“That’s Notable!” Ahdio nodded, beaming. “Uh-Strick. Because you bought Ouleh one, Avenestra will be over here next. She’s a mighty unhappy little girl, and taking too much mouth from too many of the boys here. You did Hanse and me a favor. Wish you’d do her one. They’d leave her alone when she’s with a man as big as you-who is also an old war crony of mine,” he added, with a new grin.
“Maybe just talk with her a while, or just let her talk. She’s all right. Mixed up pretty bad. A round for you both is on me.”
“All right. Give her what she wants and suggest that she bring it over here with a mug of something weak for me. Ahdio: any men in here looking for work? Anybody you trust?”
Ahdio smiled. “That narrows the choices! What kind of work? Beg pardon, but you look like a weapon-man to me.”
“No. Need a guard, when I open a shop. And a-oh, a lackey who knows Sanctuary and can look and act decent.”
“I’ll give it some thought and tell you later, Strick. Oh- and thanks, for all of it. The girl too, I mean.”
Strick nodded.
Ahdio returned to the counter. Strick didn’t see what he did, but a few moments later a girl-this one really was, an angular girl in her mid-teens-was moving toward his table. Her black singlet fitted her like a coat of paint above a violet skirt slit up both sides to her big black belt. Looked as if she had a waist measurement to match her age and a chest maybe eight inches larger. She bore two mugs. Someone said something she didn’t like and someone else slapped her bottom and that quickly she turned to dump the contents of one of the mugs down his front. Men laughed, but not that one, and two big men converged on the trouble spot.