– Leave us! The king ordered and in one second they were left alone. He wiped his lips with a napkin, tossing it casually on the table. Then he got up and walked over to his son. Anger was what filled his eyes. Coming close and not looking away, he punched Argos' face with the back of his hand. From the blow on the prince's face, the skin turned red and a small bleeding scratch formed from the ring.
Argos opened his mouth, but before he could utter a word, Orm interrupted him: "I don't need any excuses from you now," he bellowed. Then he turned away and walked over to the fireplace, looking at the fire for a while.
–How could this have happened? without taking his eyes off the bewitching beauty of the flame, he asked.
– With all due respect, father, one way or another, I won! I showed them all what is the strongest race on earth!
– Anyway?! Turning slowly, he asked. An ordinary man, with ordinary weapons and ordinary protection, almost kicked your royal ass! You were wearing "Isar", your mother! And you dare to say something !?
– He is very well trained and strong. He's fast. I've never seen this. This warrior was in no way inferior to me.
– Oh, I didn't even notice! Orm said with undisguised irony, then turning away, he again drowned in his thoughts, absorbed in the sight of burning wood in the fireplace.
– Father?
– Yes?!
– Why did he look at you like that during the fight?
“That's interesting to me too,” said the king. Who are you, Athanasius Mirra? he asked the flame.
Argos was about to leave. But after a pause, he turned back to his father. “When will you be able to fully trust me, Father?
– I trust you.
– Then tell me what is in the tower of the west wing at the very top?
– Soon you will find out about everything, I promise you. Until then, that's all! You are free.
***
– Good morning, Athanasius!
– Hi, General! he mumbled barely audibly.
– You look lousy.
– I feel even worse.
– Hmm, who would have thought that Prince Argos is so good. The general sat down next to Athanasius's bed.
–“It's not just him,” Tan replied.
– What are you talking about?
– His armor …
– And what happened to him?
– I hit him. He beat with all his might. No armor could stand that.
– What do you mean by that?
– I don’t know yet.
– What do you mean, “I don’t know yet” !? AND?! Swann got angry. All! The page is turned over. The story is over. He won, the general said with annoyance!