Killian resisted the urge to take his sword and cut down the smiling youth in front of him. Lord Jacen and Lord Evan stared at their lord, their jaws forgotten on the floor.

Cybelline looked around and quietly grabbed a serving boy, "Do you have ale and snacks?"

He blinked and then handed her a bag of candied walnuts and a mug of ale. Cybelline found a comfortable position and watched the drama unfold. Popping a few sweets every so often.

"Lord Killian, even you know that there is etiquette to be followed in other people's cities." Philip said, his arms crossed as he smiled at the young general.

"Prince Philip, I'm not one for rules. Since I'm usually the one making them, after I've conquered those cities you mentioned."

Philip raised an eyebrow, "Is this how you behave when the you're invited to a city? Threaten to cut down your host? I expected nothing better."

"You will deserve nothing better if you stand in my way." Killian said cooly, "And you didn't invite me."

Jacen whispered to Lord Evan, "Do you know any of these people?"

Lord Evan shook his head, "I haven't seen our lord speak of these people. This is unprecedented."

"I never thought I would see him in a gambling house either. And yet here we are." Jacen said as he looked around at crowd. Everyone, from the poorest gambler to the richest, the barmaids, the serving boys, all gazed at the three on the floor.

Lord Evan shrugged, "Maybe Killian is...thinking of taking the city after all?" He looked around, "Perhaps he's doing...research?"

Philip and Killian noticed at the same them, they looked around.

"My lords." A young trembling servant bowed to them, he looked as if he was going to faint. Philip gave him a pat on the head and a coin, "Where is the boy I brought?"

"He has a message for you, my lord." The boy said, reassured by Philip's kindness.

The servant boy pointed upwards, "He said that he wanted to inspect the gambling house. And since you two were busy...flirting, he was going to go get the deed for the gambling house from the keeper."

A rumble of laughter started but was strangled into silence by Killian's icy glare. Philip slipped up the stairs and ordered, "Throw them out."

A few men bowed and started for Lord Killian. They were so scared that they could barely grab their weapons, but a prince's orders were a prince's orders.

Meanwhile Cybelline perched on a chair and watched a very harassed looking woman who was writing on some papers in front of her.

"His lord has gone too far this time, losing a gambling house to a mere boy. Have some cakes, dear." The lady was in her early forties, with a kind smile and a sweet face. She sighed as she continued to write, "Is he still downstairs?" Cybelline grinned and took a cake.

Philip poked his head in, "I'm here."

A book flew at his head and he ducked lazily, grabbing it mid-air.

"Alma, you're getting slow."

A dagger followed. Philip dove out of the way as it stuck the wood behind him with a twang.

"You were saying?" The kindly smile was still on her face but there were three more daggers in her hands. Philip laughed drily, and sat down besides Cybelline, "This is the new owner of the Gamblin' house. Name's Cy."

Alma glared at Philip, "You're only doing this because you don't want to deal with Allister. This is not the way you contend with a challenger to your throne."

Philip's eyes darkened, "He'll get his due, in time."

Alma shrugged, "His gamblin' house is making thrice that yours is, come the festival tomorrow, if he bests you, then he'll be the richest man and the new prince of thieves. He's doing some sort of game in his house that's drawin' everyone. You can't even compare."

Philip picked up a cup of wine, "I'm not worried, I can handle my part." He took the papers Alma handed him, "Now, young Cy, you're the new owner of this place. Alma was my right hand, she'll be great for you too."

Alma gave Cybelline a pleasant smile, "I won't serve just anyone, first, you'll have to pass my test."

"What test?" Cybelline wanted to know.

Alma pointed across the street, "I need to know that you can make more money than Allister of House Garlish. He's a noble who's challenging my young prince here for the throne."

She held out her hand to Cybelline, "If your gambling house can't make more than his, then you don't deserve to be called master of this house."

Cybelline took the hand and shook it, "I've got nothing to do today anyway."

"Today?" Alma frowned, "Child I was going to give you a month, it takes time to make the amount of money Young Allister's made."

A rumble shook the floor, Cybelline frowned, "Do you guys have earthquakes here?"

"Nope." Philip said, getting up.

Cybelline got up and opened the door.

In the doorstep stood Killian. Cybelline smiled "Philip is here, I'm--"

"I'm not looking for him." Killian said, he stared into her face with an intensity that would have made a lesser person uncomfortable. "Do you know me?"

Philip stood up and was about to make his way over but Alma pulled his sleeve with a frown, "Are you mad? He's the Blood General. Why go pull on the lion's tale?"

Cybelline gave a slight bow, "My lord Killian. Your name precedes you."

He reached out a hand as if to touch her shoulder. Cybelline gently sidestepped it. Her smile was cool, distant, "I'm not that close a friend where you could be touching me."

"We can be come that close, if you want." Killian took a step closer. "Tell me your name."

THUD.

Jacen had tripped and Evans had fallen directly on top of him. Was their lord possessed? Their lord who was famed for the lack of social graces.. was he flirting or was he threatening the other youth with death? They couldn't tell.

