Three-Card Monte

Miriamelle laughed at the pun Dazar made about tent stakes as they set up camp. After an early morning breakfast, Dazar determined that he would head back to Greenwater and could escort Miri along with him. She agreed after finding out more about the town called Greenwater. Hiking from their current location would take them about four or five days to arrive. If they got lost, then Miriamelle could use the Snaking River to find her way as the city was built at its mouth, so all she had to do was keep heading downriver. The city of Greenwater was an old penal colony of the Royal Trading Company, which had gained its independence some two hundred years ago after crafty negotiations. Dazar’s uncle had been a prominent diplomat in that event, and he spoke pridefully about the Hammerpants’ role in it. The city was aristocratic, the mayor was an elf-lord, but the rest of the races had representation in the government. Greenwater subsisted mainly as a trading stop for merchants on their way to different locales across the world. Aiano had not heard of the colony, but he simplified it for Miri by equating it to the Caribbean islands in the pirate age.

Not as concerned about her grumbling stomach, Miri grew more impressed by the natural beauty of the surrounding jungle. She spotted a spotted constrictor snake lazily digesting something while clinging to an enormous tree branch. The heat was still insufferable, but she was starting to adjust. Dazar gave her some bug spray, “To keep the damn mosquito’s off,” as he put it. By the time they stopped, Miri’s loins itched with need. She couldn’t help but acknowledge to herself it had been over a full day since she last came, and her body was not used to the lack of release. Miri hoped Dazar would go off in the woods long enough to relieve herself that night.

Likewise, she collected firewood and reformed an old fire-pit Dazar had used on the path to his fishing hole while he baited a line and cast it out. Miri hiked a little distance away from camp and Aiano pointed out a collection of edible tubers that looked like Carrots. So, Miri picked them and headed back to camp as Dazar hauled in a catfish. They conversed while dinner was cooking, Dazar asking about Earth and Miri answered. It was apparent she was feeling somewhat homesick when she started rambling on about what a nice boyfriend Anders was.

“Well. I don’t think I can help you with your boy toy, but I think I might be able to take your mind off him for a spell. That is, if you want.” Dazar leaned over and laid a comforting hand on her shoulder, face wrinkled with empathy.

“What do you have in mind? Under the circumstances, I don’t think I’ve got much better to do.” Miri sighed, running a hand through her curly brown hair. “Sorry. I don’t mean to offend; you didn’t deserve that snipe. I guess the weather’s getting to me a bit.”

“None taken. Hells girl, I traveled with Olivia the witch. Now she had a tongue on her! Some of the stuff that she said about poor Lucille would make a troll cry. You’re gonna have to really try if you want to hurt my feelings.” Dazar chuckled and threw back his canteen. He continued, “Anyway, ever heard of find the lady?”

“No. Can’t say I have… Though, I do have a boyfriend, I’m not going to do something perverted…” Miri warned, twirling a lock of her hair.

“Ha! It’s a card game… Though, once the bets are on… Anyway, I um, got distracted by a certain memory of a pretty dwarven lass who I played this with.” Dazar rambled.

Fixing him with a disbelieving stare, Miri coyly wondered aloud, “So, is Find the Lady a euphemism for my seeing my lady parts?”

“Only if you wanted butterfly!” Dazar laughed, continuing, “No, it’s a card game. Here, let me show you. Though there are stakes involved.”

“Sure. What are we talking? I don’t have any… coin… on me. Coin is the proper term for your currency, right?” Miri shrugged her shoulders in amusement.

“Aye, Lass. First hand’s free, though. If you win, I’ll give you some silver bits, and we can play for those.”

Miri nodded her assent and Dazar leapt up exclaiming, “Excellent!” He proceeded to grab a deck of cards from his traveling pack and motioned her over to a flat boulder off to the side of the fire. The dwarf asked if she could see the cards clearly, and he smiled and began shuffling the deck. When he finished, Dazar pulled three cards: the ace of spades, six of diamonds, and queen of hearts from random places in the deck.

“OK. Here’s what you do. Keep your eye on the queen. I’m going to shuffle these around and when I stop, pick out the queen.” Saying that, Dazar placed a stack of five silver coins on the stone halfway between them and out of the way of the cards. Miri nodded, eyes rapt on the back of the queen as Dazar folded the three cards in half vertically and started rotating them around each other. After a time, he stopped. The bearded dwarf pointed a stubby finger at the card on the left, then the middle, then finally the right.

“Which one’s the queen, pretty Miriamelle?”