By Fairy Means or Foul: A Starfig Investigations Novel(18)

Rainbowpebbles was crafty, I’ll give him that. He switched out two cards for more favorable ones, and gleefully handed over his four when it came time to swap. I didn’t know what the cards were, but I could guess from his pleased expression there were a bunch of negative ones in that pile.

I exhaled again, and the cards once again rearranged themselves.

“He’s cheating.” Rainbowpebbles pointed at me.

I widened my eyes and generally tried to look innocent.

“I’m wounded,” I said. I turned to the dealer. “Tell you what. Why don’t you switch out my last four cards? I’ll keep my hands right here and you can deal them out.”

Muttering broke out among those watching. That was crazy and everyone knew it. I just smiled. Let them think I was the village idiot.

The dealer swiped up my last four cards and after shuffling replaced them with new ones. Another exhale and the cards again rearranged themselves.

“He’s using magic,” Rainbowpebbles said.

I laughed. So did everyone else.

“They’re charmed, aren’t they?” I asked through guffaws. “I’m pretty sure we’d know if I tried to use magic.” Because when most creatures tried to magic them, the cards would explode. Not so for dragons, apparently. Or perhaps it happened because of my mixed heritage. I didn’t know, and didn’t much care. All I knew was that the cards wanted to rearrange themselves for me. Almost as if they were alive. They just needed my permission. So, I let them.

Each and every time.

“There must be something wrong with the charm,” Rainbowpebbles insisted.

“It’s your deck, but go ahead and try to use magic on one of my cards,” I said agreeably. I shrugged like it was of no importance. “The dealer can always give me another one.”

Rainbowpebbles pointed at my final card and it went up in a ball of flame. Everyone jumped back, and I heard Quinn gasp. I didn’t look at him, though. I was in the zone and planned to collect in full once we flipped the cards.

The gnome declared the cards adequately charmed and dealt me another one, which I knew would still give me the 103 I needed.

Rainbowpebbles’ skin turned a nasty shade of orange.

“I don’t know how you’re doing it, but you’ve changed the cards out.”

I sighed and put a hand over my heart like this really, really pained me. “Is this how you treat all your customers? I mean, you keep accusing me of cheating, but I’ve kept my hands away from the table, and we’ve all agreed I can’t use magic. It’s enough to make a dragon really pissed off.”

That caused muttering and a collective step back from the audience. Rainbowpebbles growled, caught in his own trap.

“I want a new deck,” he insisted.

I groaned. “Fine. But no bellyaching this time. I’d like to finish this game sometime today.”

“Twig, what are you doing? Hold him to his cards!” Quinn hissed.

“I’m sure he wouldn’t cheat, Quinn. It’s his reputation at stake, after all. If he wants to start over because he thinks he’s got a bum hand, well I’m game. I want him to know I win fair and square.”

A few titters from the crowd. Rainbowpebbles’ reputation was taking a big hit and the nicer I was the worse he came off. I didn’t need to say anything to sully his reputation. He was doing it all on his own. Though at the moment, I also looked like a moron.

I wouldn’t for long.

Rainbowpebbles snapped his fingers and a gargoyle appeared with a new deck. This one was heavily magicked as evidenced by the green glow around it. He waited for me to object or insist upon testing the deck.

“Deal them out,” I said, pushing back from the table so everyone could see I was in no way performing any slight-of-hand.

The gnome took them, and shook his head slowly like I was the biggest idiot he’d ever seen. Once we collected our cards, I exhaled and the cards paused . . .

Oh shit . . . before rearranging themselves again. I did my best not to show my relief, my heart hammering in my chest. That was some strong juju he’d magicked the cards with. Looked like mine was stronger. Barely.

Rainbowpebbles eyes bulged. I mean, more than usual. He wanted to call me out, but what could he say? I smiled, all teeth.

He practically tossed his cards at me when we exchanged. Then the moment of truth. We flipped the last cards over. His flight totaled 101 (with a huge amount of cheating, I might add) and mine 103.

A mighty cheer rose up around me. Okay, not really. The Steamy Bean crowd weren’t much for cheering, but they did jeer at Rainbowpebbles and a couple brave customers slapped me on the back.

“Pay up, Rainbowpebbles.” I held out my hand.

“You cheated,” he said.

More jeers from the crowd.

“Prove it.” I growled. “You just can’t handle losing. A bad quality for someone who runs card tables. If I were one of your regular customers, I’d think twice about playing with someone who calls foul when they lose.”

“Let’s discuss this in my office.” Rainbowpebbles nodded toward the hallway.

“I don’t think so. You promised me the unicorn horn if I won, and I’m ready for you to pay up. Right here. In front of all your customers.” Oh, I had him now.

“I have it in my office—”