[The Trough] Double or Nothing [Open]

[Zeal Aldercraft]

31st of Fall, 511 A.V. Zeal leaned back on his threadbare cushion in front of the beer barrel bar and drank the last swallow of bitter ale in his mug. Twisting his neck around, he could clearly see the bright stars hanging in the sky through the opened flap of the pavilion tent. It was one of those crisp, crystal-clear nights. Even with the slight chill in the air, The Trough was alive, buzzing with laughter and the roar of its patron's conversations. Travelers passing through had begun to wander inside, drawn by the smell of grilled meat, grease, and the promise of a good time, to wind down before they slipped off into their private tents. A handful of Drykas were scattered around the pavilion, seated low around foldout tables. He turned back around to the blond-headed man behind the grimy makeshift bar. “I’ll have another ale.” The bartender ignored him at first, wiped out the inside of a dirty mug with his sleeve, then set it down with a clank next to the other empties, before he got around to refilling Zeal’s. While he waited, he scanned the crowd for possibilities, noting several travelers that looked like they might have a few mizas to lose if there was a game enticing enough to play. After sweeping the room, his gaze settled on the dark-haired flute player who was giving it all to her lighthearted tune. Her hair was piled on top of her head in a knot of braids, but he hardly noticed her face, lingering on her swaying hips, as she moved her body in time with the music, instead. Zeal smiled lazily as his gaze flitted up her soft body to the plunging neckline of her red blouse; it was the only thing more enticing than her hips. He was starting to enjoy the pleasant buzz working its way through his sore muscles, but the hard dice digging into his thigh distracted him. Dipping his fingers inside his waistband, he pulled out his yellowed bone dice and thumbed the worn surface of the pair. He needed to make back some money tonight. He wondered who he’d find to play with him.