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Maedel’s POV
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After some debate we decided our best bet was on the card tables. We exchanged our measly 50 gold coins for casino chips we headed for an open table.
We found a table with a single gambler who sat talking to the croupier whose lower half seemed to belong to an ostrich. Andrew sat down and introduced himself, placing 25 golds worth of chips on the table.
Andrew shook hands with his opponent, “The names Saltlick Sam. Pleased to meetya. I gotta say its awful brave of ya to play highstakes on your first visit. Best of luck, pal.”
“So why do they call you Saltlick Sam?” I asked as the croupier began shuffling cards.
“I once spent 2 years as a horse on mah own ranch.” Sam laughed, “but that’s the City of Sorcerers for ya! Am I right?”
“Are transformations really that common here?” I said, wide-eyed. I didn’t know such a place existed. That must be why Hazel brought us here temporarily transformed into pigs and consequently why I still had pig ears and a tail instead of my spectacular pointed elf ears.
“Yup. Trading transformees is big business here but y’all shouldn’t worry too much. There’s a few places that remove curses for a fee.” Sam said, “If ya’ll want I can give ya a tour of the city on mah way back to the old homestead? “
“Sure, that’d be great,” I said, maybe I could find someone to get rid of these ridiculous floppy ears.
The croupier finished dealing the cards and watching Andrew play I immediately understood that he didn’t know what he was doing.
“Andrew, when you said you’d win often. Did you mean hands or games?” I asked, trying not to sound offensive.
“What’s the difference,” he asked, puzzled.
I sighed deeply and rested my face in my palm, muttering “Why do I like this handsome dolt?”
“He’s a rich Prince and you’re a poor, dirty elf that lives in the woods.” Connie said, matter-of-factly.
“I’m not some gold digger like you, ya greedy pig!” Isnapped back, “You’re the one that wallows in the mud, sow!”
“Who are you calling a sow, pig-ears!?” She shouted back.
Whack! “Quit making a scene.” Hazel said sternly, bopping me on the head.
It wasn’t long before Andrew lost us another 10 gold pieces with his second bad hand leaving him with only 5 left. The third hand seemed to be going no better.
“I’ll raise you 60 gold pieces,” Saltlick Sam said, either confident or bluffing.
“I don’t even have that much,” Andrew admitted.
“I’ll tell h‘you h’what. I’ll raise to 200 hundred and if I win you come work on my farm for two weeks.”
“Sure,” Andrew said, happily. Even though he was a Prince he’d done some farm work when strapped for gold in-between his adventures fighting goblins, kobolds and (allegedly) dragons.
As it turned out, Andrew would be suckered in by experienced gamblers who allowed him to win a few hands until he began to bet most of his money, expecting to win big, at which point the other players would change tactics and practically rob the simpleton of his gold and winnings. This was no ordinary card game though and the stakes were much higher.
“Well, sir. What would you like to turn the loser into?” the croupier asked after Andrew finally lost.
“WHAT?” Connie, Hazel, Sara and I shouted in unison.
“This is the cities premier magical casino, and this is curse card game table. The loser or a chosen companion gets transformed.”
“We didn’t know that!” Hazel screeched.
The pointed to the flashing, red sign above the table reading “Cursed card game table. The loser or a chosen companion gets transformed.”
“Ohhh.” Andrew said in apparent realization, “So that’s what that meant.”