"I'm so glad you're with me," he purred. She smiled back at him.

"Make her learn Black," Lis said to Tol.

"Yes, Lis, you're right," he agreed. "But I can't make her! It's the same as if someone made me learn her fucking Unclean – I'll never do it! We're both alike, both are stubborn."

Enriki wanted to say something but turned around, hearing steps on the stairs. Mina walked down to the hall. She was dressed up lavishly: in a white fur coat, with strings of pearls in her golden hair.

"Where is the master?" Her voice was tender like a creek water. "He ordered me to come down by this time, he promised to take me to 'Backara'." She was confused and a little upset but tried not to show it.

"If he promised, he will," Lis said confidently. "Wait for him."

"If he leaves his room today at all," Squint-Eye added.

"He will, Nikto will take care of it," Lis said. "Nikto, go to Orel."

"Don't order me what to do," Nikto snapped. "I'll go to him when I decide it."

Mina sighed and sat down on the bottom step of the stairs.

"You're very beautiful today," Lis said looking at her. "Do you like it when Orel takes you along somewhere?"

"Yes!" She got animated for a moment, alit with some inner light; but it was just a moment, then her face fell again.

"We'll go to 'Backara' anyway, even if Orel doesn't. I can take you along, do you want it?"

Mina got up fearfully.

"I'd better go."

"Why are you afraid of me?"

"I'm not afraid, why should I be afraid of you? What can you do?"

"You're right, I won't do anything to you. But I'm worried about you. Lately Orel kills one of his slaves nearly every day."

"I know, the master does it from time to time. We all learned to live with it and I'm not scared any more. Sooner or later it'll happen to every one of us. You are worried about me because you feel guilty over Shela, she begged you to buy her out. You could have done it but you didn't, and she got despaired. She was trembling with fear every day – she only thought about it happening to her. She was afraid of pain, we saw what he did to other slaves, and Shela always repeated 'I will be the next, I will be the next' – and she drove herself to the state when her heart gave up. I don't want to think about it, it kills you before the death comes."

"These are the wise words, but still, try to be more careful. And don't leave, drink with us." Lis gave her a glass.

"Yes, drink with us," Tol joined. "Let's drink for all of us once again!" He started pouring wine.

"How lovely! A touching picture!" Orel stood atop of the stairs and looked down at them.

"Orel, come down to us!" Tol greeted him happily. "It's good you're back!"

"Indeed." Orel walked downstairs and sat down in his place at the head of the table. Tol quickly filled his glass. "I was waiting for someone to come up to me, to wonder what's happening to me but you care shit, you're sitting here, drinking wine. 'Arel is freaking out, doesn't matter, we'll have fun!'"

"It is not true," Tol said, "we worried about you. Nikto was going to go make up with you. You know, we were investigating, investigating if he had something with Asa – but we figured out he had nothing, Asa is just a stupid wench."

"What did you investigate? I knew that, that's why I'm here, I was afraid for Nikto! I thought you'd kick him to death, what a fool I am! You're nearly kissing with him here!"

"We picked on him, picked on him and then we made up. Because there was nothing between him and Asa."

"Really?" Orel pretended to be surprised. "There is nothing between you, is there?" He turned to Nikto still looking at him with resentment.