Gamblers

Hexanna knocked back a mouthful of the bathtub wine. “I’m in.”

The gaggle of strangers eyed her, looking for a quiver, a smile, something. “She’s full uv shit.” A tattooed man said. He pushed a bag of coins forward. “I triple it.”

Hexanna cooly scanned the others. “Is that what you think?” She said flatly.

”I’m out.” A red skinned dex tossed their cards down.

”Same.” The sweaty woman next to them said.

”Billy?!” The heavily tattooed gambler slammed his fist on the table. Billy and the cards jumped.

”Uh… I- um I…” He looked between Tats and Hexanna. “I’m… out.” He said.

”Cowards.” Tats growled.

”Well, I have already won quite a bit from your friends here.” She shook her head slightly, jangling the coins she kept nestled in her hair.

”She’s got nothin’!”

”I’ve got a family, Herbert.” The red one said.

”Yeah, Herbert.” Hexanna emptied her mug of wine. “They can’t afford to lose again.”

Herbert scowled. “We got one more. Tino, place a bet!”

The sixth and final gambler looked around the table. After a moment, he shook his head and sat his cards down.

”Herbert.” Hexanna grinned. “You’re up.”

The tattooed man fanned his cards out on the table. “A fiddle player, a flautist, and three abble pies.”

”Ooh, that’s a good hand.” Billy said quietly.

Hexanna nodded. “True.” She chuckled a bit, which slowly built into a rolling laugh. Hexanna cackled like a maniac. The others, save for Herbert, looked frightened. “But I got,” Hexanna slammed the cards down one by one. “A mushroom, a skeleton hand, a potion bottle, a dragon, aaand the magical scepter of truth and wisdom. Oooooohhhhh!”

The room was silent. “That doesn’t beat Herbert’s hand.” The sweaty one said.

”What?! Yes it does.”

”Uh… no.” Billy said awkwardly. “It- It doesn’t actually.”

Now Herbert began laughing maniacally. “I win, haha! I win.”

”Wait a damn second. The magical scepter is worth like five times as much when paired with a dragon. Way more than an abble pie trio.”

”Since when?”

”Since forever! Those have always been the rules.”

The red one took out the playbook. “Says right here. Herbert wins.”

”Stop saying my name.” Herbert hissed.

”That’s not how we played it in jail.” Hexanna said.

”Well, looks like you’re outta luck jailbird.”

Hexanna watched in horror as Herbert began pulling in his winnings. She’d just lost almost everything she’d won so far. All that was left in her hair would barely get her through the week. “Wait!” She said. Everyone froze. “Double or nothing?”

”Fat chance.” Herbert sneered.

”Are you sure?”

Something about the way she spoke, made Herbert take notice. “Yeah, I’m sure.” He said after a moment.

”Hope you have good insurance, then.”

”Wha-“

”Fireball!” Hexanna chucked a flaming orb at the tattooed man. It caught his beard on fire and he went flailing into the wall, which also burst into flames. Hexanna hopped up onto the table, jammed the coins down her boots, then bolted from the backroom of the barbershop.

She could hear everyone shouting and clamoring inside. Three of the gamblers spilled out. “Get her!” One yelled.

”Smoke bomb!” Hexanna threw a potion on the ground. It fizzled weakly in the grass. “Fuck. I really oughta start labeling my shit.” The gamblers were gaining on her. Hexanna lobbed another fireball over her shoulder, but she was worried about hurting bystanders. Then once again, the fantastic combination of dumb luck and being too shortsighted to worry about consequences gave Hexanna the perfect out. She leapt onto the nearby cart, then kicking her leg as if using a skateboard, she propelled herself across the village square. Hexanna rocketed away from her pursuers. She gave them a one finger salute as she rode out of town.

Hexanna coasted down the path on her new ride until she inevitably crashed into a tree. She had a few cuts and bruises, but the money jangling in her boots made the whole thing worth it.