Lyle broke into one of the packets and stuffed a piece in his mouth. Mmfph. Heaven. It wasn't Tenzil-worthy foodstuff, but hunger was a truly excellent sauce.

"Going on the defense isn't necessarily starting a fight, Danny," he said once he'd swallowed. "Sometimes, it's all that stops a fight from starting. Hssst, I'm more trouble than I look, hsst!" He gave Danny a lopsided smile. "Trust me, I'm an former kid-assassin, I speak from experience."