The fighter spoke on, his tongue flicking silver, while he kept
his hands in his holey pockets. It was nice to rest the knuckles.
“But I seen some things outta sorts, and it’s been botherin’ me
brain something fierce,”
he went on explaining. Oro kept nodding, hanging on words.
Balkey told the tale of the brittle knights from before. of tailing
the Pin’s boys and the Rags to the front of Coral’s. So metallic
was Balkey’s tongue, and infamous his deeds, poor old Oro
didn’t notice Balkey had backed him into a corner. Deeds needed
doing. It was evident now. The boy towered over the ancient
guard. “I know you didn’t know knights were picking up dolls
from this joint,” Balkey dropped the shiny in his words. It was
not a question, but the sentence felt like a prod. Oro winced.