"Perhaps they might. I don't know— You are smart fellows, I can see that. And I need men like you. But I am not alone in this. There are others, do you see? I must consult them. Still, you should be better than the two I am using just now."
"Are they Tziganes?" inquired Nikka politely.
"Of a sort. But they have lived too long with the Franks. They are not so ready as they once were, and I find they do not bring me the information I require. I make no promises, but suppose I—"
The girl screamed, and I twisted on my haunches to see that Nikka had seized her wrist.
"Let me go, pig," she hissed, and reached for her knife with her free hand; but Nikka caught that, too.
Tokalji stared at them both unpleasantly.
"What is this?" he barked. "Do you assail my people already before you are accepted a member of my tribe?"
"I am protecting your purse and mine from this little thief," answered Nikka calmly. "While we talked, she stole."
"He lies," spat the girl. "There is the money."
She stretched a slim brown foot toward the three little piles on the sunken flagstones. Tokalji drew his knife.