Journey of the Wind

by Charlotte Boyett-Compo

  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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  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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  “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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  “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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  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