Page 23 - The Witcher Story

‘It is,’ said the witcher. ‘Do the attacks on people only occur during the
full moon?’
‘Yes,’ replied Segelin, ‘if she attacks beyond the old palace. Within the
palace walls people always die, irrespective of the moon’s phase. But she
only ventures out during the full moon, and not always then.’
‘Has there been even one attack during the day?’ ‘No.’
‘Does she always devour her victims?’
Velerad spat vehemently on the straw.
‘Come on, Geralt, it’ll be supper soon. Pish! Devours, takes a bite, leaves
aside, it varies – according to her mood, no doubt. She only bit the head
from one, gutted a couple, and a few more she picked clean to the bone,
sucked them dry, you could say. Damned mother’s—!’ ‘Careful, Velerad,’
snarled Ostrit. ‘Say what you want about the striga but do not insult Adda
in front of me, as you would not
dare in the king’s presence!’
‘Has anyone she’s attacked survived?’ The witcher asked, appar- ently
paying no special attention to the magnate’s outburst.
Segelin and Ostrit looked at each other.
‘Yes,’ said the bearded man. ‘At the very beginning, seven years ago, she
threw herself at two soldiers standing guard over the crypt. One escaped’
‘And then,’ interrupted Velerad, ‘there was another, the miller she attacked
near the town. You remember?’

22

The Witcher Story ENG.indd 22 7/23/08 11:04:22 PM