She seemed to know what she was about. On this particular occasion appearances had not been deceiving. It was time to pick a character, to charm or disarm until he could work out exactly how to make a profit off her. Everyone had something of value on them whether they realised it or not. It was just a matter of buying time until you could figure out exactly what that was.

"Urgh!" Caesar groaned from the trees. He wrapped his tail around the nearest branch and dropped down onto Santiago's shoulders. He put his front paws on his fairy's right and his back ones on the left so his ribcage pressed against the back of his Santiago's head.

"I hate tigers," he complained as the stripy delinquent emerged from the shrubbery. "They think they're all that."

Santi grinned. "Being big armed and dangerous will do that for you, bud," he said. Keeping his eyes on the girl he lowered his pistol and peeled his finger off the trigger. Caesar huffed. He kept a close watch on the tiger. Any animal worth its name knew that tigers were not to be trusted.

Swinging his pistol casually at his side by the grip, Santiago smiled. " I hope you won't take it the wrong way if I keep hold of mine" he said, "but if I kept it in one of those fancy holster thingies I'd be walkin' funny."

His gaze travelled from the girl to the glint of gold dancing between her fingers. The coin spiralled upwards, glowing as it caught a ray of sun slipping in through the trees. Santiago's smile became a grin.

"Just so happens it's your lucky day" he told her, "finding lost things is one of my particular talents. I could stop finding my horse and help you find your prince, but it'll cost ya." He laughed, the sound rich as honey, and nodded at her single glimmering prize.

"I dunno what you've heard about our current predicament, 'cos I'm guessin' from your apparel and equipment that you ain't exactly from around here. But the location of princes hidin' in forests is valuable, pet. It's worth a lot more than that there shiner your holdin'. If it was as easy as that I know a bloke sittin' up in a castle who'd pay a pretty penny for my services."

He paused to gesture around at the surrounding trees.

"Trouble is, this lot are strangely attached to patricidal royalty and won't let me or the said bloke anywhere near 'im. Trust me, I've given it a damn good go."

"It's been quite tiresome," Caesar agreed, his eyes still fixed on his feline foe.

"But if you were to tell me a little somethin' about exactly what you be wanting from our young prince, maybe you and me can figure out a loophole."

He took a step forwards, making sure to keep his pistol low and extended his free hand for her to shake.

"What do you say? You a puzzler or a gambler?"