His lower lip jutted. He was making a token attempt to struggle out of Sir Talbot’s grasp but the knight gripped him by the scruff of his neck in one capable hand. Avoiding Pierrekyn’s kicking feet he was laughing genially. ‘Obey me, you little wildcat, or you’ll rue it. You were losing every penny you earned to those fellows. They dice and fight and dice again. They do nothing else. You’ll never beat them. And if you do they’ll relieve you of your winnings in a most unpleasant manner.’ He forced Pierrekyn down onto the bench next to Hildegard. ‘You talk to him, Sister. He’s behaving like a numbskull.’ ‘Numbskull? Me? That’s rich coming from somebody who risks having his brains knocked out of his head whenever he goes to work!’ Pierrekyn retorted. Sir Talbot laughed. ‘It’s me who does the knocking, I can tell you. The other fellows will bear me out if they can still spin two words together through their broken teeth.’ The three mercenaries came up. The more forthright one clapped Sir Talbot on the shoulder.
