the inlays. He looked around at Briarly. “You could make a fortune making pieces like
this for all the high-class taverns and brothels, Kell.”
Briarly beamed. “Might just do that when I retire,” he said. “I’d like me a nice
workshop, you know?”
“I’ll back you if you decide to do it,” Alsandair said, and pulled one of the plush
leather chairs back from the table. “Did you make these too?”
“Aye, Sir, I did,” Briarly replied.
“Very comfortable,” Kyle pronounced, settling in.
“I mean it, Briarly,” Alsandair insisted. “I could stake you a workshop when you’re
ready.”
“I just might take you up on that, Sir,” Briarly agreed.
“Are we ready, gentlemen?” the captain inquired. He handed the unopened deck to
Alsandair.
As the evening progressed, it was a pleasant few games with a lot of male banter
being exchanged and a bottle or two of brandy consumed. Briarly had provided some
tasty treats to munch on as the men told tall tales of their various adventures and threw
in a bawdy joke now and again. The pots weren’t large and the captain took the first
one with two pairs and the ship’s steward won the second with three of a kind and the
third hand with a straight flush.
When after the third hour everyone had won several rounds a piece Alsandair
fanned out a full house for his hand, he gave Kyle a knowing look.
“Spreading around the wealth, are you, Striker?” Alsandair asked as he raked the
small pot toward him. He was holding the most money.
Kyle smiled as he shuffled the cards expertly then began dealing them to his
opponents. “Hold on to your knickers, gentlemen,” he said. “I feel a winning hand
coming on.”
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Charlotte Boyett-Compo
In the distance thunder boomed and the ship pitched on a rolling wave. Overhead
the lantern lighting the table swung slowly for a moment, casting halos on the green felt
surface of the table.
After dealing two cards down then one card up to each player, Kyle looked to the
captain who sat on his left.
Andelton checked his hole cards and found a king of diamonds and a five of spades
to go with his up card, the king of hearts.
Alsandair’s up card was the queen of spades covering his hole cards, the six of
hearts and the six of clubs.
Barely picking up the corners of his hold cards, Briarly could not contain the grin
that pulled at his craggy face when he saw the jack and four of diamonds beneath his
up card, the queen of diamonds.
A seven of clubs and a queen of hearts were Kyle’s hole cards. With the seven of
spades as his up card, it was the lowest of those showing.
“Okay, Captain,” Kyle said. “What’s your bet?”
“I’ll bet a prás,” Andelton said, tossing a single brass coin into the pot.
Idly tapping his fingertips on the table, Alsandair called as did Briarly.
“I’ll bump you a geal,” Kyle stated as he slid a silver coin into the pot.
“I’ll call,” said Andelton.
“Me too,” Alsandair and Briarly said, glancing at one another and laughing.
The next cards dealt face up were a five of hearts to the captain, six of diamonds to
Alsandair, the five of diamonds to Briarly and seven of hearts to Kyle.
“Huh,” Briarly huffed, squirming in his chair and attempting to hide a grin with his
four flush.
Another boom of thunder shook the ship as the storm came toward them in the
night.
Andelton shook his head. “Just hold off Mother Nature until I win this pot,” he
chuckled.
“Bet, Sandair?” Kyle said, and at Alsandair’s grimace smiled wildly, daring the
other man to say something about him using the nickname.
His face stony, Alsandair bet a geal, flipping the silver piece into the pot.
Barely able to contain his excitement, Briarly called, his left leg jumping.
Locking his gaze with Alsandair’s, Kyle cocked a brow. “Let’s see how proud you
are of your hand, Farrell. I’ll see your geal and raise you a geal.” He put two silver coins
into the pile.
After studying his cards and looking at his kings and fives, Andelton hesitated for a
moment then shrugged. “I think I’ll raise you a geal, Kyle,” he said as he slid three
silvers to the center of the table.
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With triple sixes in his hand, Alsandair announced his intention to take the last
raise by throwing three silvers into the pot.
Briarly and Kyle both called, as did the captain.
On the next round, Andelton was dealt the eight of clubs, leaving no more queens
available from the deck. He looked up as a sharp shriek of lightning echoed overhead.
“Storm’s getting a mite touchy there,” he said.
“Mother Nature ain’t listenin’ to you, Cap’n,” Briarly joked.
Alsandair received a king of clubs.
Briarly nearly jumped out of his chair when the nine of diamonds was laid in front
of him, completing his flush.
Kyle’s face was expressionless as he dealt himself the queen of clubs for he now had
a full house sitting at his fingertips.
“I bet a geal,” Briarly was quick to say, his leg bumping the underside of the table.
“I’ll raise you a geal,” Kyle said.
Rapidly running out of coins, Andelton drummed his fingers on the tabletop. He
was chewing on his bottom lip as he silently slid two geals into the pot.
Adding two silvers to the pile, Alsandair called.
Trying to curb his enthusiasm, Briarly called by placing a silver coin alongside the
others.
Turning a cocky grin to the ship’s steward, Kyle wagged his brows. “Guess we
don’t have that flush yet, eh, matey?”
