[Amanaduial the archer]

Kane looked up from a game of dice as he heard a wild animal cry. Glancing around, his hand on his sword, he saw it was Gormel who had screamed. He cursed silently- he would rather have had wild animals than Gormel coming around. He wouldnt be as easy to deal with.

Looking back, he ended the game, taking his meagre winnings, then exchanged a look with Rhana. Her dark eyes flickered across briefly to Bhurthnin. They were only there for a second, but Kane understood. He nodded slightly then raised an eyebrow, questioningly.

"How?" He murmered, for her ears only.
A shrug in reply. "Not sure. I mean, Bhurthnin is a strong player of dice and no mistake." She added louder, smiling, seeing that the object of their discussion was looking at them strangely. "I dont know how we would be able to beat him."

Bhurthnin snorted slightly in a way that was quite possibly some primeval form of laugh before he turned around to face the fire again, unaware of the hidden meanings carried.

"It would be easier to beat another, for his mind is wandering." Kane replied in an equally cryptic way, flashing a glance at Gormel. "I suspect he would be easier to beat."

"Men are weak in the night." Rhana replied. Kane couldnt help smiling at this and, partly for the look of it to anyone who might have been watching, he shoved her to the side, knocking the slim woman as she was caught unaware. She grabbed his hand on the way down though, making him lose his balance, pulling him over. Kane put his arms out just in time, on either side of Rhana, his face equal with hers. For a moment, his eyes caught with those of the beautiful foreign horsewoman and the world seemed frozen...before Rhana shoved Kane and he pulled himself off.

Shaking his head, clearing such strange thoughts that had entered, he squatted onto his haunches and spoke again in the cryptic way they had before. "I think I shall try against such a one then. I will be able to beat him this night."

" Its a high risk game Kane."
"And a high prize Rhana. From which we would both benefit." With that he turned back to the fire, working out how he would deal with Gormel...