Yarpen Zigrin - Tumblr Posts

Still on my reread of The Witcher books, and I love how Yarpen Zigrin describes Ciri in this passage in Blood of Elves.

Geralt and Ciri are traveling with Yarpen and his men in a caravan. Ciri insists on helping haul a cauldron of water. When Yarpen is impressed by her strength, she insists:

“I’m strong!”

One of the dwarves laughs at her, as one would laugh at a little kid a who is too optimistic about their own abilities.

To which Yarpen replies:

“Don’t judge her by appearances, Paulie,” said Yarpen seriously, as he skillfully divided the roast gray hare into portions. “There’s nothing to laugh at here. She’s skinny, but I can see she’s a robust and resilient lass.”

So he takes her deadly seriously even though she is just a child. He sees her strength and inner resilience. Then he uses this analogy that I love:

“She’s like a leather belt. Thin. But it can’t be torn apart in your hands. And if you were to hang your self on it, it would bear your weight too.”

No one laughed.

So he says, not only is she tough, but if you bring it upon yourself, if you test her strength, you may find she is able to take you on.

I love that. Children and especially little girls so often have their strength underestimated and I like that Yarpen immediately sees her as a person, for who she is.

There is also a call back moment in a later book that reveals that Yarpen taught her how to flip people off. So. Love that friendship.

So lovely!

The Witcher 2 ten-year anniversary!!!