“Why are you looking at me so?”

“Karina, how beautiful you are, Gods!”

“Do you like me?”

“Yes. Very much.”

Lis continued to stand on the threshold, blocking the doorway, and the servant behind him, holding a heavy tray with drinks and snacks, impatiently shifted from foot to foot, not understanding the hitch, but not daring to move the master aside and go into the room, to finally free himself from a heavy burden. Finally Lis noticed him and awkwardly walked away, he looked confused.

And Karina’s heart rejoiced:

“Isn’t it bad that I painted my lips?”

“No.”

“Isn’t the lipstick too bright?”

“No.”

“Not sluttish?”

“Karina,” Lis swallowed, “it suits you very much.”

Karina looked at the tray full of treats.

“And where are Tol and Lila? Have you called them to us?”

“Yes. Now they will come.”

Karina snorted dismissively:

“Ah, got it.”

And as Lis continued to look at her, she got up and carefully took several steps in high-heeled shoes, trying to fully straighten her knees. She spun in front of him:

“Am I better than this actress?”

“Who?”

“Lila! What's wrong with you?”

“Lila? She's just a city crazy!”

“A-ha-ha, so you don't like her at all?”

“Of course not! She is an ordinary commoner, cheap, don’t be jealous of me for her. This is silly. And you even insult me with this, now.”

Karina’s face immediately ceased to be relaxed:

“Sorry, I just said so.”

He walked over and hugged her:

“You're my queen!”

“No! Don't kiss me! Lipstick smudges!”

And Lis obediently pulled back

Lis laughed, throwing his head back, so sincerely, absolutely relaxed, with his so bright red hair untied in a ponytail, disheveled. He laughed, and Tol hugged him and shouted:

“Al, brother! Don't be stupid! Let's drink quickly! Al, you are my soul! Don't be slow, brotherly! Do you remember how we… and you know how frightened I was for you, when, do you remember, they cut off your Necker’s legs, and you fell off your horse straight to Bey under the sword! Remember?!”

“I remember,” Lis smiled, “you saved my life then.”

They drank and smoked everything that was at hand. Tol happily and actively shared news from the Black City, while not forgetting to lean on snacks from the Fort’s storerooms: meat ham, smoked fish and all kinds of sausages and cheeses. For dear guests, Lis ordered to bake fresh pies and rolls. Tol was on fire, today was his finest hour, because his usually haughty friend listened to him with interest and didn’t interrupt him. Karina was bored, Tol, as always, constantly bragged and attributed all the achievements to himself.

“And I ordered to plant trees in Lower and on the Market Square, in the very center, to plant an oak! So that it grows huge! And we'll make a nest there, and put an eagle there! It will be so beautiful! Yes, Al?!”

And Lis laughed and nodded.

“How lonely my Lis was in the Black City, if this one became his best friend…” Karina thought bitterly: “They are like heaven and earth. To what despair and loneliness you need to go to make friends with Tol! My poor Lis.”

Tol enthusiastically said about how they had restored the Lower City destroyed by the confrontation with Bey, and Lila intervened in the conversation and inserted remarks, echoing Tol with her, as it seemed to Karina, disgusting squeaky and cutesy voice. Lila got drunk and interrupted Tol more and more often, adding even more meaningless and unnecessary details to his already stupid story. But Tol didn’t get angry with her, even if she cut him off in mid-sentence, pressed him to him with tenderness and didn’t shut her mouth. Moreover, from time to time she tugged at him and intervened simply so that he poured wine or served her a pie. And Tol was interrupted, distracted and did what she asked, while losing the thread of his already chaotic narrative.