The tavern was busier than usual this eve, due to the weekly game of chance, which would not only benefit the winner of that contest, but the proprietor of the establishment as well, along with the bar maids who kept the ale flowing.
The scent of gambling fever was in the air, along with stale smoke and spilled drink. Extra lanterns were lit for this special occasion, for it lasted well into the early morning hours.
The coins/money had been set aside, final bets made. There was a dull roar from the surrounding crowd that formed a rather crude circle with two men seated at a wooden table. One showing little or no emotion upon his face, while the other sat with a small confident grin resting beneath his nose. The winner of this last hand would walk away with a sizable amount, enough to live comfortably for a few weeks, depending upon one's lifestyle.
The four of five cards were shown upon the table ...
Ace of clubs Five of diamonds Six of spades Jack of hearts
"He's tryin' to bluff ye Sanchez, don' fall fer it. That's how he's been doin' it all night."
Sanchez rubbed the corner of one of his cards. He had two aces in his hand, along with a pair of lucky sevens, and a eight, while there was another ace showing on the table. They had a point. Bannon had indeed smooth talked his way through all hands played, while never having anything to show for it.
The final card was the Queen of hearts.
"Want to be makin' this a bit more interestin' Bannon' I hear you be lookin' to be usin' some o' yer winnings to book passage on a ship. You win, I'll take you there meself, free o' charge. You lose" You work it off as a member o' me crew."
Eyes/heads turned in the direction of the still smiling Bannon.
"Hmmm, ye be makin' quite the offer, Sanchez, but how about this" I lose you get me double the amount. But if I win? I want some o' yer sister's ....Special dish."
Now if that didn't get a rise from the crowd, Bannon would make clear his intentions; "Keep it in yer trousers, the lot of ye. Sanchez knows I meant Alisia's prized gumbo."
Bannon's comment did reward an arch of the eyebrow from Sanchez, before he smirked, nodding his head. "Ye be not bluffin' yer way out of this hand, Bannon. Lady luck smiles upon me this night, fer the pot o' gold comes home with me!!"
Slamming down his hand, those that were cheering for him roared with their approval. "That be three aces and me lucky 7's Bannon. There will be no tastin' o me sister's gumbo fer you!! Rounds on the house, on me!!!!"
That small smile never changed on Bannon's face as the offer was pondered. He had only raised his cards twice to look at them, only nodding slowly as there was another roar of approval.
Yet Bannon still had not turned over his own cards. "Now there is a really good hand, Sanchez. Not too many things can beat that." Bannon would then proceed to reveal his cards ...
Ace of hearts Five of diamonds Nine of spades Ten of hearts King of hearts
"The lady o' hearts has saved me this night it seems."
There was a moment of stunned silence, before another roar was heard, from those that had been betting on Bannon, as Sanchez's eyes widened in disbelief, before shaking his head. Yes there would be accusations of cheating which were ignored without any solid proof. Hands were shook, and there were still rounds for the house, as Bannon reached into his satchel to produce ....
An apple, from which he took a healthy bite of.
The scent of gambling fever was in the air, along with stale smoke and spilled drink. Extra lanterns were lit for this special occasion, for it lasted well into the early morning hours.
The coins/money had been set aside, final bets made. There was a dull roar from the surrounding crowd that formed a rather crude circle with two men seated at a wooden table. One showing little or no emotion upon his face, while the other sat with a small confident grin resting beneath his nose. The winner of this last hand would walk away with a sizable amount, enough to live comfortably for a few weeks, depending upon one's lifestyle.
The four of five cards were shown upon the table ...
Ace of clubs Five of diamonds Six of spades Jack of hearts
"He's tryin' to bluff ye Sanchez, don' fall fer it. That's how he's been doin' it all night."
Sanchez rubbed the corner of one of his cards. He had two aces in his hand, along with a pair of lucky sevens, and a eight, while there was another ace showing on the table. They had a point. Bannon had indeed smooth talked his way through all hands played, while never having anything to show for it.
The final card was the Queen of hearts.
"Want to be makin' this a bit more interestin' Bannon' I hear you be lookin' to be usin' some o' yer winnings to book passage on a ship. You win, I'll take you there meself, free o' charge. You lose" You work it off as a member o' me crew."
Eyes/heads turned in the direction of the still smiling Bannon.
"Hmmm, ye be makin' quite the offer, Sanchez, but how about this" I lose you get me double the amount. But if I win? I want some o' yer sister's ....Special dish."
Now if that didn't get a rise from the crowd, Bannon would make clear his intentions; "Keep it in yer trousers, the lot of ye. Sanchez knows I meant Alisia's prized gumbo."
Bannon's comment did reward an arch of the eyebrow from Sanchez, before he smirked, nodding his head. "Ye be not bluffin' yer way out of this hand, Bannon. Lady luck smiles upon me this night, fer the pot o' gold comes home with me!!"
Slamming down his hand, those that were cheering for him roared with their approval. "That be three aces and me lucky 7's Bannon. There will be no tastin' o me sister's gumbo fer you!! Rounds on the house, on me!!!!"
That small smile never changed on Bannon's face as the offer was pondered. He had only raised his cards twice to look at them, only nodding slowly as there was another roar of approval.
Yet Bannon still had not turned over his own cards. "Now there is a really good hand, Sanchez. Not too many things can beat that." Bannon would then proceed to reveal his cards ...
Ace of hearts Five of diamonds Nine of spades Ten of hearts King of hearts
"The lady o' hearts has saved me this night it seems."
There was a moment of stunned silence, before another roar was heard, from those that had been betting on Bannon, as Sanchez's eyes widened in disbelief, before shaking his head. Yes there would be accusations of cheating which were ignored without any solid proof. Hands were shook, and there were still rounds for the house, as Bannon reached into his satchel to produce ....
An apple, from which he took a healthy bite of.