Page 16 of Dancing With Demons
“Piper,” Tolmond coos, jolting me out of my head. He holds a hand out to me, and I rush forward to take it. “Feeling nervous?”
I shake my head firmly. “Not at all.” I flick my hair over my shoulder and give the demon a glare. “I know how good I am.”
Tolmond and Eht’tak both chuckle, guiding me into the sitting room with a low table that I can reach–unlike Tolmond’s original dining table as we learned the first night here–where we have our games.
I see only four seats at the table. We’ve been playing with six, so when I look at Tolmond with the confusion on my face, he says, “Since we’re going to be playing a more advanced game, I thought it would be better for you with less opponents.”
I nod, sliding into my seat, and he taps something in front of me. I lean forward to see in his thin and tilting scrawl are the rules written out. Eth’tak roars with laughter, shaking his head. “No more cheating, little one.”
Turning my nose up, I scan what he’s written.
Hands of more than two–insert squiggly symbol that I don’t know the name of–cuts the winnings in half.
Hands with at least one–symbol that looks almost like a crude star–double the earnings.
If–symbol that looks like a pitchfork–is drawn, the player must immediately offer up half their personal gambling chips.
And it goes on, listing out all the individual rules so there’s no way that I could ever say that I didn’t know a rule. I purse my lips, and I’m sure my annoyed look shows on my face because both demons chuckle again.
It’s cut sharply off as the door opens behind us, and I turn, seeing the demon from my first day here. His eyes light up when he sees me, and a warmth curls in my stomach.He’s the other player? The one that called me beautiful?
“Ulstrath?” Eth’tak is clearly not talking to the demon, paused in the middle of the room as we stare at each other. “Whyhim?”
“Because,” Tolmond huffs. “I hear he’s actually good at this game… and I don’t trust anyone of higher status around Piper. At least we’ve seen how they interact. He won’t try to attack her.”
That seems to draw his attention because Ulstrath strides forward, taking my hand and brushing his thumb along the back. “I’d never hurt you.” He winks. “I’ll settle for cleaning you all out when I win this game.”
I only smirk. “It seems you don't know what you’re up against. Please, Ulstrath, take a seat.”
“I would love to.” Our eyes linger as he sits between Tolmond and I, and when the other demon clears his throat, Ulstrath turn to not to Tolmond and Eth’tak. “Thanks for inviting me to the game.”
Eth’tak looks pointedly at Tolmond, who only nods. “Let’s get started. Piper, as reigning champion, you deal.”
I crack my fingers, picking up the deck of cards–that actually shuffle themselves to minimize cheating–and let them fly between my palms. With too cocky of a grin, I set them in the center of the table and pass one card to everyone.
Almost immediately, I know that I’m going to do well. Tolmond may think I was cheating before, but I truly am a natural. Ulstrath is really my only competition, and we tease each other as the game goes on, soon becoming just between the two of us.
I notice how Eth’tak watches us, but it’s just friendly banter. He’s witty and funny and a good opponent. I don’t understand why the others don’t like him.
“I was surprised when you approached me,” Ulstrath gives voice to my thoughts as he sacrifices a quarter of his wealth to me on a technicality. “I’m not blind to how you all see me.”
I reach out, touching his forearm. “Well, I enjoy having you here.” I throw a smile to the other two to let them know that I genuinely am happy, and with all three of them.
“That’s because he’s not bugging you for a promotion,” Tolmond mutters, twisting halfway away from the table.
Ulstrath only snorts and continues to deal, but it makes me wonder more about him. What's wrong with being promoted? I’ve seen how persistent he is, but I never took Tolmond or Eth’tak as those who would be annoyed by another trying to improve his situation.
I brush it off as Ulstratch throws down a card that entitles him to wipe out my hand and give me a new one–costing me the game. He laughs as he swipes my pile away from me, and one of the servants comes up to bag his winnings.
“This has been fun,” he says, his eyes only on me. “But I should probably be getting back. Early morning training and all.”
I stand quickly. “I’ll walk with you. I also need to get to bed since I’ll probably have training in the morning as well.”
Tolmond is on his feet and next to me. “Yes. You and I have lots of work to do.” He slips his hand into mine.
“Well, I also need to go home, so let me join you.” Eth’tak looks more contemplative as he looks between Tolmond to me to Ulstrath. I wonder what he’s thinking.
The four of us walk down the hallway as I talk to Ulstrath, asking him what he does in the King’s army and if he enjoys it. Tolmond barely stifles a groan as Ulstrath talks and I elbow him.