"Yeah," Nikto drawled. "It"s great. But I think I won"t manage. I"m not used to talking for long. If we talked in Unclean, it would be bearable. But Black is just killing me. I get tired of looking for words all the time. And my voice just can"t handle it."

"I got used to your voice and your horrible accent," Orel smiled. "Remember the night we met for the first time, when we were breaking you? I was shocked with your appearance and your behavior, that"s for sure. But at the same time I was hooked. You caused me such feelings I long forgot. The more I looked at you, at your hair, your face, the more…" Orel stopped in the middle of the phrase and turned away.

"Which didn"t prevent you from breaking my nose and battering my insides," Nikto laughed.

"Forgive me, please! I don"t remember that! Did I beat you so badly?"

"Yes, pretty much."

"Maybe it was not me who broke your nose? Maybe Lis did it? Or Tol?"

"No," Nikto shook his head. "Breaking noses is your privilege, as I see."

Orel laughed. "You"re right. I never thought about it. Poor Squint-Eye." He took out a pack of cigarettes. "Let"s smoke and forget about it, okay?"

Orel gave Nikto a cigarette.

"You have nice rings on your fingers. Especially this one," Orel pointed at one of them.

Nikto raised his hand examining the ring, then took it off.

"Can I give it to you as a sign of our friendship?" he looked at Orel questioningly.

"Nik! Thank you!" Orel took the ring happily and put it on his finger. "But it is a very generous gift, it costs insanely, I bet."

"Not more than your rings."

"Where did you get it? I think it"s a family ring of some aristocratic clan." Orel brought the ring closer to his eyes examining crafty engravings around the dark-blue sapphire.

"So, where did you get it?" Orel raised his head smiling and looked at Nikto slyly. "Confess, confess!"

"I bought it."

"Don"t lie. You wouldn"t spend money for such a thing. Besides, family rings are not for sale."

"How are you so sure?"

"I am – and not "how" but "why"."