Briarly kept as still as he could and made no reply.
Having a suck-along hand as the eight of spades turned up before him, the captain
mumbled under his breath.
No help came to Alsandair with the showing of the jack of hearts.
As the ten of diamonds came into view, Briarly was forced to press his lips tightly
together to keep from shouting. His eyes were like two live coals burning in his
weathered face.
Nine of hearts to Kyle was of no additional value since he already had his full
house—sevens over queens—and by not even a flicker of his eyelid did he give away
his excitement.
Outside the portholes, light flashed and rain began drumming hard against the
glass. The ship was rolling with the increasing waves and the creak of the timbers was
loud in the common room.
“Well, I have to bet a geal, gentlemen,” Kyle stated. He slid a silver to the pile.
Meekly shoving a silver into the pot, Andelton was able to stay in the game.
Alsandair cleared his throat. “I’m with you, Drake.” He dropped a geal into the pot.
“Well, now,” Briarly said. “I’m just gonna have to raise you.” He scraped together
two tin stáns and four brass prás that would equal two silvers.
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Charlotte Boyett-Compo
“I hate to take your last coins, my good man,” Kyle said, “but I’m going to have to
raise you another geal,” pitching in his bet.
Running through his small stack of
coins, the captain managed to come up with the
equivalent of two geals.
“I’m not sure why but I’ll call you again,” Alsandair said.
“I’m gonna have to call this time,” Briarly said as he scooped up five tin stáns and
added them to the pot.
Believing he had everyone beat, Kyle dealt the last card facedown. “Down and
dirty, lads,” he announced as lightning skirled over the heavens.
Much to his dismay, Andelton got the ten of clubs, offering him no additional help.
“This may well be my last go-round,” he said, “if this storm gets much worse.”
Easing up his card, Alsandair was pleased to see the final six card from the deck. He
eased up the other two hole cards then moved his hand away. All four sixes were now
in his possession.
One more diamond—the ace—fell to Briarly but it didn’t fill in the straight flush he
was expecting. Still, with an ace-high flush he no doubt thought he was sitting in the
catbird seat.
An eight of hearts meant nothing to Kyle with his full house and he barely glanced
at it. “Your bet, Captain Andelton,” he said softly.
Grumbling, Andelton said, “I’ll pass to the power.”
Alsandair looked into Kyle’s eyes and bet a silver geal.
“I raise your geal,” Briarly said, his voice too high as he pushed in a combination of
coins equaling two silvers.
“Well, now,” Kyle said, grinning. “I’m gonna raise you back, my friend,” he said as
he added three geals to the pile.
Andelton shook his head. “That’s too rich for my tastes,” he said as he looked down
at his scant pile of coins. “I fold.”
“Looks like one of you gentlemen has the winning cards,” Alsandair said, and was
about to pitch in two silver geals when a movement at the door caught his eye and he
looked that way. He went completely still.
“Rylee, my love,” Kyle greeted her as she came hesitantly into the room. “Did the
storm wake you?” He held out his hand to her.
Unable to look at Alsandair, Rylee came over to Kyle and slipped her hand in his.
“Are you going to be much longer?”
“Afraid of bad weather, milady?” the captain asked gently. At her nod, he smiled.
“My wife is too.”
“We’re almost finished,” Kyle told her. “Want to sit down?”
Rylee shook her head. “No, I’ll just watch.”
“The bet is to you, Briarly,” Alsandair said, a muscle jumping in his jaw.
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Realizing he had just enough to make the last raise with only a couple of tin stáns
left, Briarly scooted his coins into the pot.
Kyle could feel the silent animosity rolling off Alsandair. He tightened his grip on
Rylee’s hand and brought it to his lips, watching Alsandair the entire time.
“Are you going to play or should we leave you two lovebirds alone?” Alsandair
asked.
The captain and Briarly shifted in their chairs. Alsandair’s tone hadn’t been mean
but rather playful, although the warrior’s eyes were boring dark cinnamon darts into
the man across the table from him.
“Since that’s the last raise, I believe I’ll just have to sweeten the pot,” Kyle said as he
pitched in another geal.
“Sweeten it how?” Alsandair asked.
Kyle let go of Rylee’s hand and snaked an arm around her waist. He knew he had
Briarly beat and figured there was no way for him to lose. He gave Alsandair a
lecherous sneer. “I’ll throw in milady’s company for the remainder of the evening.”
Rylee gasped. “You can’t be serious!” she said.
“Easy, dearling,” Kyle said. “Trust your man.”
Captain Andelton frowned. “This is highly irregular. I don’t think that’s a wise
bet.”
“It isn’t,” Rylee said. “He simply spoke in the heat of the moment.”
“Nay, milady,” Kyle disagreed. “I know perfectly well what I was saying.”
Alsandair sat back in his chair, as stunned by Kyle’s bet as the other two men. “You
are betting the woman you love?” he asked. “You don’t mind losing her to another
man?”
