The moon shone brightly in the sky, just a night or two from full. The city's walls were lined with lamps. A semi-circle of tiny lights extended to the water where dozens more bobbed gently throughout the pier. Amorastra sat in her bed looking out over the quiet buildings. They had set up her room in the top of a tower of a temple devoted to the dark. The temple wouldn't be used until that week, so she and Nystri could truly relax.

The tower was spacious, too. Bigger than any suite they might hope to find in the city's inns. And such privacy was priceless. 

Nystri lay in her little make-shift chest-bed just a foot from Amorastra. She lay sprawled out, clearly exhausted. Amorastra pulled the little blanket up just under Nystri's chin and smiled as Nystri snuggled into it.

Amorastra winced as she moved. She rolled her shoulders and pulled them back as far as she could. Every motion was stiff. She stood and stretched and slowly twisted her back until things loosened a little. The fatigue on her face has not lessened. They had flown for six hours straight. Once they were in sight of Brise Amorastra felt comfortable enough to take a break. The last thirty minutes of their flight into the city Nystri had covered them both in the pixie's signature invisibility. But, to cover Amorastra had clearly taken a great toll on her.

Amorastra summoned Pebble whispered, "Tend to the queen. I need to go out. Notify me at once if she awakens. Simply tell her I shall return in a moment."

Pebble kept his head bowed and gave a low woof. 

Amorastra stretched again, this time at the waist. She suppressed a groan as her body strained and shook slightly. She went to the edge of the window and looked over. It was a long way down, but the streets looked empty enough. She secured a rope to a sturdy beam and threw it out the window. She donned the glamour of a young man with tousled brown hair and fine, but travel worn, clothes. She gripped the rope tight then rappelled down the tower. She seemed unbothered by the friction of the rough rope on her hands. She reached the roof and Pebble pulled the rope back up as she stepped towards its edge.

She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply several times. She opened her eyes and a crooked smile played at her lips. She hopped off the temple twenty feet to an alley. The cobblestones were smooth beneath her feet. She took another deep breath. She assumed the posture of the young merchant she was. She strode out into the street, each step sent a loud clack echoing along.

Two gentlemen stood outside an open door conferring quietly. They did not look up as Amorastra walked into the bustling room. It was well lit and full of tables packed with men. Large glasses filled many of their hands as laughter and loud voices filled the hall. Amorastra worked her way through the crowd easily.

"This seat taken?" Amorastra said, as she took hold of the back of a chair. Her voice unmistakably that of a young man, she had made it barely crack on the word 'taken'.

Most of the men at the table shared amused looks with each other, but the largest puffed on his pipe and said, "Depends if you've got any money to play."

Amorastra brightened, "Oh! I have money." She smiled stupidly as she pulled up a fat wallet, the corners of notes sticking out of the top. The men murmured and chuckled quietly amongst themselves. Amorastra took a deep breath and grinned.

"Well! Have a seat, then, young lad. Where ya in from?" the man with a pipe said.

Amorastra sat and pulled the chair in, "I'm from Taglore. Oh, unless you mean where we've been traveling. My da and me, we came up Yissle way. Just got in tonight. He said, 'Son! You need to get out and see the city' and sent me off." The men's grins all grew wider as she spoke, as did Amorastra's. "Though, I didn't expect to find such friendly fellows so soon."

"You've found the friendliest table in the house, that's for certain!" the pipe smoker said, then he called out, "A beer for our young friend here!" A young woman came by with a tall glass a moment later and placed it in front of Amorastra. She took it gingerly with both hands at the urging of her seatmates and drank deeply. They cheered her until the glass was empty. She let out a satisfied sigh and raised her arms in triumph. Another glass was placed before her.

"You played rugger before, lad?"

Amorastra shook her head wide-eyed, "No, sir. I've seen my da play plenty, though. He's the best, they say."

"That so! I'm sure you'll do your ol' da proud. Let me deal you in. You're up with the first bet this hand. Can you cover 20?"

Amorastra tilted her head slightly as she watched him a moment, then a look of realization hit her and she pulled her wallet up and smiled sheepishly. She took a 20 note from it and placed it on the table. "Here we are! I'm in."

