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Mac grinned up at us. “See? Lion always beats cow except when there’s another cow beside it. Watch.”
He slid another cow card beside its brethren, and the bands that connected cow and lion came alive again. This time, however, the spotted swallowed up the lion bands and the cows gave a triumphant moo before going silent.
Ben picked up one of the cow cards and studied the face. “Interesting. Then these are magically imbued?”
Mac shrugged as he scooped up his cards into a pile. “I suppose so, but there’s no harm in that, is there? It’s a safe type of magic.”
“Yes, it does appear to be,” Ben mused as he held out the cow to Mac. “Thank you very much for showing me how to play.”
“No problem,” Mac replied as he tucked the cow back into his deck and climbed to his feet. “Just call me up any time you need help with the game. Nobody knows more about it than Mac.”
“Mac’s the best!” one of the others piped up.
“He’s beaten everybody except Darren!” another chimed in.
Mac scowled as he slipped the cards into his pocket. “That’s because he keeps all the best cards to himself. If I had half as much of the stuff he has I’d been him. Heck, he doesn’t even know how to get a snake to slither past the cow.”
“Does he show off his deck to curious eyes?” Ben asked him as he stood.
Mac shrugged. “I suppose. Never thought to ask.”
Ben smiled and bowed his head. “Thank you again for the lesson and the information.”
Mac held out his hand. “A pleasure to meet a count who’s not too snooty to play a little with us.”
Ben shook his hand. “Likewise.”
“Come on, lads,” Mac commanded as he nodded down the street. “Let’s go test these cards on that gang down near the cistern.” The other boys gave a shout and together they stampeded down the street.
I sidled up to Ben as they disappeared down the road. “It looks like these cards aren’t as normal as they look.”
Ben shook his head. “No, but we shall find out soon enough how special they are.”
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
We slippedinto the side street where the boys had emerged, and after a mile of walking, we found ourselves on the dingiest road I had yet seen. A few of the houses were merely hollowed-out shells, and some had even been burned to the ground, leaving only crumbling stone foundations. The only bright spots on the whole street were a few clumps of buildings here and there, but even those were in such a dilapidated state that I wondered if they were held up by magic.
I looked up at my guide whose own face reflected my grim emotions. “I’m guessing this is Brisbane Street.”
He nodded. “It is, and you’ll hardly find a more depressing street in the whole of the city apart from those controlled by the Shroud.”
“So which one of these fine establishments is the card shop?” I wondered as I looked over the few buildings that still stood straight.
A pair of girls came giggling out of one of the buildings on our left. Their heads were bent low and close together, and they each clutched a pack of cards in their hands.
“Never mind.”
We wandered over to the shop, and the gaggle of giggling girls noticed our coming. Frightened looks passed over their faces and they scurried away down the street. Ben entered the shop first, and a tiny bell rang over our heads. The establishment was a single room with a door at the rear. Tall shallow racks lined the walls on either side of us, and they featured wrapped items in the shape of cards. Some were individually wrapped, but most appeared to hold several of the playing papers.
A tall desk stood in the back, and a man sat on a stool behind it. He was middle-aged with a balding head he tried to hide with a horrible comb-over. His shirt couldn’t hide his gut which overhung his belt, and his cheeks showed a touch of color that like the kiss of the bottle. He appeared to be perusing a magazine with a smile that wasn’t all too innocent.
The man looked up at our entering and his smiling face fell faster than a dropped hot potato. He slammed shut the magazine and I beheld a sketch of a scantily clad woman on the cover before he slipped it beneath the desk. “What’s wanted?”
Ben was all smiles as he led me up to the counter. “I’m interested in a game called Puck, and heard you were the seller of the fine decks.”
The man scowled at him. “So what if I am? Why would a swell like you be interested in a game for kids?”
Ben set a hand over his heart. “I am still a child at heart and desire to join in on their games. I also have a nephew who has challenged me to a duel, and a gentleman cannot refuse such a dare.”
