Tilia pointed her blade straight up and pressed another jewel in the
cross. The blade dropped back into the shaft.
"I do not mind crudity," she said, "but I do not like to be manhandled."
She smiled slyly. "Unless I've invited it. I had already made my mind
up, before you laid violent hands on me, that I would agree to your
going at once to the cardinal. I have decided that you may be able to
accomplish what you set out to do without getting us all killed. You are
brave and intelligent, but you know how to bargain, too. You know when
to yield and you know when to stand your ground."
Daoud felt pleasure at her compliments, but even more pleasure that she
was going to cooperate with him.
"Then why did you just say we would not be going to the cardinal?"
"I was about to add that first you _will_ feed me bread and cheese and
the execrable wine of Bagnioregio. _Then_ I _will_ give you a message
that will get you into Cardinal Ugolini's mansion."
Daoud laughed. That Tilia had yielded was a great relief. And she was
both witty and dangerous, a combination he admired.