Vil gets on Orel"s nerves with the problems in the Upper City. But Orel doesn"t hurry to bring everything into order.
He is carried away with the Lower City and his revenge on Bey. Orel"s army take their streets back and it"s just the beginning. Orel is obsessed with his idea to take away everything that belongs to Bey, just as he threatened. Now he prepares invasion to the rival"s territory and gets more soldiers from Borgan.
Squint-Eye goes to his estate in the west to hire more people for the war.
Participating along with others in the street fight, Asa proves herself a good warrior.
Enriki manages to settle down all the claims of the king to them and the king kindly allows Orel to "establish order" in the Lower City.
Bey is feverishly looking for allies to unite against Orel.
Chapter 20
Vil"s Acceptance
The day was waning, and they spent their time at the "Arbor" in the Upper City. Noise and music reached them from a nearby market square. Street artists were giving their performances, people danced and enjoyed themselves.
Lis, as usual, watched motley jolly crowd below through the tracery grate. Enriki nodded leaning back in the chair. Even Tol was quiet today and sat silently, staring at the wall with a dumb look. Orel smoked and looked through the business documents from the Upper City Vil regularly and lovingly provided him with. He narrowed his eyes against the cigarette smoke.
"Hey, anyone, help me!"
Enriki flinched and woke up.
"No-o-o, Orel, I"m so tired of papers at the palace."
"Just throw them away," Tol said, "do you care?"
"I care," Orel said sharply. "Where is that fucking Vil? He"s late!"
"No," Enriki objected, "we are early."
Nikto took a few papers from Orel and laughed.
"Wow! You need abacus, are you calculating that in your mind?"
"Well, I"m trying," Orel blushed.
Lis looked at a nearly empty bottle on the table in front of Orel and snorted in understanding, then looked at the square again.