The Mist and the Lightning. Part 12

“He's just kind, he just jokes a little mocks at me without any second thought, in a fatherly way.”

“Fatherly?!”

“A-ha-ha, you should have seen your face! Are you jealous? I really like Crassus.”

“And his stupid jokes?!”

“Yes.”

“I think Alis correctly called him an asshole!”

“Ko-o-ors, Daniel Crassus is your old friend!”

“Not anymore! After he called my son a cripple!”

“He talks with Arel in front of other black sirs, and this is ignominy for him. Your friend Kamiel Varah doesn’t speak to us and looks very disapprovingly. And now he understood our maneuver with you. You, Kors, would not have communicated better with me in front of them, because I am also ignominious.”

“Do you, Demon, like humiliating my son? And when is he humiliated by others?”

“Kors, don't be like that…” Nikto began, but both he and Kors were involuntarily distracted from the conversation, seeing how Lis quickly entered the hall, and he led Karina next to him, somehow suspiciously squeezing her by the forearm, roughly threw into place at the table and hit. Karina shielded herself with her hands, bending over, slightly moving away from him further. But she made no attempt either to evade or to fight back.

Kors literally changed his face:

“What does he allow himself!”

Nikto grabbed Kors by the hand, not letting him go:

“Don't, don't interfere.”

“She's my daughter!”

“She's his wife!”

“And did he do that to her often?!”

“Everything is within the limits of your decency, Kors, calm down. Trust me, if Lis wanted to harm her, he would hit her differently.”

“Excellent! Maybe I should go thank him?! Why did I bless them! I had to come not to put up with you, but to bring the army to the Estate, take your daughter and leave!”

“What about Nik? Your son? Don't you need him anymore?”

“Gods, I need him, of course! But I still want to talk to this redhead!”

“It's useless! Don't touch Lis, don't provoke him.”

“What's the matter? You yourself seem to be afraid of him! Prince Arel obeys him, you will not make another remark, you let him get away with everything!”

“Because he won't listen anyway! He's out of control. Do you understand?”

“And you, Demon, can’t put him in the frame?!”

“I can, but then I'll just break it! I don't need a broken Fox, I just need a broken Arel.

“I’ll go and tell him anyway!”

“He will send you to hell, Kors, and that's it. He doesn’t hit undeservedly, Lis is fair in his own way.”

“Doesn't he hit undeservedly? And, that is, she deserved it?!”

“Well yes! She is as cocky and uncontrollable as he is. Since she didn’t give him back, then she herself understands what she received. She doesn't need your protection.”

But Kors couldn't leave it that way. He came down from the gallery and went to Lis:

“We need to talk. Let's step aside?”

Lis glanced quickly at Kors with his sharp eyes, and his mouth twisted in a haughty half-smile, it was obvious that he understood everything:

“Okay…”

They went into the room that Lis had occupied for himself. Karina already ruled here with her feminine hand: lace napkins and embroidered bedspreads were beautifully laid out on all surfaces, all sorts of figurines and beautiful dishes were placed. Skillfully made lifeless flowers stuck in vases. The room didn’t at all resemble the dwelling of a daring military leader.

Lis turned to Kors.

“I'm listening to you.”

“I demand to stop beating my daughter, especially in front of everyone!”

“Beating in front of everyone? Is it possible without witnesses? What a hypocrite you are, Kors.”

“Don’t cling to words. How did she deserve this treatment?!”

“That’s none of your business!”

“Explain to me? I know that she has not great character, perhaps I will find at least some excuse for your act.”

“The last thing for me is to complain to you! This is ridiculous.”

Karina ran into the room:

“Father, leave him alone!”

“He beats you, and you protect him!”

“That's my fault!”

“What have you done? He doesn’t speak. He covers you. I hope this is something really awful, otherwise I see no excuse.”

“I sucked with Nija.”