“Who said I would lose? I believe in my cards,” Kyle stated.
“I won’t stand here and—” Rylee began, but Alsandair’s voice cut her off.
“What exactly does that entail?” he asked. “An evening with milady?”
“Nothing!” Rylee snapped, her eyes flashing. “Not a gods-be-damned thing, Farrell,
and especially not for you!”
“An evening,” Kyle replied. “And whatever milady is willing to make of it.”
“I could use a haircut,” Briarly said, his face beaming then flinched as Rylee threw
him a disgusted look. He ducked his head.
“Kyle!” Rylee hissed. “I don’t find this amusing.”
“Were you trying to be amusing, Striker?” Alsandair inquired.
“Not in the least,” Kyle was quick to answer. “I take all bets very seriously.”
“Kyle, this is ridiculous,” Rylee said, pulling away from his hold. Her face was livid
with fury. “You have no right—”
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Charlotte Boyett-Compo
“Don’t you trust him, milady?” Alsandair interrupted her. He wasn’t even looking
at her but at his rival. “Not exactly the man you thought him to be?”
“Commander,” Andelton cautioned. “We want no trouble here.”
“And there isn’t going to be any,” Kyle said. “Alsandair and I are gentlemen. We
will behave as such, won’t we, Sandair?”
The air in the common room was so tense it was vibrating. As the storm raged
outside, an almost constant strobing of light flashed at the portholes. The cracks of the
lightning and the deep, reverberating booms of the thunder shook the entire ship as the
rain lashed at the glass.
“You can’t be playing for the lady if she is unwilling,” Andelton reminded them.
“I’ll not have it said I allowed Miss Rylee to be forced into doing what she is dead set
against.”
“Trust me, Rylee,” Kyle repeated. He looked up at her and winked. “Trust me.”
“If I win,” Alsandair said, “I won’t be asking her for a haircut.” He held Kyle
Striker’s gaze. “I think you both know what I will want.”
“Something you won’t get!” Rylee threw at him. “Not ever again!”
Captain Andelton’s face turned beet red and he sputtered, nearly choking on his
own saliva. Briarly was turning his head back and forth between the two men, almost
chortling, for it was obvious he thought he was already the winner and was enjoying
the byplay between the two alpha males.
“Don’t be so sure,” Alsandair said, still not deigning to look at her.
“Kyle!” she spat, stamping her foot.
“Trust me,” Kyle told her still again. “I can’t lose.”
“Milady,” Andelton said, “if you don’t wish to be a part of this, I will not let them
force you.” He looked sternly at first Kyle then Alsandair.
Rylee’s heart was racing and she shook her head, unable to believe this was
happening to her. She looked down at Kyle and his face was so filled with assurance,
she hesitated to complain again. Glancing at Alsandair’s face, she saw what she thought
was uncertainty, almost a hopeful look that he had the winning hand. Br
iarly she
wasn’t worried about for she knew even if he won, a haircut would be all he required of
her. She bit her lip.
“Let them play their silly game,” Rylee said, hoping Alsandair lost. “I won’t soon
forget this idiocy.”
“You’re sure, milady?” Andelton pressed.
“Aye,” she said through clenched teeth.
Kyle crooked a brow at Alsandair. “Well, what’s it to be? You in or out?”
With infinite slowness, Alsandair picked up a silver geal between his thumb and
third finger. He held it—his elbow on the table, coin between his thumb and forefinger,
rocking it back and forth. For a long while he held it before finally flipping it into the
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Journey of the Wind
pot. He leaned back with his arms folded over his chest, not once looking at Rylee. His
gaze was fused with Kyle’s. “Okay, stud. Let’s see whatcha got.”
The storm was raging in full strength now with lightning stair-stepping down from
the night skies and thunder booming after each sharp crack.
Eagerly turning over his hole cards, Briarly looked from Alsandair to Kyle
expectantly, proud of his seven diamonds. “Seven diamonds, my friends,” he hooted.
He winked at Rylee. “Not to worry, missy. I’ll not hold you to the bet.”
“Damned straight you won’t,” Andelton snarled. “I’ll cut your hair myself before I
let you cause such mischief.”
Kyle shook his head. “I really hate to disappoint you, old man, but I’m afraid those
little diamonds won’t quite cut it.” He turned over his cards showing three sevens and
two queens to make a full house. He looked smugly at Alsandair. “I don’t think you can
beat that, Sandair,” he gloated then reached for Rylee’s hand again, bringing the back of
it to his chest.
Rylee breathed a ragged sigh of relief. She reached up her free hand to shakily wipe
at the perspiration that had formed on her upper lip.
“Commander?” the captain said, as eager as Briarly was to see Alsandair’s cards.
Alsandair and Kyle watched one another for what seemed forever. Not even the
raging storm could drown out the ticking of the clock across the room as they just sat
there. No one dared speak—not even Rylee—then Alsandair unfolded his arms, sat
forward and calmly began turning over his hole cards one at a time, never taking his
eyes off Kyle. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but I do believe four sixes beat a full house any
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