The Mist and the Lightning. Part 11 - стр. 15
“Calm down!” Nikto payed back in his own coin. “We will have time for everything!”
“We didn’t make it in time because of your pranks and that,” Lis nodded contemptuously at Arel.
“Close your mouth!” Nikto swore too hard.
Their conversation in a raised voice sounded something like this:
“Damn, we're going to fuck it all up because of you! Instead of shoving your dick in the ass of this goner…”
“Lis, shut up your fucking mouth…”
And at that moment Vitor Kors entered the room.
“Good evening,” he said. And they fell silent, staring blankly at him.
“I realized that I couldn't wait for your servant to take me into the house and introduce me officially. I don’t want to offend anyone, but he looked somewhat mentally retarded, so I had the courage to go in myself, as it’s cold outside. And I thought that not observing official decency in your hospitable home would not be perceived as a violation of etiquette or disrespect.”
“Wh …wh… What?” Lis barely uttered, starting to stutter the same way as Valentine. And Karina rushed to her father.
“Father!” She hugged him. “I am insanely glad for your arrival!”
In response, he also hugged her tightly, and then pushed her aside, looking at her:
“I'm glad you're alive,” he said quietly.
“Everything is fine with me!” She assured him fervently, realizing that he was looking at her short hair that barely reached her shoulders.
“Sit down, Vitor Kors,” said Nikto at last. “Yes, you're right, everything is simple with us.” Because of the mask, the expression of his face was not visible.
They sat down at the table, silently and with some tension, looking at each other. The pause dragged on.
“Hm,” Kors cleared his throat, “I see you are packed, there are saddled horses in the yard, were you going somewhere? Am I in the way?”
“Did you come alone?” Lis answered impatiently with a question.
“Yes.” And seeing the obvious disappointment and annoyance in the eyes of the Fox, Kors smiled with a token smile and added: “I left my people in the town near the fair.”
“And you were not afraid to come here like this? Alone?” Lis grimaced.
“I have told you,” Kors stressed the last word, “I left a regiment of my soldiers in the town.”
“How many?! A regiment?!” Lis shook his head, as if driving away the obsession. He could not hide his emotions.
“Three battalions of three hundred men each, not counting the servicemen.”
“Where did you get so many warriors?” Lis was stunned.
And Kors laughed:
“Well… I'm pretty rich, Lis. Lis? Is that what I should call you? We never communicated closely, unfortunately, the military department for some reason believed that you were in their competence.”
“Indeed, unfortunately,” Lis smiled his trademark grin, he looked pleased and no longer so dumbfounded. “But no matter what is being done, everything is for the best! But now, I'm sure we'll make wonderful friends.”
Kors raised an eyebrow.
“I thought so too. And so I came alone, as if I were visiting friends.” He turned his gaze to Nikto and Arel.
“Make yourself at home!” Nikto said.
And Karina looked at him gratefully.
“Valentine,” Nikto ordered, “bring food and wine for our guest.”
Kors relaxed a little.
“Let's forget the old times!”
“Yes of course!”
Nikto raised a glass:
“Let's drink to the meeting!”