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. She walked
to the center of the village, toward the single standing stone
of pitted black basalt. This was the shrine of which Ciri had
spoken. At the base of the standing stone was an altar, but it
was not hewn of marble, as Ciri had claimed. The altar was
built of human skulls, cemented together with mud. They
grinned at Matya, staring at her with their dark, hollow
eyes.
"Did you really think I would allow you to leave with the
doll?" Ciri spoke behind her in a voice cool and sweet.
Startled, Matya turned around. She half expected to see
that Ciri had changed like the rest of the village. The
woman was as lovely as ever, but there was a hard, deadly
light in her sapphire-blue eyes.
Ciri gazed at Matya, then understanding flickered
across her face. "Ah, you see the village for what it is, don't
you?"
Matya nodded silently, unable to speak.
Ciri shrugged. "It is just as well. It makes things easier.
I'm glad you know, in fact."
"What do you want from me?" Matya asked.
"To strike a bargain with you, Matya. Isn't that what you
like to do above all things?"
Matya's eyes narrowed, but she said nothing.
"You have something I want very much," Ciri said
softly.
"The doll," Matya said, eyeing the woman.
"You see, Matya, despite the illusions I have used to
mask the appearance of the village, much of what I told you
last night was the truth. An enchantment does prevent me
from leaving the village, and only the doll can break it."
"How is it you came to be here in the first place?"
Matya asked
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