Blood of Elves

Krew elfów (Blood of Elves) is the first novel in the Witcher Saga written by Andrzej Sapkowski. It's a sequel to the Witcher short stories collected in the books The Last Wish and Miecz przeznaczenia and is followed by Czas pogardy (The Time of Disdain).

The Empire of Nilfgaard attacks the Kingdom of Cintra. Queen Calanthe commits suicide and her granddaughter, Cirilla, called Ciri, or "Lion Cub of Cintra" somehow flees from the burning capital city. Emhyr var Emreis, Emperor of Nilfgaard, sends his spies to find her. He knows that this young girl has great importance, not only because of her royal blood, but also because of her magical potential and elven blood in her veins.

The girl is being protected by Geralt of Rivia, a witcher - a magically and genetically mutated monster slayer for hire, who takes her to the witchers' keep - Kaer Morhen. There Ciri is being taught by other witchers, including old Vesemir, Coen, Eskel and Lambert. She learns a lot about monsters and how to fight with a sword. But during her "education", sorceress Triss Merigold comes to Kaer Morhen. She is called by Geralt to help with strange, abnormal behavior of the child. They reveal that Ciri is one of the people with powerful magical abilities, known as the Sources. At the same time, a mysterious wizard called Rience is looking for the girl. He is a servant of some more powerful mage. He catches Geralt's friend, Dandelion the bard, to get informations about Ciri, but another sorceress - Yennefer - helps Dandelion and injures Rience.