likes."
"But Nikto is not everyone," Enriki said.
"Ooh, I've just realized how hungry I am," Tol said grabbing his plate. The friends laughed.
"Don't pay attention," Orel said. "We're laughing because he always says that, no matter how many times a day he eats."
"He is always hungry," Enriki said.
"Yeah, that's true," Tol said with his mouth stuffed.
"Hey, Tol, we haven't had a drink for our new agreement yet," Orel raised his goblet.
"Huh? I think we have, when we agreed," Tol said without blinking.
"Fine, stop eating, let's drink for the beginning of our joint business," Orel reached his goblet over the table and everyone joined him raising their goblets.
"Now, pour yourself what you want, without servants. We are of easy manners here, even though I am a prince," Orel said. "What do you think about telling us a little of yourself?" he asked Nikto.
Nikto who didn't expect this question clasped his throat choking and barely managed to swallow.
"Oh gods, you'll kill him with your questions!" Tol said chuckling. The others laughed, too.
"Aah, he's really feeling bad, poor guy."
Nikto rose from the table, sat down on the stairs and coughed, turning away from them.
"Orel, slap his back!" They were dying with laughter. Finally, after clearing his throat, Nikto came back to them. Orel looked at him smiling.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, sorry."
"No, I'm sorry, I chose a bad time for asking, you didn't expect it…"
"You're fucking bonkers, man!" Tol said.
"Fuck off."
"What?"
"You heard what! Fuck off of me."
"Do you hear, Orel, he's telling me to fuck off!" Tol was laughing.
"Enough! You're a bunch of idiots!" Orel yelled making a strict face. "Stop laughing and eat!"
He didn’t pull it off though, started laughing, too, and the others followed his example.
"I'd like to talk about business," Orel said at last.
Tol hiccupped. Nikto lit a cigarette leaning against the back of the chair.
"What we told each other before was not true or partly true. What we learned about you from others needs to be confirmed," Orel said. "I don't want to go deeper into it but there are some things we need to clarify here and now."
"I can tell of myself," Nikto said, "if you tell me of yourselves. And if you are honest about it."
"All right, what do you want to know?" Orel said. "We have nothing to hide."
"You start."
"What is your real name?"
"Not again," Enriki moaned. "Aren't you tired of it, Orel?"
Orel glanced at him in annoyance. "Shut up."
"Orel, it's silly."
"Shut. Up."
"My name is really Nikto1, as funny as it sounds. I have a nickname instead of a name. There was time when it angered me deeply but then I got used to it. I don't have a family name or father's name either."
"No name, no family name, are you a commoner?"
"I don't know my real parents."
"Who named you then?"
"My foster mother."
"She was a jolly woman, it seems," Enriki said.
"She was a witch."
It was Lis's turn to choke. He whispered shaking his head. "A foster mother, indeed."
"Lis, I've had enough of you," Nikto said.
"What do you think, Nikto can't have a mother?" Tol said digging with a fork in his teeth.
"He can," Lis said in an icy voice.
"That's enough about me," Nikto said, "now you tell me of yourselves."
"You can ask." Orel smoothened his long dark hair.
"Why are you called Orel2?"
"Ha." Orel laughed. "I don't even remember that, my ancestors thought an eagle was their forebear, something like that. I'm the last scion of that ancient, formerly royal family. Prince Arel Chig from the family of Eagle."
"Cool," Nikto said. "Now Lis."
"My name is Atley Alis," Lis said without enthusiasm. "Atley son of Alis."
"Why Lis3?"
"Can you guess it?" Lis tossed his dark-red hair gathered in a ponytail on his nape. Nikto smiled.
"You can guess," Lis stated. "No more questions then?"
"You're not a Black, are you?"
"No. I'm a Red half-blood." Lis winced. "My father was a Red. Something else?"
"Your teeth, they are filed in the way only Red warriors file them. Are you one of them?"
"In the past I was," Lis smirked. "I betrayed them and joined our side."
"Cool, too," Nikto said. "Now Tol."
"At last! My name is Ram Murh! These bastards call me Tolsty4 just because I'm taller and stronger than them! And then they got tired of saying such a long word and they started calling me Tol! I'm not a commoner or a half-blood! I'm a true Black, a native citizen of this damned world! My father owns huge lands in the southwest, only I don't like it there, it's boring."
"As far as I remember, there are only forests."
"Yep."
"And you're the owner of those forests."
"Not yet," Tol laughed. "In ten years, maybe."
"Enriki, now it's your turn."
"I'm from the city and my family lives here. And I'm the only one Orel didn't come up with a nickname for. My name is Enriki Galas and I'm a former investigator, eight years worked for the secret police."
"I think I want to be your friend!"
"Do you like my people, Nikto?" Orel smiled.
"Chosen with a great taste, I'd say."
"Then a question for you," Orel paused. "Is it true what the Unclean say? There is a creature from another world behind you."
"If I say there is a part of the truth