Pipe dealt the hand and Amorastra looked at her cards. Abysmal. She grinned and hid them close to her chest. Betting went round the table with half the men tossing their cards to the center. By the time it had come back around the bet had reached 100. "Um, I can raise, right?"

"Of course! Of course!"

"I'll raise to 150, then!" and Amorastra pulled several more notes from her wallet. 

"I like the confidence!" Pipe said. The betting went round the table with everyone calling who was still in. "Flip 'em, boys!" 

Amorastra revealed a 2 and 3 of half moons a 9 of full moons, and a 7 of crescents. 

"Oh! Tough luck, lad! Yarn takes this pot," Pipe said. A burly man half stood and pulled the collected notes to his little pile on the table. 

And so the night went on. For the next three hours every hand Amorastra bet in she lost. The grin never faded from her face. A small crowd even gathered around them. The bets began to get larger, as it became clear that Amorastra was more than willing to call near any bet the men made. 

"Alright, next hand! Bet's on you again, lad," Pipe said.

Amorastra laid down another 20 note and looked at her cards. For the first time that night she did not fold a good hand away. Instead she stayed quiet. She called the bet as it came back around to her, having grown to 400. She watched each of the men carefully. Cards were exchanged and another round of bets circled the table. She simply called again, the bet had reached 800 with just four men in the pot. 

"Flip 'em!" Pipe said. The eyes of those at the table went wide and the small crowd cheered. "You win, lad! I knew you were bound to get lucky at some point! Come, the night's just begun!" 

Amorastra was elated and raked in her winnings. She was still down many thousands at that point. "Yes! Let's go all night!" Amorastra said. Over the next two hours she won every hand she bet in. The crowd become larger and more rambunctious as the men at the table grew angrier and began to depart. Finally there were just four left, aside from Amorastra. There was Pipe, who Amorastra had learned was called 'Gerald', 'Rutgar', 'Tommy', and 'Philip'. She had been making eyes at Philip all night, and Philip had not been too shy about making eyes right back. Philip was a young man, barely older than the young man Amorastra currently appeared to be. 

"Alright, I'm calling this the last hand," Gerald said. It was nearly early morning. "Just as we started, we'll end, lad. Bet's on you."

Amorastra nodded, then looked around slyly. Rather than pull a 20 note from her pile she reached into her wallet and, with her index and middle finger, pulled a shiny purple note out. "If this is the last hand, mind if I raise the stakes?" 

"God's balls," Gerald said, "A 10,000 note without even seeing your cards?" The four men looked between each other. Three raised their hands and pushed away from the table. Gerald stayed. Gerald looked down at his still substantial pile, nodded, then pushed in a sizable mound from it. "You're on. For your da, eh?" 

"For my da!" Amorastra said.

The cards were delt, and Amorastra's smile could not have been wider, nor more giddy. They exchanged some cards and the bet raised to 20,000 each.

"Flip 'em" Gerald said.

"Threes and twos!" Amorastra said placing her cards on the table.

Gerald smiled wickedly, "Knights and stars," he said with quiet triumph. "You played well, lad. I'm sure your da'd be proud."

"Ah, ya got me!" Amorastra said. She stood and shook Gerald's hand, then placed her bills in her wallet, now fatter than when she arrived. 

Philip was leaned against a pillar by himself, watching Amorastra closely. She sauntered up to him, turning on her boyish charm. "You've been looking at me all night. Philip, was it?" she said quietly. "You look the fun sort to hang about with. Are you free?"

"I am, in fact!" Philip said easily. "Fun and free, that is. Why don't we find somewhere a little more quiet to really get to know each other? I know a place nearby." Philip took her outside and into an alley adjacent to the gambling hall. 

Not five minutes later Amorastra came strutting back out onto the street alone. She swung her arms wide and her gait was long. She whistled as she walked. 

She went back to the side of the temple and bounded up onto the roof with ease. The rope fell down the side of the tower as her feet touched the tiles. She nearly ran up the side of the temple tower, hand over hand on the rope.

She silently vaulted over the edge of the window. Pebble was sitting quietly with his back to Nystri, who was still sound asleep. She smiled and sent Pebble away, then fell into her own bed, letting sleep take her before the sun rose.