Join Madeline in a game of cards.

{if social = true}Madeline’s hand inches toward yours along the armrest. Your fingers twitch to meet hers, entangling over the padded wood. She’s warm, the skin of her palm slightly rough from weapon-wielding, no doubt. It dawns on you that you don’t know what she fights with, only that the battles she’s won are gruesomely described in the tales you’ve heard.

Your eyes trace up her arm, well-muscled, toned, and freckled, all the way up to her bare shoulder and finally, her charming blue gaze. “Let’s play,” you say, and her pink lips part to flash a boisterous smile.

“Hear that, boys?” she says to the table, “Lord Dragoon wants in.”

“Aye, good!” Ragnor calls. “We’ll see if Her game is as good as Her stories!”

{elseif shy = true}You look from Madeline to the table of Rinvari gamblers. The gaggle of jubilant men and women -- throwing cards, coin, and ale at one another -- are certainly distinct from your own subjects, your own bannermen and servants; but you see in Madeline’s charming, patient grin a flicker of competition that begs to be quenched. Her hands, clasped over the crook of your elbow, squeeze slightly.

“Let’s play cards,” you tell her, and she beams.

“You’ll do great,” she promises, and practically drags you toward her comrades. “Oi! Ragnor! Make room for me and Lord Dragoon. We’re going to take all your money after all!”

“Ah, little Lord has come to play, eh?” Ragnor calls back. A few Rinvari set up chairs for you and Madeline, which you fall into with knees touching. “Let’s see yer bluffin’ face at work, then.”{endif}

Ragnor deals you, Madeline, himself, and a pair of other Rinvari in. While the table has -- up until now -- been a font of noise and raucous activity, the men and women around you quiet as the five of you clutch your first hand of cards. You can hear the band now, and a huff of anxious breathing.

You’ve got a purse of coins on your person, which you empty onto the table. You pluck a few from the glittering pile to throw into the pot, and the others do the same. Madeline winks at you as she looks up from her cards and antes up. Over the course of the game, everyone slowly drops out except for you and her.

“Another five silver,” she says wryly, and drops five coins onto the center pile piece by piece, eyeing you the whole time.

You examine her. {if social = true}You’ve played your fair share of card games, but you’re a skilled diplomat, too.{elseif shy = true}You haven’t played many card games, but you are a skilled diplomat.{endif} There’s a good reason your lands are as safe and well-managed as they are. You see it now, as she eyes you -- not confidence, but a challenge. The piercing gaze of a Queen with enough power to front and dissuade; enough power to distract from what she has...or doesn’t have.

“I’ll match,” you say, and a lone Rinvari gasps. Madeline’s grin turns impossibly more sly.

“Show yer hands then,” Ragnor says, and you both set your cards on the table for all to see.

All she’s got is a low pair. You’ve got a full castle. The table booms. Some groan, having lost bets. Others cheer, having won them.

“That was quite the bluff,” you mutter to Madeline through the din.

She touches your arm, playing with your sleeve. “Wanted to see if you were a coward,” she says. “And you’re not.”