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An enforcer stepped close and jammed the blunt snout of his weapon into Poal's ribs. "Don't move."Poal obeyed, glaring at Tynmez with the blackest hatred.
Tynmez walked up to him and gently reached beneath the jacket. There was a bump, and a yip of rage drowned out by Tynmez's own hiss of breath.
He yanked back his hand and shook it.
Poal laughed. "Did she bite you?"
Tynmez backed up, glaring back. "You fool. You can't sell a fighter anywhere but the ring. And even the Bizsi Mo'ad won't take abiru this young."
As he considered the famous gladiator school and the high prices it sometimes paid for quality trainee stock, Poal's spirits lifted. "Ah, but when she's bigger, I'll have her to sell, won't I?"
Tynmez was still shaking his hand and examining his bitten finger. Poal did not think the skin was even broken.
His confidence came back. If he played this right, he could get rid of Tynmez and salvage this situation.
"Still want to rob me?" he asked. "I didn't know you had stooped to stealing gladiator bait."
"Bait?" Tynmez's eyes dilated in suspicion. "Or fighter?"
"What do you think?" Poal said, trying to keep his tone light. "In this wretched end of the ghetto, we are competing for the dregs. If you expect to find something better then may I sell you a cloud, or perhaps part of the sea?" "Why cover this one, if it is of such poor quality?"
Poal flicked out his tongue, pretending indifference. "She bites and scratches like a cornered Skek. As you discovered."
Tynmez scowled at him. "You're a fool, wasting your eye and discernment on gladiator bait. Especially now, just before Festival. It doesn't make sense that you've sunk to such a low. I suspect you of trickery."
He was one to talk, after bribing Poal's guards and trying to steal everything in sight. Poal held down his anger, aware that he was still outnumbered and unprotected. Curling his tongue inside his mouth, he met Tynmez's eyes, hesitated, then placed one digit between his nostrils and sniffed.
Tynmez's eyes widened. "You?" he said in surprise. "You, caught by the dust?"
Poal flicked out his tongue, even as he despised Tynmez for being so eager to believe the worst about him. "When a male has debts, he must do everything possible to cover them."
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