Marcus was picking through the tiles and identifying each one as Delno spoke.
“Then there are three last tiles in the set: two are blank and one has a skull painted on it. Sometimes people remove those three tiles before they play.’
Marcus found the three tiles in question.
“The two blank tiles, sometimes referred to as open tiles, can be used in place of any other tile. Depending on the game and the rules agreed upon, the skull tile either completely kills the hand of the person who draws it, or it can just block that player from drawing more tiles.”
“How does it kill his hand?” Marcus asked, looking from his own hand to Delno a bit suspiciously.
Delno chuckled. “Not the person’s hand,” he said, wiggling his fingers. “The tiles you are dealt are called a hand by some people because some of the tiles are held in your hand. Some people call the tiles that you are dealt a spread instead of calling it a hand.”
“What do you call it?” Marcus asked.
Delno shrugged and said, “I sometimes call it a hand, and sometimes call it a spread. It doesn’t matter what you call it, the people playing will know what you are talking about. Now, as to your question about killing the hand: if you get that tile and it kills your hand, you simply lose because that tile means you can’t play that hand.”
The boy looked at the tile a bit dubiously and then shrugged and waited for more instruction.
“If it is used as a block, then you can still play that hand, but only the tiles you have drawn up to that point. Since only six tiles are counted, and some spreads, or hands, deal eight tiles, you can still possibly win the game if you have already turned over enough tiles to have a good enough hand to play before you get to the skull.”
The boy looked confused so Delno said, “Why don’t we just play a few hands and see how it goes?”
Marcus nodded in agreement.
“The first thing we must do is mix up the tiles.”
He dumped the tiles out onto the floor and began turning over any that were face up. Once the tiles were all face down he started sliding them around and shifting their positions randomly using both hands. Once they were as thoroughly mixed as he could get them, he said, “I’ll deal,” then he paused and added, “This would be better if we had something to wager. The men who play this wager coins, but we could bet anything small enough.”
“I know,” Marcus said. His face brightened and he got up and ran across the room. He returned with a small basket about the size of a drinking mug: it was full of brightly colored buttons. He handed the cup to Delno. “Will these work?”
“These will work just fine,” Delno replied smiling. He took the buttons and divided them evenly between the two of them. “Now I will begin dealing. The game I will teach you today is very simple. It involves dealing six tiles. The skull tile is called the death tile, and if you get that you lose. One tile is dealt face down and only the holder of that tile gets to look at it until all the tiles are dealt.”
He picked up one tile without looking at it and placed it in front of Marcus and then placed another one in front of himself. “Now, you can look at the tile I dealt you but don’t show it to anyone. Well, I may ask to see it because I am teaching you, but that tile is called your hide tile because you hide it from everyone else until all the tiles are dealt and the betting is over.” He started to reach back to the tiles and then said, “Oh, I almost forgot, put in one button between us as the opening bet.” After they had both put one button on the floor between them he continued. “Now I deal the other five tiles one at a time face up.”
He placed a six in front of Marcus and an eleven in front of himself. “Well, it would seem that I have a higher score than you so I get to make the next bet.” He put another button in the pot and Marcus did the same. “The way you win is to get the highest hand, but it isn’t just numbers. The picture tiles with the animals are worth fifteen for the swan, dog, and horse, and twenty for the dragon. However, a pair is worth more than a high-numbered hand. Two pairs are worth more than one pair, three of a kind is worth more than two pairs, but six tiles of all the same color are higher than two pair or three of a kind. Six tiles in sequence are worth more than six tiles of the same color. Three pairs are worth more than that, and three of a kind plus a pair is worth more than three pairs. Two sets of three is the next highest hand. The next is four of a kind, followed by four and a pair. The highest hand is six tiles of the same color in sequence. If you have two similar hands, such as you have a pair of something and I have a pair of something else then the higher pair is the winner. Do you understand all of that?”
Marcus looked totally confused and started to nod but stopped and shook his head.
“Good,” Delno said, “I’m not sure I did either. The quickest way to learn is to play for a while and see how it works. I’ll help you figure out what you have as we go.”
They spent the next hour and half playing the tiles until Rita and his mother came in with the twins.
“Delno Okonan!” his mother exclaimed. “Are you teaching that child to gamble?”
“No,” he replied flatly. “He is teaching me not to gamble. He claimed to have no idea how to play the tiles, and he has taken every one of my buttons away from me by thrashing me at the game he pretends I was teaching him.”
Marcus smiled broadly, and proudly displayed the pile of buttons in front of him, and then pointed to the three lonely-looking buttons left in Delno’s stack. “I won them from him,” he said.
Laura tried to remain stern but the puzzled look on her son’s face combined with the triumphant look on her adopted grandson’s was too much for her: she couldn’t contain the laughter that bubbled up and spilled out.
