Eventually our quiet watch of the proceedings in the room beyond the wall comes to an end. We aren''t disturbed by the players or the others over there though. No, instead it is another guild member, as far as I can tell anyway, coming the same way as we did a while ago.


    It''s another unfamiliar face. It isn''t a youngster, or at least relative youngster, like Sylwia, Matylda or me though. No this one is a slightly older man, judging by the white speckling his beard. It seems he isn''t unexpected though. In fact, Matylda greets him with a silent wave.


    Unlike my escort for the way here he doesn''t stay entirely silent though. As he pulls two well rounded and obviously heavy purses from under his cloak he provides some more instructions in a whisper.


    “Your money for the game. I''ll collect the winnings afterwards. They are just about to wrap up their last game. Drop in on them as they do and offer to take the spots of Sylwia and her friend when they drop out due to the lack of coin.”


    That is all he says. He doesn''t wait for an answer either. Instead he just disappears the same way he came, leaving us alone once more. It is as he said though. I can hear the current game coming to a conclusion.


    I take one more deep breath and straighten myself out. On a hunch I decide to act both tough and casual, as that actually will require the least actual acting.


    Matylda''s posture and face on the other hand relax noticeably. She even puts on a little pout. Together with her pretty hair framing her cute face it is almost too much for me. Damn, she looks ridiculously adorable like that. And she almost certainly has some skill too, or maybe two or three, to support and strengthen that image.


    Making sure to move as quietly as possible I slink up to the door. Without making so much as single noise I pull it open and squeeze into the room beyond, with my dwarfen companion hot on my heels.


    My [Stealth] skill certainly is pulling its weight and improving little by little in the process, as I''m already halfway across the room by the time the first of Slywia''s special guests takes note of me.


    “What …”


    Even as the young woman speaks up I can feel an identification skill being used on me. So much for it being impolite to use these skills on other people without asking for permission first.


    Time to up my game a little. I furrow my brows and use my own [Identify] skill on the young woman in question. I can feel the skill improve a little as the tiniest fraction of my Mana drains away. A moment later the skill''s result comes in.


    [Justyna, Lady in Waiting (Radiance, Uncommon, Level 10)]


    Oh! Now that is a curious class. She might really be someone of importance. She has a decent level too, but no second class.


    She flinches back a little too, as I use [Identify] on her, almost dropping her glass of wine in the process. She really isn''t used to being treated that way.


    Time to add some insult to injury. I do so by completely ignoring her. Well, I pretend to completely ignore her anyway. Of course I make sure to not let her completely out of my eyes. Her gaze is drawn to the one hand resting casually on the handle of my sword.


    I lean heavily on the back of the chair of the fourth player at the table, a chubby youngster who only notices me now that I''m almost breathing down his neck, as he is sitting with his back to the room''s only obvious entrance. He looks up startled, but I wave off whatever question he is about to ask. I add a confident little smirk on top.


    “Don''t let me stop you. You were just about to finish up this game weren''t you?”


    I look over towards Sylwia and her guild companion. The piles of coin in front of them have dwindled down to next to nothing, with most coins piled up in front of this youngster and to a smaller degree in front of the [Lady in Waiting] too now.


    “I was thinking about playing a few games myself and it seems I be just in time to join this one. What do you say? You don''t mind , do you?”


    Sylwia is the one to respond, as her cards are already down on the table, revealed for all to see, as are the lady''s. Seeing them there is no doubt that Sylwia will not win this game.


    “You can have my seat, if you really want to. I''m out after this one. I''ll need to earn back some of the coin I lost here, if you get my gist.”


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    The chubby lad seems a little disappointed. Did he have hopes to win more than just some coin? Can''t be, right? Oh, who am I trying to fool. Of course the lad is hoping for something more. Or at least he was. What a silly fool! Well, he''ll have to figure that one out on his own. I sure won''t break it to him.


    Before he can say anything Matylda pipes in, displaying an almost impossibly bubbly attitude in the process.


    “Oh! Can I join in too? Please, please, pretty pretty please?”


    So far she has gone unnoticed behind me. Not so much anymore now. The [Lady in Waiting] almost chokes on her drink while the lad gets a silly faraway look.


    Oh, gods and goddesses, is he this quick to forget about the woman he has been pining for? While she is still sitting at the same table with him? I have a hard time not rolling with my eyes. It takes about all the self restraint I can muster.


    Thankfully Sylwia''s companion at the table does the necessary talking.


    “Let''s finish this game first. Alright?”


