Jimmy the worm licked his lips lasciviously. "Business partner or partner partner?"
Nicola grimaced. "Just get out of here."
"Look, I admit the crown jewels thing was bullshit. But I've got a line on a job that I need partners with, and it looks like your little butch hoochiemama might be good with a sword. Seriously, you won't regret it. How does it hurt you to listen?"
"Job?" asked Alessa.
"He means he wants to steal something, and he needs help."
"Steal something! And he would corrupt a Dame and her noble lady to his vile plot!" Alessa drew her sword in anger. Jimmy turned pale.
"No, no, no, no, it's not like that! It's more like treasure! Like I know where there's some treasure we can recover--just sitting there, doesn't belong to anyone, just need to go get it."
"So what do you need a sworder for?" Nicola asked.
"Uh, well, there might be a monster involved."
"A monster!" Alessa leaned forward, suddenly interested.