Page 72 of A World Enough

The young man was trying not to smile but was making a bad job of it. “Yes, the pot is yours.”

She swept the winnings into the sack that the casino gave out, then stood up. Kartog allowed herself to smile then. She walked behind Baldo. “I don’t like to leave someone with no money. Here you go.”

She gave him six blocks of gold, which was a good amount of money. It was enough to keep him afloat. Baldo didn’t thank her in return.

Then she tipped the dealer generously and went around to her supporter, the first-time player, Jenice. “Thank you for the support,” Kartog said.

“It was thrilling to watch you. I came here for fun, thought I’d play a few games. Lost all my money, but it was fun while it lasted.”

“I think you should learn about the game before you ever play again.” Kartog set the bag of winnings in front of Jenice. “Here, you take this. I don’t need it.”

“Are you kidding?” Jenice said. “I could buy a small moon with that. It’s too much. I can’t.”

Baldo shouted, “That’s my money and you give it away to some woman who doesn’t have a clue?”

She walked back over to Baldo and said, “If you touch a hair on this woman’s head, or take her money, I will gut you from head to toe, and in case you are debating whether I am serious, I am escheal to a Goddess of Abnobia, Ninti.”

Baldo got up and hurried out of the room.

Kartog went back to Jenice. “My advice, don’t spend that in here, or you’ll lose everything.”

“I won’t, I promise you. I’m going home and buying me and my father our own home. Somewhere quiet.”

“Sounds like a great idea,” Kartog said.

A waiter came up to her and said, “Ziggy can see you now. She’s just at the bar.”

“Thank you.”

After meeting up at the bar, Kartog and Ziggy found a table for two at the edge of the gaming room. The noise of the room helped them, and their conversation, step into the background.

A waitress brought over two drinks. Ziggy took a sip. “You won big, I hear.”

“Just to keep my mind active when I was waiting for you, and I had to put an odious man in his place.”

“He was thrown out shortly after. Causing a disturbance,” Ziggy said.

“Glad to hear it. Odious man.”

After Kartog took a first drink she asked, “How are they?”

“Stressed. Either strangle each other or kiss each other is how I would describe it,” Ziggy said.

“Really? The wolf has taken a shine to Camber, has she?”

“And so has Camber. Honestly, I’ve never seen her like this. There’s never been anyone else, as far as I know.”

Kartog stirred her drink with her cocktail stick. “Too dangerous.”

“Believe me, it’s full-blown sexual tension up there,” Ziggy said.

Kartog laughed. “Yes, I remember the first days when Ninti and I were falling in love. It was a very volatile situation. Do you think it will help us or hinder us?”

“Our wolf Brogan has already staked her claim as Camber’s protector, so she’ll be sticking very close. I think that’s a good thing, but when it comes time to say goodbye and go back to her own world, Camber might end up with a broken heart,” Ziggy said.

“But if this Brogan is acting as her protector, then she’s imprinted on her, and maybe she’ll stay.”

“Map Keepers have always been on their own. It’s the easiest way to hide, isn’t it?”