Page 25 of Heir of the Autumn Queen

I head back inside to find the crowd even rowdier than before, with several males gathered around a large table in the center of the room. There are mortal men, as well as a few dwarves, a troll, and an elf or two. I try not to stare, but I’m easily fascinated since no one back home is full-bloodedanything.

I push my way through the crowd, curious to see what’s drawing everyone’s attention. Four men are sitting at the table playing a game of sorts, a small sum of coin in the center of the table as a dealer shuffles and doles out cards. I watch them play for a while before determining that they’re playing River Run, a simple betting game based on what cards you are dealt and what cards are revealed on the table. I’ve played, and won, against Killian and Briar countless times, and I’m itching to buy in.

Without much thought and more than a little pride, after the round ends, I muscle my way to the table and take a seat in one of the empty chairs. A heavy silence falls around me, and I instantly regret my decision, but it’s too late now. My intrusion is met with wide eyes and even a few looks of outright disgust, but I throw a copper piece onto the table, challenging anyone to deny me the right to play simply based on my sex.

After a moment of poignant silence, the dealer clears his throat and shuffles the deck of cards, dealing me in. I’m relieved I wasn’t asked to leave or thrown out, so I play it cool and try to appear like I play cards with strangers in towns I’ve never been to all the time.

I look around the table to size up my competition as my heart beats a little wildly in my chest. The four men playing all appear to be middle-aged and fairly well-dressed, most likely wealthier than those watching the game. I remind myself that I’m just as deserving to play as these males, and my heartbeat gradually slows as I focus.

My cards are decent, but I’ll need to call the previous bet in order to stay in long enough to see the River. I throw another copper in the pot and we all look to the dealer to see what cards will appear. He flips three cards over and lays them in a line in the center of the table, and the crowd murmurs quietly. With the cards I have in my hand and the cards that were just revealed, I could potentially win this round, so I bet another copper to stay in.

The man to my left and to my right both fold with an exaggerated huff, so it’s just me, the man across from me, and the man next to him remaining for this round. They both call my bet and the dealer flips another card over into the River.

I’ve got two sets of two now, but it still might not be enough to win. I keep my face straight, recalling Killian’s words in my head.

Bluffing is half the game, kiddo.

I contemplate if it's worth the risk, but I feel like I have something to prove as the only female playing, so I stay in. Calling the bet, I pray that the next card flipped gives me the advantage I need to win.

The room is so quiet, it’s as if no one is even breathing as we all wait for the dealer to flip the final card in the River. He reveals the last card, placing it next to the others in the center of the table, and I celebrate silently. I keep my face stoic, even though I know I’ll most likely win; there are only a few hands that can beat mine, so I’m feeling confident that I’ve got the other two men beat.

The man across from me reveals his hand. It’s good, but my hand beats his. The second man flips his cards over, smirking at me short-sightedly, thinking he’s won. The crowd murmurs, admiring his game-play. Some of the onlookers start to fade away, dismissing my presence all-together, but a few look at me as I flip my cards to reveal the winning hand. There’s an audible gasp from someone in the crowd, while the man who believed he had won slams his fist down on the table, his face turning beet-red.

“Well I’ll be damned,” someone says from the crowd. I look up to find who the voice belongs to, and see a handsome young male with black, wavy hair staring down at me from across the table. A boyish grin takes over his face as he shakes his head inadmiration. I quickly avert my eyes from his intense gaze and collect my hard-earned money.

“Bitch,” the man who lost to me mumbles before pushing his chair back harder than necessary and stomping over to the bar like a toddler, no doubt to drown himself in drink to quell his embarrassment of losing to amere woman.

I shake off his rude comment as I collect the coppers I won before standing up myself, many from the crowd watching me warily. Playing a hand probably wasn’t the smartest idea when it comes to laying low, but I couldn’t help myself.

Sometimes men need to be knocked down a few pegs; to be reminded that without women to birth and raise them, they wouldn’t even exist. We’ve come a long way from women essentially being sold and used as breeding stock, but we’ve still got a long way to go before females are treated and respected as equals. I hope tonight showed the males watching that a female should never be underestimated, and I smile to myself before heading over to the bar to get a well-deserved ale.

Lucas serves me a beer with a wary smile, having witnessed the whole round of cards, and the handsome stranger who made the comment after I’d won comes to stand next to me as I take a long drink from my mug, gulping down several mouthfuls.

“Where’d you learn to play cards like that?” he asks, smiling at me again. I study his face now that we’re standing much closer. His eyes are a shade I’ve never seen before, so dark that they’re closer to indigo than blue. His nose is the perfect size, straight and sharp, and his jaw is sculpted. He’s got a deep scar through his right eyebrow, and even under his all-black clothes and cloak, I can tell that he’s fit and muscular. He’s supernaturally tall, close to a foottaller than me, and I’m taller than most females. He truly is a beautiful specimen, and I imagine that smile he’s giving me has made many women go weak in the knees or crawl into his bed.

“My brother,” I answer curtly, forcing myself to hold his stare. Aside from being wickedly handsome, which he’s clearly aware of and is obviously comfortable using to his advantage, I get the sense that he’s much more experienced than me, in all aspects of life.

“Well, you really showed those assholes.” He winks at me playfully and turns to take a drink of his beer that Lucas placed in front of him on the counter.

“I know.” I try to maintain my composure, but my cheeks flush warmly with the way he’s looking at me, like he can see right through my confident facade. I take another drink to calm my nerves then reach down to feel the comforting weight of my dagger around my thigh.

“Where’re ya from?” He leans back against the bar top on his elbows, the picture of ease and confidence, although I notice the other patrons in the bar eye him warily, an air of fear surrounding their tentative glances. Whoever he is, he’s clearly respected, if only for his sheer intimidating size.

“Not here,” I answer coolly, not wanting to reveal anything about my business after the encounter with the thieves in the woods.

He tips his head back and laughs, sounding genuinely delighted by my non-answer. “I gathered that.” I shoot him an unamused look, but don’t answer further. He holds his hands up briefly, then crosses his arms casually. “Just making conversation, Trouble.”

I narrow my eyes and scowl at him, disliking the idea that he feels comfortable enough to assign me a nickname only minutes after meeting. “I have a name.”

He smirks and leans in close to my ear before whispering, “Usually, the polite thing to do would be to share said name.”

I shiver from his warm breath snaking across my skin, pulling back and regarding him warily as he continues smiling at me charmingly, but I decide there’s no harm in telling him my fake name. “Hazel.”

“Hazel…” He considers me for a moment. “I like Trouble better.”

I roll my eyes and take another drink of ale. “I didn’t ask.”

“Aren’t you gonna ask what my name is?” He smiles down at me, revealing his perfect teeth.

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