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piosenniel · 11-01-2002, 03:42 AM

***** DALE - Bram *****

Bram sat hunched over his cards, a perplexed look on his face. He had lost the first three hands, won a small pot, on the fourth then lost the next two. And now with the expression he wore on his face, it appeared that luck had deserted him once again.

Orodan had begged off the game, saying he wished to see Nephros about a matter. Girion was dealing, and asked Bram, for the second time, how many cards he wanted. Of his seven cards, Bram kept three and asked for four. His expression did not improve as he placed them, one by one, into his hand, and fanned them out evenly. He sighed and put a half-penny out on the table. Hringa called and raised him two pennies. The bet was called by Girion. Frain, eyed his hand closely, and raised the stakes with a silver penny. Hringa folded, laying his cards face down, and sat back to watch the hand play out. Bram met the bet, after much consideration, and Girion, looking at his cards a last time raised the stakes again, to three silver pennies. Frain met this bet, as did Bram. Girion laid down his hand, four of a kind - kings. Frain threw down his cards in disgust, a full house, aces over queens

Bram's eyes widened and he shook his head slowly. Girion, laughing, reached for the pot, to pull it to him. His hand was stayed by the light touch of Bram's hand on his arm.

Bram laid his cards on the table, and fanned them slowly out 7,8,9,10, jack, of hearts. The other players stared at him in disbelief as he gathered the money to him, arranging the coins in neat piles. A tidy sum!

The deal had passed to him, and he was just shuffling the cards, when the first fat drops of rain hit the deck. The wind had picked up, too, and the distant sound of thunder boded ill for travel on the river.

Bram put the monies into his breeches pocket, while Girion stowed away the cards. 'Batten down the hatches!' came the call from Bram, and several teams of dwarves and Elves secured the covers over the hatches.

Rira dropped anchor, the sails were furled, and the crew and captain went below to ride out the storm.

Girion sat opposite Bram at the table in the galley, watching him drink a mug of tea. 'You didn't somehow call up that storm to bring an end to our game at a fortuitous moment, did you?' he asked him, half in jest, half in earnest.

Bram laughed at the idea. 'It was simply concidence. I have only some small skill with cards, and none with the raising of storms!' Thunder echoed through the hull, and the bright flash of near lightning, shone through the thick glass of the galley's porthole.

[ November 01, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

11-01-2002, 03:42 AM	#370
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	*** DALE - Bram *** Bram sat hunched over his cards, a perplexed look on his face. He had lost the first three hands, won a small pot, on the fourth then lost the next two. And now with the expression he wore on his face, it appeared that luck had deserted him once again. Orodan had begged off the game, saying he wished to see Nephros about a matter. Girion was dealing, and asked Bram, for the second time, how many cards he wanted. Of his seven cards, Bram kept three and asked for four. His expression did not improve as he placed them, one by one, into his hand, and fanned them out evenly. He sighed and put a half-penny out on the table. Hringa called and raised him two pennies. The bet was called by Girion. Frain, eyed his hand closely, and raised the stakes with a silver penny. Hringa folded, laying his cards face down, and sat back to watch the hand play out. Bram met the bet, after much consideration, and Girion, looking at his cards a last time raised the stakes again, to three silver pennies. Frain met this bet, as did Bram. Girion laid down his hand, four of a kind - kings. Frain threw down his cards in disgust, a full house, aces over queens Bram's eyes widened and he shook his head slowly. Girion, laughing, reached for the pot, to pull it to him. His hand was stayed by the light touch of Bram's hand on his arm. Bram laid his cards on the table, and fanned them slowly out 7,8,9,10, jack, of hearts. The other players stared at him in disbelief as he gathered the money to him, arranging the coins in neat piles. A tidy sum! The deal had passed to him, and he was just shuffling the cards, when the first fat drops of rain hit the deck. The wind had picked up, too, and the distant sound of thunder boded ill for travel on the river. Bram put the monies into his breeches pocket, while Girion stowed away the cards. 'Batten down the hatches!' came the call from Bram, and several teams of dwarves and Elves secured the covers over the hatches. Rira dropped anchor, the sails were furled, and the crew and captain went below to ride out the storm. Girion sat opposite Bram at the table in the galley, watching him drink a mug of tea. 'You didn't somehow call up that storm to bring an end to our game at a fortuitous moment, did you?' he asked him, half in jest, half in earnest. Bram laughed at the idea. 'It was simply concidence. I have only some small skill with cards, and none with the raising of storms!' Thunder echoed through the hull, and the bright flash of near lightning, shone through the thick glass of the galley's porthole. [ November 01, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ] __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.