The Mist and the Lightning. Part II. Ви Корс

I want to stay with you. It's my choice."

      "Nik, Nik!" Orel pulled him closer; Nikto readily leaned towards him, kissing his hands.

      "Nik," Orel laughed, "stop kissing my hands, you silly! What a habit you have! I'm not your master and you're not a slave!" he hugged Nikto's shaggy head, pressed it to his chest. "You're not my slave, you're not my servant, we're equal, hear me?"

      Nikto nodded.

      "Nik, you won't regret your choice," Orel was shining with happiness. "I swear you! I'll do everything for that, you'll never regret staying with me!"

      "I know," Nikto said, "I know."

      In a fit of insanity Squint-Eye cuts off his long hair and bangs.

      Lis tries to get friendly with Asa. He wants to use her to find out something about Nikto and to get to Tol by making her his lover.

      Bey manages to find allies in his war against Orel. He attacks.

      With enormous efforts and great losses Orel's soldiers hold the positions they recently acquired.

      They manage to fight back the enemy but by paying a great price.

      Chapter 4

      After the Battle

      "Everything will start tomorrow again! Do you understand it?" Lis said looking at Orel seriously. They returned to their rooms at 'Backara' to have some rest and lick their wounds. Orel sat in his armchair at the head of the table. His face was pale, he held his damaged eye with his right hand.

      "I understand everything," he said tiredly.

      Nikto and Asa talked quietly in Unclean over wounded Tol. Nikto said something pointing at the deep cut on Asa's side. She sat down on the sofa, at Tol's feet, and took off her ruined vest. The cut was not bleeding, it was smeared with the ointment in time; it looked much better than Tol's ragged wounds but still it wasn't too good. Not embarrassed at all that she was sitting with her breasts bare in front of them, Asa raised her arm for Nikto to examine her wound. He squatted in front of her, started preparing a thread and a needle.

      "Now she'll have a scar on her side," Lis said. "Why don't you apply 'sama'?"

      "She can't bear it. She still isn't restored after her overdose," Nikto said without looking aside.

      He pierced Asa's dark beautiful skin and started sewing the cut neatly. Asa tensed with pain, screwed her eyes shut but didn't make a sound.

      Lis turned to Orel again.

      "Orel, what shall we do?" he asked.

      "A stupid question, Lis. We'll fight." Orel poured a full glass of wine.

      "Can you drink?"

      "Of course I can, for fuck's sake! I'm not drinking with my eye!" Orel emptied the glass in a few gulps. "I don't know how Squint-Eye manages to fight but if not for Nikto standing by me, I wouldn't be sitting with you here! It would be my last fight today!"

      "Arel, I'll finish with Asa and deal with you," Nikto turned to him.

      "Don't hurry, I'm all right."

      "Shit, I want to fuck Asa," Lis said. "This Unclean bitch arouses me."

      "Do you want me to translate it?" Nikto laughed.

      "No," Lis came up to them, squatted near to Nikto and passed his hand over Asa's arm gently. She flinched and opened her eyes. Lis looked at her with his eyes full of sympathy, his face was sad.

      "I'm so sorry," he said in Unclean. He looked very upset. "You were very brave in the fight. You helped us so much!" He shook his head in distress. "I'm so sorry you are wounded."

      "It's okay," Asa said, "don't worry about me."

      "Yes, you're right," Lis smiled at her. "You're so beautiful no scar will spoil you." He reached and touched her dark-brown nipple with his lips gently. She laughed, pushed him away but did it lightly.

      "Lis, I haven't done yet!" Nikto shouted at him.

      "Finish quicker, I can't wait to do it," Lis laughed speaking in Black. Nikto didn't answer, he finished sewing the wound and smeared it with the ointment.

      "Asa dear, let me dress your wound, I want to help you," Lis's voice was sweet like honey.

      "No," Asa said.

      "But why?" Lis was in despair. "Don't you trust me? Do you trust Nikto more, do you like him more? Tell me and I'll leave you alone."

      "I like Tol," Asa said.

      "But Tol is sleeping and he won't wake up soon, let me dress your wound, let me!"

      "No."

      Nikto prepared the bandage and Asa got up, raised her arms for him to be more comfortable to do it.

      "You're so cruel!" Lis was getting angry. "I'm ready to do anything for you and I don't want to give me such a small joy."

      "Lis, fuck off," Asa snorted.

      "Shit!" Lis slammed his fist against the table. "Shit!"

      Orel raised his head.

      "Go get a wench if you need it so!" he growled. "Just don't make a noise, for gods' sake! My head is splitting!"

      "I don't want a wench! I want this beast!"

      Nikto laughed. "Hold back your tongue, she understands a little in Black."

      "Oh fuck," Lis covered his mouth.

      "Maybe I can be your friend," Asa drawled, "but you can't count on anything more."

      "Fine, fine," Lis became submissive again. "I agree to anything, my queen!"

      Asa smiled to him indulgently.

      "You have a funny accent," Nikto said. "Did you learn Unclean among Reds?"

      "Yes. Frankly speaking, I thought I forgot it but no. When I need it, it comes back."

      "Lis, you want to a fight with Tol, right?" Orel asked.

      "No, I don't. He won't even know," Lis sat at the table and smoked. "Like Enriki doesn't know everyone fucks his sister," he laughed.

      "What a bastard you are!" Orel leaned back in the chair.

      "So what?" Lis shrugged. "Does it trouble you?"

      "No," Orel winced in pain. Nikto came up to him, sat down on the table.

      "Let me see," he said.

      Orel looked at him fearfully. "Nik, I'm afraid a little."

      "Don't be afraid," Nikto took off his bandage and looked closely.

      "What's there? Tell me, don't torment me? Did it burst again?"

      "No, no, it won't burst, don't worry," Nikto made him toss his head back, examining his swollen eyelid.

      "Aah, hu…rts, it hurts!"

      "Quiet, quiet," Nikto let him go. "It's all right but it's going to heal slowly. If you stayed in bed for a few more days…"

      "But you see I can't afford it!"

      "Yes, I know. I just warn you that it will heal slowly, that's all."

      Nikto applied a thick layer of the ointment over the eye and bandaged it again. Orel touched the bandage in distress but didn't say anything. Lis looked at them.

      "Now you look like him" he said nodding at Nikto. "Just as disfigured."

      Orel tensed.

      "Yes, I was tired of being the only one ugly among you," Nikto agreed. "I decided that Orel would keep me company."

      "I don't doubt," Lis looked at him darkly. "Who's next?"

      "Squint-Eye doesn't suit, Tol and Enriki are wounded. So, it's you."

      Lis lowered his eyes.

      "What will you do to me, if it is not a secret?"

      "It's not a secret," Nikto bared his teeth. "I'll cut off your tongue."

      Orel laughed.

      "Ni-i-ik,