Winning Hand

Excerpt

''Full house.''Erith spread the cards on the low table, grinning as Lord Renault groaned dramatically. The Gentlemen's Club was packed, card games, dice games and various other amusements being enjoyed by dozens of Lords and Ladies looking to avoid the spring rains.

''Na’eb and his Holy Sister's crusty left ball! If I didn't know better, I'd swear you were cheating. That makes what? One thousand taban I owe you?''

Erith smiled over at the handsome young man. Charming and wealthy, Renault was a perfect gambling partner, jolly and pleasant and always willing to pay up. ''Two thousand, three hundred and eighty six, so far.''

''Two thous...''Dark brown eyes looked across the table and then Renault reached for the cards, shuffling them in his broad hands. ''Well, I guess I'll just have to win some back, won't I?''

''Or lose some more. Addina had some lovely ponies of Jutanari stock that I'm of a mind to buy. I've almost enough to buy the ones I wanted.''Erith grinned and took the cards he was dealt.

Three ladies on the first deal, it almost made him wonder if Renault was cheating to lose.

He hadn't been paying that much attention, but he supposed it was possible. But why on earth would the man want to lose that much?

''More ponies? You've got some of the finest stables in Saluee. Rumor is the stable boys fight for a position there. Of course,''Renault winked suggestively. ''It could just be those terribly interesting parties you've been known to throw. I imagine somehow sleeping in the barn loft has quite a view of the salle.''

Renault took three cards, wincing at the result. ''Did you hear Elle's pony had to be put down? Broke a leg jumping a creek. Your bet.''

Erith tossed two cards at the table, not letting his expression change as he pulled the six of axes and six of jewels. ''She pushes them too hard. That's not the first pony she's put down and it won't be the last.''

He looked over at Renault, eyebrow raised. ''You start off the bets.''

He tried to figure out what Renault wanted from him, the ladies might have been a coincidence, the sixes were not.

''Two hundred,''Renault threw his chips onto the table with confident flair, but Erith had a hunch the man was going to lose.

It was time to have some fun, see just how far Renault was willing to go to get into his good graces.

Erith waited for the other two to make their wagers and then casually tossed in one thousand taban worth of chips. Lords Simpson and Tweland threw down their hands with unhappy groans and Erith turned to Renault, wide grin on his face.

''Well?''

''I don't have the markers with me to cover that.''Renault looked at Erith, eyes wide and falsely innocent. ''I don't suppose you would take my word on it as collateral?''

''Your word, Lord Renault? Now I could hardly show my face here if word got out I was taking soft bets.''Interesting... Renault knew Erith didn't take soft bets, that fact was common knowledge around the gambling circuits.

''I've enough markers for half the bet...''Renault frowned and began to go through the pockets of his surcoat. ''I came straight from the sales and I've the papers for a new slave.''Renault pulled out the sheaf of papers from his coat. ''I paid eight hundred for him. If you'll accept that along with my remaining markers, it'll see your bet and raise you three hundred taban more.''

''Those must be quite the cards,''Erith drawled. Only he knew they weren't. Curioser and curioser... the man was scrambling to cover a bet he knew he'd lose. The amount was nothing that Renault would truly miss, but he was doing his best to make sure Erith took him for an awful lot of money.

He held out his hand. ''May I?''

He perused the papers. One boy, approximate age of seventeen summers, clean of disease, though he was in fairly poor shape -- probably beaten by his handlers. He hardly needed another slave, but he did want to know what Renault wanted.

He threw the papers onto the pile of markers along with three hundred more of his own markers.

''Let's see your cards.''

Renault threw down his three Lords, looking over at Erith with a grin. ''Three of a kind.''

''Full house.''Which you well knew. ''Sorry, my Lord. Na’eb and his Holy Sister isn't with you tonight it seems.''Erith pulled the pile of markers and papers over to him. ''I believe I've risked my luck enough for an evening.''

''Already? But Lord Erith, the evening is young. The moon is hardly in the sky.''

Erith smiled. ''Exactly, my dear Renault. The evening is young, which leaves me time to pay a visit to a certain establishment and spend some of your hard-earned taban.''

He grinned, standing and placing the markers in a bag. He was getting impatient. If the lordling wanted something, it was time to be out with it or the fool would have lost his money for nothing. ''Have the boy delivered to me in the morning? I'll have Havilland keep an eye out for him.''

''That sounds acceptable.''Renault stood as well. ''And as the best game in town is heading out the door and I'm out of markers, I guess I'm heading out myself.''

Erith inclined his head and headed for the changing table, handing over the markers. ''Add it to my account. After you've taken one hundred for yourself and another for the ladies who, as always, served us so prettily.''

''Certainly, Lord Erith. You are generous as always.''

Erith waved his hand impatiently and headed down the stairs to the street, Renault keeping pace.

''Well I was planning a visit to the Inn of the Blossom myself this evening.''Renault's voice was low and he leaned slightly toward Erith, as if making a confidence. ''But now I am without means this evening. A shame to end the evening so early by heading home alone, don't you think?''

Erith suppressed a groan. So that was it, the good Lord Renault wished to bed him. Erith gave him a critical once over from the corner of his eye. He was sure Renault was a fine enough bed partner, but Erith could find his like by snapping his fingers.