Chapter 34
Delno had spent the night sleeping with Geneva on the wall. He woke up shivering. Summer was all but over and, despite the heat of the day, the nights in the mountains had turned cold. The sun wasn’t even a vague hint on the horizon at this hour. He took care of his bodily functions and began readying his equipment while avoiding making noise to allow the others to sleep as long as possible.
He began to pull out a piece of hard bread and some jerky when a soft voice behind him said, “Here, at least eat a warm breakfast and drink some hot coffee: I made it with cream and sugar the way you like it.”
Delno smiled at his mother. “Thank you. What are you doing up at this hour?”
“Besides making sure you don’t fly off without eating? I am making sure you don’t fly off without me getting to see you before you go.”
“Mother,” he said softly, “we’ve said our goodbyes. This won’t make it any easier.”
“Hush. I know it won’t make it easier, but I am your mother, and I want to be here. You know that parents aren’t supposed to have favorites among their children, but I do, and you are mine.” Then she added in her sternest parent’s voice, “If you ever let a hint of that slip to your brother, I will deny it and tell him you are delusional.”
Delno smiled at her. She shivered in the predawn cold, so he draped the blanket he had been folding over her and put his arm around her shoulders. They stood for a few moments just looking out over the plain and sharing the steaming mug of coffee she had brought him.
She looked up at him and said, “You look so much like your grandfather that I have to wonder if the magic has something to do with it. I wonder if magic and fate have conspired to put you in this position right from the day you were born. Not only do you look like my father, you are beginning to act like him. His visits were always too short and his absences always too long. I miss him, and I already miss you. I want my father avenged, but not if it costs me my son.”
“Mother, I am coming back from this. I will avenge Corolan and make Corice safe. I will ensure that we help stop these nonsensical incursions from Bourne, and in the process ensure that my people have a safe place to come home to when they need it. I also have plans to help prevent future Riders from getting delusions of gra
ndeur. I can’t do any of that if I don’t return.”
He wiped away a tear that was trickling down his mother’s cheek, and she smiled at him. Then she threw her arms around him and said, “You will do what must be done in Horne, and I won’t tell you not to take unnecessary chances because I know you won’t. However, I also know that you will take any risk that you feel is necessary. I love you Delno, as much as any mother could ever love one of her children. Please come home safe.”
There was a slight scraping noise behind them, and Delno turned to see Brock walking toward them. Brock was far enough away that he might not have heard the conversion between Delno and his mother, but Delno was pretty sure the man had heard and moved farther away to give them privacy and then deliberately dragged his boot to let them know he was there. Somehow he felt a little better knowing that his friend and second in command had heard everything. In a way it made him feel more like Brock was part of his family, and not just a fellow soldier.
Laura quickly composed herself and retrieved the large jug of coffee she had set down earlier. “I brought enough coffee and warm food for everyone.”
She poured Brock a cup and offered him some of the cream and sugar. Brock declined the sugar but added a splash of cream to his cup. “Oh, that’s good,” Brock said after sipping from the cup. “This is wonderful, Laura, thank you. I had expected to have hard bread and cheese washed down with water this morning.”
“That may be what you eat tomorrow, but I won’t see you off today on less than good food and hot drink. It was cold last night and will be cold in the air this morning when you start your trip; even if you are immune to disease, you still need to keep warm,” she responded.
“Is that real coffee I smell?” Will asked.
Everyone was waking up, and they ate as quickly as they could without wolfing down the food. They again said their goodbyes while they loaded their gear onto the dragons. As they were getting mounted, Dorian joined them and added his good wishes. Then, since dawn was only about a half hour away, and there was no possible reason for further delay, Delno gave the signal to take off.
The four dragons on the wall rose slightly ahead of the three on the ground, but Wanda beat the air furiously to catch up with Geneva. The other two with her were quickly outdistanced. Wanda settled in at Geneva’s left in the customary position of the second in command. Delno looked back at Brock and could barely see him shrug his shoulders.
“Leera says that, as a lineage holder, the position is traditionally Wanda’s anyway,” Geneva said. “She also says that Brock has no problems with Wanda and Nassari taking that position, but they should be told that he and Leera are more experienced at working as a team. When we get into battle, Nassari and Wanda might do well to remember that.”
“Very well, Love. Relay that to Nassari through Wanda, but please be tactful. I don’t want to start this trip on a bad note.”
“I have already done so, Love. Wanda and Nassari both say that they understand, but since there are no enemies about they will keep the position for now,” Geneva replied. “Wanda has a good heart, but she has a strong will and her ego pushes her to show that she and her Rider are important members of this team. She apparently feels that some of those we fly with see her and Nassari more as a pair you have good-naturedly included rather than serious members of the group.”
“You tell Wanda that I have known Nassari for over two decades, and he is my closest friend. Also tell her that Nassari is my third in command. He is third only because Brock and Leera have five centuries of experience at the type of warfare we are going into. If anyone else on our side has any problem with her or Nassari’s place in the chain of command, they are welcome to see me about it, and be set straight. She has no reason to doubt that they have been included because of their competence.”
