just described her, all right: a mysterious veiled lady. On the other hand,
within and under cloak and hood and veil she might as well be Ouleh or any other
easygirl.
No; not with the aura he felt about her; she even moved-even sat with class.
“Just be good, Man-killer. Or be bad as usual, but leave her alone; physically
and with that mouth of yours.” Hearing how harsh that sounded, he smiled and
added, “Please. Tell you what. Anyone who gives her or her escort trouble is out
of here on his tailbone.”
It was Ouleh’s turn to blink, in surprise. “Es-cort! That’s Wints, bigun. He’s
no escort-not for the likes of her. Bodyguard, maybe. Lackey. Someone she found
to guide her in what she’s doing-slumming. I’ll spread your word, bigun-for
you,” she said, glancing back at many men at many tables. “But others’re going
to think she’s slumming, and that Wints is putting on airs, and there’s likely
to be trouble.”
“Anyone starts any trouble tonight, Ouleh, it’s going to be me who ends it.”
She gave him a lazy grin, again leaning forward onto the bar to show him a pair
of pale mountains and the deep dark canyon dividing them. “Isn’t it always, big
boy? All I’m sayin’ is that it may happen anyhow.”
He sighed. Not sure why, he said, “Ouleh-keep a secret?”
“Me? Betray a confidence? Cross my treasure chest and hope to die!” Her finger
slid down one mountain and into the valley, up the other slope, and back in a
necessarily large X. Ahdio immediately looked ceilingward. “What’s the matter,
Ah-dio? Can’t look? Want me to start wearing loose robes to the chin?”