Cybelline turned to Alma deciding to ignore Killian, "If I earn more money than that Allister you mentioned, you'll work for me?"

"Aye." The lady smiled, she had a good feeling about the boy. Cybelline nodded and looked at Philip, "Are you coming."

Philip stood up and moved faster than Alma could catch him, "Lead the way, youngling." He slung an arm around Cybelline as they walked out. Cybelline looked up at him with a smile, "If you want use that arm later, I suggest you move it off my shoulders." Philip was about to say something witty but then he saw her eyes. His arm fell to his side and he smiled with a bow.

Killian's eyes narrowed when he saw Philip's arm around the boy. He had not wanted the city but if it was what it took to get to the youth, then... He followed the pair.

Cybelline frowned as she saw the young general following her and Philip.

"Does he have a grudge against you?" She asked quietly. Philip shook his head, "No. We tend to steer clear of bloodthirsty war gods. He seemed more interested in you, does he have a grudge against you?"

"I might have kicked him in the balls." Cybelline said, "But I had no other choice."

Philip had taken a swig of water, it was now over the front of his tunic. He stared at the daredevil in front of him. "You what?" He croaked.

Cybelline waved a hand across his face, "Are you broken?"

Philip knocked the hand from his face, "I need to sit for a moment."

They sat down in front of a street stall. Philip rubbed the back of his neck, "I can feel his stare, any longer he looks at me like that, and I'll be burned to a crisp."

Cybelline was busy trying a persimmon and honey ice, she shrugged, "Better you than me."

"So, this Allister. What kind of gambling does he have in his gambling house?" Cybelline asked. Philip turned serious, "He mines rocks from the Blackwood quarry, and ships them here. These quarries contain magic stones of different value. The player guesses what rocks contain magic stones. Once in a while, there might be a stone of great value, like the green healin' stones. Everyone's been crazy for that game."

"Sounds fun." Cybelline said, she remembered the jade markets of asia, it was quite similar to that. Fortunes could be made or lost by one conjecture.

"It's a easy enough concept, but no one can guess which rocks contain precious magic stones." Philip shrugged, "Not even the dwarves can get it right half the time. He's got more money than a dragon has in his horde. And he stakes the house winnings sometimes to draw greater crowds."

They got up and started walking again. Philip turned to Cybelline, "Are you sure you want to do this? I can convince Alma."

"I'll be fine." Cybelline gave him a quick smile, "We've still got a few hours before we have to head back, it'll be fun."

"If you don't lose your entire fortune." Philip muttered.

Their heads were close. Too close. Killian walked in between them. Cybelline frowned and took a few steps away from the annoying general.

They arrived at House Garlish, it was gambling house thrice as big as Philip's.

Cybelline by herself would not have attracted any attention. But she came with two of the most attention grabbing creatures in all of the realms. She walked in and there was a general intake of breath as people saw who had come in.

Two handsome youths, one whose smile was warm as the sun and one whose face could freeze the earth now graced the house with their presence. Cybelline continued to walk in the gambling house, if a pin dropped down, then she could have heard it.

Allister, a man in his early thirties came down to the ground floor.

"Prince Philip, a pleasant surprise!" He smiled warmly. Lord Allister of House Garlish was a dashing man, whose ambition for the throne was an open secret.

"Allister, how necessary to see you." Philip said that with a playful smile, Allister's smile froze on his face but he battled on, "Are you here to play the game I've set in place for the festival? I've invited you for months, and yet you never show up. I'd thought you ran away, with your tail between your legs."

Philip shrugged, "I'm not a very good gambler." The room chuckled, Prince Philip was one of the best in the city.

"Instead, I'll have my friend here gamble for me." Philip pointed to Cybelline, who gave a slight bow.

Allister's mouth curled up in a cruel smile, this boy looked like a country bumpkin if he'd ever seen one. He sighed, "I don't think he has enough to buy in. The price is a thousand gold pieces."

Philip laughed, "I'm here, I'm the richest man in the city, I guarantee him"

"So will I." Killian drew his sword. Everyone took a step back, as they saw the weapon in his hand. Some of the faint hearted had already ran out of the gambling house.

Jacen felt that his worldview was crumbling before his eyes. Dragonsteel, the sword of the valiant was the most prized weapon in all of the realms.

"I think I'm still asleep." Evans murmured, "Surely I drank too much and this is a nightmare." He grabbed Jacen's arm and pinched hard.

"OW." Jacen hissed. Evans frowned, "Why am I not waking up?"

"Only a thousand?" A voice piped up, Cybelline walked to the front cooly, "Surely a man of your stature could afford more."

In her hand, was a rope of priceless pearls, each one larger than a man's thumb, perfectly shining in the firelit hall. The men murmured.

She smiled, "Wouldn't you say, Lord Garlic."

PFTTTTTT Philip couldn't help himself. Allister's face paled as his eyes narrowed.

"It's Garlish." His voice came through clenched teeth.

"Whatever. Are you ready?" Cybelline smiled.