“Nik, he ruined my horse,” repeated Arel very upset, again throwing an angry glance at Kors:
“Did you put on double-bit mouthpiece for him? What have you done?!”
“I just controlled him,” Kors was also already upset by this conversation and the prince’s claims.
“Okay, Arel, what do you want from me? Should I pay you compensation? Or if he doesn't suit you anymore, bring him back. Should I pay for him? I'll buy him from you, okay?”
“Aha, here I am! No really!”
“Here, take it,” Kors took out several large gold coins from his wallet, handed them to Arel, “this is for my help in training!”
But Arel didn’t take the coins, turning away:
“Just don’t even dare to approach him anymore!”
“Your Beauty, beauty prince?”
“Yes!”
“And what is the name of this horse, which is now mine? Beauty too?” Kors could hardly hold back his laughter, and Nikto, looking at them, smiled with his now black mouth.
“You can call him what you want!” Arel was still annoyed.
“Okay, Beauty can only belong to, as far as I understand. Is this horse a mestizo?”
“Yes, he’s half unclean,” Nikto confirmed.
“And he's quite obedient,” Arel said calmly. “It will be easy for you with him, Kors.”
“Thank you, Prince Arel.”
The army of the unclean was already on the approaches to Crimson Rock when the wind blew from the Fort, pouring them into an unbearable fetid stench of rotting flesh. Lis, as usual, didn’t care about the burial of those killed in battle, saving wood and coal for forges and not burning corpses. He ordered to remove everything of value from the dead, take away armor and weapons and simply throw the bodies into the moat behind the walls, sprinkling them with earth a little.
Unclean Marbas sniffed and smiled, as it seemed to Kors, with a double row of sharp teeth:
“Nice places,” he said.
Having met their fellow tribesmen in the Fort, the unclean ones were very happy and arranged a holiday. A full-fledged feast didn’t work out, since food supplies were already scarce, but the unclean Desmod and Marbas brought enough booze and all kinds of substances to get stoned with, and that was the main thing. Throughout the night, to loud music, the unclean bawled songs, arranged friendly competitions and danced with the bear. They kept the entire Fort awake with their noise, endless drunken shouts and howls. But Lis didn’t interfere in this action, because the day before from a man sent to the east, Marmer, a carrier pigeon flew in with a report that everything was calm in Ore town. No preparations for war were visible, no walls were being fortified, and there was no movement of any allied forces. The city continued to live an idle peaceful life, and Kudmer took no action to defend himself. This news greatly encouraged Lis and calmed his nervous condition.