreign country." "Why has he set off?" "Wouldn't be easier to hire mercearies?" "I'm sick of your talking." "But it's no secret." "He wants the crown of the duchy of Malleore and according to a prophecy and the duchy conditions, he can marry the princess who kills a dragon." "Daftness, ignorance, superstition and politics everywhere." "Get out of my sight." "They can pass!" "Move on!" "Be careful at the rocks!" "What news of the upper classes?" "What a crew." "Everyone's talking about the call." "Niedamir wants to seize a duchy and Eyck of Denesle defends the virgins from the dragons." "What about Yennefer?" "Let's not talk abot her, Borch." "What is it?" " I'll check." "Stay here." "Why?" "Stay here." "Why?" "Yennefer!" "Here!" "Do something, cast a damn spell!" "How?" "!" "I'm hanging!" "Can you find support?" "Can you do something with your legs?" "!" "Yeah, dangle'em." "Hold on!" "Bring a rope!" "Let's wait, he will soon let go." "Are you fucked up?" "Bring a rope or they'll both fall!" "Could be a good thing." "I can't hold any longer!" "No!" "Geralt..." "I can't love." "I heard it." "Yesterday you wanted peace." "I won't kill you." "But draw a sword...please." "You're not protected by the code." "We are chaised by the god's anger." "We all sinned." "You, king, have sinned by forming this company of dwarves, ignoble mercenaries and treacherous wizards...and mutants like the one here." "I call on you to clear your ranks of the filth!" "Quiet, idiot!" "Everything's changed!" "Who's supposed to clear the ranks?" "This kid called king?" "You quiet." "Thank you, knight of Denesle." "You've saved Yennefer and me." "But the filth is tired of you." "The filth leaves you with relief." "Goodbye, Jaskier." "But where's Borch?" "You've been together." "People!" "Your majesty!" "A dragon, a huge dragon!" "Where!" "Over the ravine!" "On a plain!" "Impossible." "There are no golden dragons." "Must be an illusion." "It is not." "No-one's ever seen a golden dragon." "It's a deception!" "Or magic." "How beautiful." "Real or magic, we go to fight, gentlemen!" "This isn't our dragon." "The one that was posioned sits somewhere in a cave on his treasure." "Doesn't matter we'll still get the hide." "Allright, let's start." "Dragon...you're beautiful." "Listen, leave him alone, please!" "You don't kill a legend." "Geralt, Yennefer!" "Tell them!" "Why risk." "Let's stuff sumfin with a poison and make him eat it." "Get lost, you bootbreaker, away!" "You were about to leave." "No-one's stopping you." "Even a fool'd know it's a magic dragon." "Listen to the poet." "Retreat when you still can." "And you'll stay?" "I AM VILLENTRETENMERTH." "APPARENTLY MY AVALANCHE DID NOT STOP YOU." "THE NORTH WAY IS CLOSED." "GO AWAY." "He talks." "Venerable dragon!" "Opressor of the human kind!" "Do you have the courage to meet the kinght Eyck of Denesle in a honourable fight to the death?" "COME OUT." "He's extremely quick, no human can defeat him." "Not me." "Geralt, kill him." "For me, please." "At the precipice you told the truth." "And now you want to buy me?" "No." "No?" "Then what are you doing here?" "I feel I might be needed." "I know the cause." "Out there there's the world of nature." "The man's world is big enough, let's leave theirs." "This dragon asks for peace." "He could burn us but he doesn't want to." "He sends us a message." "Let's leave." "Gather everyone, we're going back to Caingorn." "But lord..." "No." "Lady Yennefer and you sirs." "Farewell." "Thank you for the words of wisdom, Geralt, I've been deluded by fools." "Well, well." "Lots of wisdom you've got since you've lost the force." "That is right." "The wisdom means to be able to judge your power." "You lack it." "That's why you'll leave your bones here." "So the troubles left." "Yennefer, I offer a new deal, fifty-fifty." "The hide and the treasure." "What you say." "I take the dragon, the treasure's yours." "Agreed." "Greed made you mindless." "Any monster is better than you." "Jaskier, come here." "They go for the dragon!" "I've told you, idiots, to kill this witchery scoundrel." "Traitors, bastards!" "Beat Kozoyed, beat the crap of the wax-end!" "Well, brothers." "Let's meet our destiny." "We fail - he'll toast us." "What's going on?" "I think I know." "Which side are you on?" "I'm not against you." "Then trust me." "Take him alive!" "Leave him!" "In the head!" "Don't do that!" "Enough of that!" "It's a baby of the dragon poisoned by Holopolans, you understand?" "Look, it shivers." "Look at this, we're here alone, you, me, a little dragon and a poet." "It surely means something, but..." "I don't know what." "You know that, tell me, Borch!" "He's never going to tell me." "I won't make the ballad." "Some creatures which you call monsters feel more endangered." "They can't cope with it, they need a defender... kind of a witcher who I sometimes become." "I won't sing about it - it's too beautiful." "No-one would understand." "Geralt, ask me for something." "I can do a lot of things." "Can you read minds?" "I can." "No, it's impossible." "I can read as well." "I understood." "You did not." "But you will." "Farewell, witcher." "You've been my friend." "Let it be." "Remember, I'm a piece of ice." "Your eyes" "Like stars over the route." "Your lips" "Like the goblet of bliss." "Today I hope to see at least" "A shadow of that love o mine." "The heart is knocking like a beggar" "Wandering around solitarily" "And every time I see the sky" "I feel the cold of stars-like eyes." "*** Big thanks to Michal for translation!" "Timed by McBubby" "NOTE FROM THE TRANSLATOR ;)" "The Kozoyed character is based on Szewczyk Dratewka, the hero of a well known Polish tale." "It's about how a smart shoemaker defeats a dragon with a clever trick (yep, the poisoning thing) and by doing that wins the hand of the king's daughter." "Of course, because it's Sapkowski, the cobbler is dumb as a bag of hammers and the princess marries another king ;)"