From alt.pub.dragons-inn Fri Jun  9 10:50:37 1995
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From: cinci@pinn.net (Deborah Taylor)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: Wager
Date: 8 Jun 1995 18:02:55 GMT
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>        But her internal musings were rudely interrupted when instead of 
>drawing back further from her as she had expected, the spritely little 
>vagabond leaned quickly and confidently forward as well, his unearthly 
>perfect smile once again in place, and his hypnoticically bright green eyes a
>flame with an odd inner fire. Their faces were now mere inches apart, and she
>had to credit the cocky imp, that his cool, suggestive gaze stirred in her 
>gullet in a way that made her a it uncomfortable.
>
>        "But you know," he began, then wetted his lower lip sensuosly with his
>perfect, pink tongue, " not all forms of violence need be considered an
>attack..."


Kierian found herself at somewhat of a loss.  Never in her life had she met 
such a strange man.  `The fool doesn't have any idea what I could do to him,' 
she thought.   At the same time a small voice in her head whispered back,
`Nor do you know what he can do, be cautious in your dealings with fools.'  

She leaned causally back in her chair, creating space between them.  "Violence?
What do you know of violence?  You are not even armed."

Jester leaned closer, closing the gap.  "I know far more of violence than I
care to remember ..." he paused, cocking his head a bit as if listening to a
voice only he could hear.  "Perhaps the lady requires proof?" 

"Proof?  I hardly think ... "

"Yes!" His seductive smile turning into a grin, "Proof you want.  Proof you 
shall have.  I propose the following wager, Tigeress.  I'll bet you that I 
can make you step out of the circle first."  He beamed as suddenly two coins
appeared on at his fingertips and began dancing between his fingers.  "That 
is how such things are done, am I not correct.  Sword dancing is as much a
skill of dance as it is of weaponry?  Yes?"  He didn't wait for her answer
and ignored al her attempts to get a word in edgewise.  "If you win, I'll
leave this bar, proven as the fool that you think I am, and you'll never see
me again. And if I win, you will let me share your room.  Agreed?" 

`So ... that is his game,' Kierian's mouth quirked upward at the corners.  
`The poppin-jay just thinks he can find his way into my bedroom.  Ha!  Easily 
enough dealt with, even tired as I am.  I'll teach the pretty bird a thing or 
two about women who wield swords for a living.  My "sisters" will thank me.  
I'll send him running back into the arms of the simpering barmaids where he 
belongs!'  She actually grinned, suddenly looking forward to the competition. 
"Yes pretty-bird .. I'll accept your wager.  I hope you have had your fill of
this inn, as you will not be seeing it again." 


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Life is a journey, not a guided tour.		Debbie Taylor : cinci@pinn.net