After a few seconds Geneva said, “I have relayed your message and Wanda gives her thanks as well as relaying the thanks of her rider. They both appreciate your confidence in them.” She paused before adding, “Rita wants to know why we aren’t veering more west and are not making a more direct line toward Horne.”
“I want to swing a bit toward Orlean to see if we can hook up with Nat and Marlo. I would like to have them along with us. Also, if Nat has pronounced Jhren fit to travel, we would be better off if we had him along to back us up magically.”
After giving Geneva time to relay his response to Rita and the others he asked, “Love, can you contact Marlo from here?”
“I can feel her on the edge of my consciousness, like almost seeing an image out of the corner of your eye, but I am not close enough to speak with her yet. She and Rhonna are a bit west of Orlean, and I am adjusting our flight to try and intercept them. As soon as I can contact them directly, I will tell them to wait for us to catch up.”
“Well,” he responded, “apparently if Rhonna is with them, Jhren has decided to push on to Horne whether Nat has condoned the action or not. Hopefully, he isn’t pushing himself so hard he causes harm.”
“It is my opinion, Dear One, that Jhren will do as he pleases regardless of what anyone else thinks he should do.”
“Yes, I’ve noticed that tendency in him myself. Tell me, Dear Heart, have you had any contact with the un-bonded dragons who have joined us?”
“Yes, I spoke with Sheila last night in the Dream State.”
“You spoke with Sheila and you didn’t tell me?” he asked accusingly.
“Calm yourself, Love, there isn’t much to report. I didn’t want you to get excited and wake earlier than you did because of the conversation since nothing is really happening that required your attention. I love you and don’t want you to over exert yourself.”
“I appreciate your concern for me, Geneva, but please let me make those decisions for myself.”
“Well, I have to admit that it wasn’t completely altruism on my part, Love. I care about you and want you safe, but you are half of this team, and you keep me safe also. You can’t protect us with magic very well if you are beyond exhaustion, and I prefer to keep both our hides intact.”
“Point taken, Love, one for you,” he said. “Now, what did you learn from Sheila?”
“She and the others—they have had more dragons join them and now number twenty-nine—are still watching over the men we sent, and they are still nearly a week’s march from any real danger in Horne, though they are making better time than we had expected. They seem to be pushing themselves harder than need be, and Sheila is a bit concerned that they may be too spent to fight when they get there.” She paused and then added, “From the images she gave me of them, I don’t believe there is a problem. She is used to seeing only a few people from the south, and then only at a great distance. She has no experience with you northern mountain people and how hardy you all are. I believe the men will be fine.”
“I’m sure the men will be all right. Most are trained soldiers and the captain in charge won’t be foolish enough to push his troops so hard that they will all be killed from exhaustion. It is also good that more un-bonded dragons have joined us. With the four we left in Corice, that makes a total of thirty-three un-bonded dragons we have contact with, and that means that it is possible that we will eventually have that many more bonded pairs.”
“I wouldn’t hold out too much hope that Sheila and the other older dragons will change their minds any time soon and choose a partner, Love.”
“True enough, Dear Heart, but for some reason, today, I feel that anything is possible.”
“I want to get more altitude, Love. The sun is just now coming up, and I want to be the first to greet it!” she said as she beat down hard to get higher.
“Then push hard, Dear Heart, because it looks as though Wanda wants to beat you to it,” he said, and laughed.
Geneva and Wanda both drove themselves to their limit to get higher while turning farther to the east. Seeing the two vying with each other to be the first to see the sun appear on the horizon, the other dragons joined the race. It wa
s Geneva who first roared triumphantly as they saw the thin crescent of the flaming orb appear. Her roar was accompanied by Wanda’s a half a second later, and then all of the others joined in at once. Delno, not caring that his own voice would be drowned out by the bellows of the dragons, whooped along with them, as did everyone else.
Chapter 35
Delno stood watching the changing reddish hues of the Dream State as Geneva reached out to contact Marlo. She had said it wouldn’t take long tonight, because Marlo was close to them, and she would be watching for Geneva to make contact. Time always seemed to pass differently here than it did in the waking realm, but Delno still felt a sense of urgency.
“I have found her, Love. She and Nat are coming.”
As Geneva finished speaking, Marlo and Nat became visible to him. They simply appeared next to him rather than having actually moved toward him spatially. Delno wondered yet again why sometimes the people he wanted to speak with here would actually move toward him, but other times they would simply appear as if materializing out of thin air.
“Ah, we have found you. I can’t help but wonder how the dragons navigate this place,” Nat said mirroring his thoughts.
“I would love to have long philosophical discussions about it sometime, my friend, but tonight we have other matters that are more pressing,” Delno replied. “I take it Jhren is in good enough health to travel and is with you?”
“Well, I would like to have had him rest for a couple of more weeks, but he is a stubborn man. I decided that since he would go anyway, it would be better if he traveled with his physician than if he simply went alone. So, yes, he is with me.”
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