Lis turned to him.

"Shut up, I'm not talking to you! When we asked you, you kept silent – now stay silent again."

"Why should I keep silent when you say these nasty things about me?"

"Afraid I'll tell the truth about you?"

"It is not truth but your fantasies!"

"You are afraid, Nik, you are!"

"I'm not afraid, I'm just tired of it!"

"If you're not afraid, why don't you let me speak? Come on, keep arguing with me! Shut me up!"

"Go to hell! Say whatever you want," Nikto pressed his hand to the cut on his neck and turned away.

"That's better!" Lis turned to Tol again. "After Nikto had chosen Orel, he planned to meet us again. I'm sure he was gathering information about us just like we gathered info about him. He found out about our fight with Bey, our difficulties, he knew we'd need soldiers sooner or later, because Orel would never give up on his streets, whatever it cost him. Since the Upper City is practically closed for Orel – if he loses the Lower City, he won't be able to come out of his castle at all. Nikto knew it and agreed with Borgan to find an ally for Nikto, assistance for him in the enemy camp. They couldn't choose a man, Orel wouldn't accept him, so, they did better. They chose a girl – who'd take her seriously? Very clever, they managed to deceive me, too. I admit, I didn't pay attention to Asa's appearance in our team. But don't you think it's strange that a half-blood who doesn't speak Black suddenly replies with such fervor at our Tol's advances – Tol who is completely alien to her? She is ready to go anywhere after him, what a strange passion! I would have understood it if she were just a wench, but even then it seldom happens – the Unclean don't like humans. I know that their kin turn away from such apostates like Asa, considering them traitors. But she is not a wench, she is a warrior, she was learning how to fight and hate humans for all her life, and now such a thing! But she keeps going back to her place as if nothing happened and no one minds, no one says her a word. Too good to be true! She loves Tol, he loves her, and everyone around love them," Lis paused evaluating the impression he made, then continued. "Then she pretends to hate Nikto but they are really allies. And I'm sure, Tol, she fucks him secretly while you and Orel are none the wiser. And now Nikto put her to be paired with you because it's safer for her this way. Well done, nothing to say. And it is just the beginning, soon he'll do away with all of us, one by one, and Orel will be in his full power, a scion of royalty, entitled to the throne, he will become a hostage of the Unclean. It's a conspiracy. Their aim is to open the Upper City for the Unclean with Orel's help."

"No," Tol whispered. "I don't believe you. You're crazy, Lis!"

"I don't like to believe it myself," Lis said quietly, "but look at their actions."

Tol swallowed hard. Enriki kept sitting still, somewhat grey and silent. Poor Vil looked in such a way as if the only thing he dreamed about was to vanish in the thin air now. Only Squint-Eye appeared undisturbed; it seemed no conspiracies could frighten or bother him. Very calm, he stood not far away from Asa, indifferently waiting for what would happen next.

"What shall we do now?" Enriki asked.

"We have to tell Orel about it," Tol said. "Let him decide what to do."

"What can Orel do?" Lis answered. "Orel can't do anything, he is in their power."

"But you can," Nikto said turning to Lis. "You're the cleverest, the most inquisitive, the most cunning – but not the boss for some reason!"