    Everyone else at the table nods and a moment later it is clear that the small pile of coin goes to the lady this time around. With that settled Sylwia and her companion take their leave. Not before finishing their drinks though.


    The bard sitting on a large chest in a corner never stops playing, barely even looking up as Matylda and I sit down while the other two leave. The pot bellied man taking care of the small makeshift bar in turn puts a mug of beer down in front of me the moment I take my seat at the table.


    Good. The local beer I can handle. Of that I''m sure. It''s hearty but not all that strong after all. I wouldn''t trust myself with anything stronger though.


    Matylda on the other hand doesn''t seem to have any issues like that. In fact she barely gives the man enough time to put the glass of wine down on the table, before she grabs it. She empties it halfway with one big gulp. And the resulting blush spreading across her cheeks is of course absolutely adorable. She really is putting on a show.


    Well, hopefully I''ll be able to compete. Regarding the show at least. I don''t necessarily need to win the game of cards after all, as long as our guests don''t walk out of here with any of their coin.


    I grab the loaner purse from the guild I received earlier and upend it in front of me. The pile of coins is, of course considerably smaller than what these rich kids have in front of them right now, but by my standards it still is a considerable fortune.


    I begin stacking my coins up neatly while the not so noble lady shuffles the cards. I arrange my shillings in neat stacks of five, which seems to be the usual stakes for this game, according to my previous observations. As I do so, I can''t help but notice that Matylda''s purse apparently contained a little more coin than mine.


    Oh, of course! I really shouldn''t be surprised. It might be a little suspicious after all, if everyone coming to the table brings the exact same amount of coin. Can''t have that. Ideally these two will never catch on to the fact that they are being milked after all. Well, lets wait and see how this works out.


    I keep a close eye on the lady, and especially her hands, as she shuffles the cards. Even more so when she deals us ours. It will be a while before [Perception] levels up again, but I can feel it improve a little anyway and every little bit helps.


    And besides, just because I''m part of the crew running a rigged game here doesn''t mean that our intended targets can''t try to one up us. For all I know these two could try to pull a fast one on us too. And if I were to fall for something like that, that would be just entirely too embarrassing. Especially given the circumstances.


    Never mind my suspicions though. I can''t see anything wrong with the way she shuffles and deals the cards. That isn''t an issue then. Not yet anyway.


    My heightened level of attention does serve me well on another front though. It allows me to note the bard missing a note in his tune. I have noticed that before one several occasions. Some times he will strike a note that slightly too high or too low too.


    These are the cues I need to watch out for. Judging from what I have been able to observe before joining the game, this one means that I''m supposed to just loose or even fold, should someone else raise the stakes, this time around after getting some new cards.


    Well, lets hope that my cards aren''t entirely too good for this course of action. I push five coins into the center of the table, just like the others and pick up the cards I have been dealt.


    I needn''t have worried. The chances to be dealt a winning hand right away are utterly negligible any way. My cards are a wild mix of all elements and there isn''t even a single face card among them.


    The way we are arranged around the table it''s my turn to get new cards first. For a moment I ponder if I even should. Alright, I''ll give it a try, but I certainly won''t raise the stakes for this game. I pick three cards at random and put them down on the table.


    “Three fresh cards.”


    The lady deals me the requested cards. They don''t improve my hand in any way that really matters. Two eights, one of water and one of fire, really don''t make for a winning hand.


    Despite that it is a good thing that I''m intensely focused right now. Thus I manage to not show any surprise as I''m rewarded with a slightly surprising divine whisper.


    [*Ding!* You have unlocked the Gambling general skill at Level 1!]


    I wonder how high I''ll be able to raise that skill tonight. Two or three levels? Maybe a little more? Time to find out! This isn''t all either. After all, there are other skills too, which can benefit from a game of cards, like [Bluff].


    Matylda is up next. She drops two of her cards.


    “Two for me.”


    As she picks up the fresh cards dealt by Justyna, the rather ill mannered lady, she begins to rearrange her cards in her hands while humming a happy little tune.


    The chubby lad seems a little distracted at first, but before either I or his female companion can say anything he just shakes his head and folds his cards.


    “With cards like this I won''t even try.”


    Justyna is the last one. She only deals herself one new card. She raises the stakes by another five shillings too.


    I take that as my cue to drop out. I shake my head and drop my cards onto the table.


    “I''m out.”


    A moment later Matylda too folds, putting her cards down with an almost overly dramatic, disappointed sigh.


    Thus Justyna wins our first game. There is no cue hidden in the bard''s tune this time around though. I take this to mean that this game is free for all. Just as well. It is time to get a little serious!