"But other people don"t think so, they will despise you for associating with me. Believe me, I know what I"m talking about. The Upper City is closed for me."

"Well, as you see we"re opening it for you. Now it depends on you if you have enough courage to enter it."

"I do. But if you decide everything together, I would like to know what Lis, Enriki and Tol think of me. I know you"ve discussed it and decided – and yet."

"All right, Enriki, what will you say?"

"I"ll say we need an experienced man, and you suit us."

"And I"ll say," Lis sighed, "that I was against you but I"m in a minority. But as for the opinion of the society, I don"t care, for sure."

"Me too," Orel said.

Nikto laughed. "Oh well, I see you don"t care about anything but Tol doesn"t think so, it seems."

"No, I don"t!"

"To-o-ol!"

"No, Orel, wait. I want to have a say, too. I care! I hate it when people laugh at my face and say that Orel"s group is a pathetic bunch of idiots and it"s just a matter of time to finish them off. I"m going to return us our former respect. And Nikto will help us to scare them all shitless!"

"Ooh. Tol! What are you thinking? What is this trash in your head?" Orel sighed hopelessly.

"Just forbid him to open his mouth at all," Lis said, annoyed.

"You keep your mouth shut, you redhead half-blood!" Tol retorted.

"How can I scare them?" Nikto asked. "Can you explain me?"

"Yes, I can!" Tol said defiantly. "And stop confusing me, shut your mouth, shut your mouth! Everyone knows WHO his father is!"

Everyone froze but Nikto stayed sitting calmly and his expression didn"t change.

"You"re gonna to get bitten," Lis said.

"Damn you," Nikto said and then looked at Tol with a smirk. "And you are not afraid, are you?"

"I am," Tol said. "But now you"re our friend, so, he won"t harm us."