Though it had been nearly a decade since Xavier gave up the road to guard the Sergovia family's most precious possession, falling in with established customs came easy enough to him.  Clearly noise was something of a concern as even the hard looking gypsy's were careful to keep their voices down playing in near silence.  He wondered if this was an evening ritual or if this was just the way things were here.  One could feel the anxiety of this place like a physical presence and it was difficult to believe that anyone could live like this all day and all night.  Though people were amazingly adaptable as he had learned on his travels.  Were it not for the clear sense of danger, Xavier would have been quite content to sit and watch, learning more of their customs though he had to admit he didn't care for them all that much.  His curiosity however had to wait as the lone stranger began to speak.  While he noted the words which only added to his concern and the utter uncertainty of their situation, it was his movement towards Esperanza that became Xavier's most prevalent concern.  On instinct he moved to intercept the apparent drunkard before he could get within easy reach of his young charge.<br/><br/>He did not draw a weapon, hoping the man was indeed as drunk as he appeared, though acting drunk was a good way to have someone let the guard down.  Xavier was too professional for such a ruse though he had to admit it was a pretty good act if the man wasn't truly three sheets to the wind.  He allowed himself a low laugh as the man fell on his arse, acting or not he was much less a threat on the floor.  He left Esperanza to deal with the bartender as he watched pretty much everything else.  She was free with her money, which wasn't all that unusual for her and he felt no shame in allowing her to pay for him, he being essentially a servant after all.  As was also usual, he had significant coin stashed about him, a little was his own, but mostly belonging to the girl's father, enough to get her out of most of the usual kinds of trouble.<br/><br/>He watched to see if Katya would interrogate the drunkard even as the gypsy's scurried to get him up, help seemed a strong word for it as their care lacked any sort of compassion.  It almost appeared to be more out of self interest, self preservation even.  As if raising one's voice in passion were a risky thing in this town.  His ears perked up at the claim of being the burgomaster's son, he was struggling to keep track of who was related to whom here.  Except for the uncanny resemblance of the two girls, Xavier was beginning to think it was all some mad fairy tale meant to lure in the unsuspecting.  He looked between the two girls once again, admiring both their beauty and the obvious similarities.  Esperanza was certainly an unsuspecting type, at least in his reckoning, as she would probably always seem the young girl he had first met.  Katya seemed to have ample street smarts, but she had that look of avarice that had blinded many a wiser soul.<br/><br/>While Xavier had traveled with Esperanza before, never was it in such primitive conditions.  He smiled inwardly at the limited accommodations and wondered which side of her door he would be sleeping on this night.  He certainly respected her privacy and modesty (such as it was) but he was not opposed to compromising either to ensure her safety.  Katya complicated matters as well, seeing as how she could be every bit as much of a threat to his charge than anyone else here.  The complicated calculus of ensuring Esperanza's safety was almost enough to make him forget about the howling of the wolves outside.