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Veranix said, moving to walk around him as widely as he could manage. The boy bolted backward to stay ahead of them.
    â€œNow, now, gentlemen, that’s no way to get along. No way to get along at all. You boys should know well enough that the neighborhood boys are always on hand to help out lads like yourself.” He smiled at them.
    â€œWe know that just fine,” Delmin said, not making eye contact with him.
    â€œRight you are,” the boy said. “So what will it be? I have it on good authority that in Golman’s Club, just over there, awaits the finest dark beer in Aventil—”
    Veranix couldn’t help but let out a laugh at that. The boy continued, scowling at Veranix.
    â€œAlso there will be at least five bouts of bare-knuckle boxing. Fine sport just to watch, my friends.”
    â€œIn Golman’s Club?” Veranix asked. “That’s six blocks over, on Violet.”
    â€œJust so, just so,” said the boy, “And if you don’t want to walk that, I’ve got my cousin right over there with his pedalcab. He can run you by in a whistle.” He pointed down the street, where another young man in a flat-top hat sat with a three-wheeled carriage, ready to pedal off at a moment’s notice. Given that these two weren’t in their territory, that at least was smart.
    â€œRight,” Veranix said. “For how much?”
    â€œTell you what, tell you what,” said the boy, “Since you are two smart University boys, I’m not going to try and pull any fleece here. Four ticks each for the ride.”
    â€œFour ticks?” asked Delmin, stammering a little. “That’s . . . that’s not unreasonable.”
    â€œThat’s the spirit, lad.” He slapped Delmin on the shoulder. Delmin winced. Veranix stepped in between, getting in the boy’s face.
    â€œWe’re heading up Rose Street, chap,” Veranix said.
    â€œRose Street,” the boy said with a nod. “So it’s full stomachs and willing laps you seek.”
    â€œJust the meal,” Veranix said. He walked away, pulling Delmin with him.
    â€œOh, come now,” the boy said, catching up with them. “Young men like you are always looking for a clean doxy for a roll. Over on Violet we’ve got more than a few.”
    â€œI’m sure you do,” Veranix said. He looked the boy up and down, taking in every bit of his look. “You’re pretty keen on bringing us over to Violet. Most students don’t go farther into the neighborhood than Rose or Orchid.”
    â€œI’m just trying—”
    â€œTo pull some University coin to your streets,” Veranix said.
    â€œHey now,” the boy said, drawing himself up, trying to make himself look taller than Veranix. “Most you Uni kids don’t know what they can find over by Violet.”
    â€œI’m sure,” Veranix said. “But the real question is, do the Rose Street Princes or Hallaran’s Boys know you are trying to push into their territory?”
    â€œWhat you know about it?” the boy said. He scowled and gripped Veranix on the shoulder, pushing hard.
    Veranix instinctively slapped the boy’s hand away. “Just what I see and hear. I go into Aventil enough to recognize the usual faces who do hassles and shakes. And they never push to Violet. I don’t know what gang you and your cousin are in—”
    â€œKnights of Saint Julian,” said the boy proudly. His hands went into his coat pockets as he glowered at the two of them. “We’ll be running the Uni gates in due course, so you all better learn some respect.”
    Veranix presumed the boy was getting ready to pull out a knife. It would be a stupid thing for the kid to do, but street gang kids always did stupid things.
    â€œVeranix,” Delmin said nervously, “Why don’t we just . . .” He trailed off, and looked around them. Everyone on