“Go Fish?” Maldenis turned to look at him. “What’s that?”
“A card game from the Upperworld,” Zara said. “For children.”
Liora’s mouth curved. “This is their intense card game? I could play this in my sleep.”
“You beat us every single time,” Elian said. “I still don’t understand how.”
“Because the two of you had tells.”
“How do you even have tells in Go Fish?—”
“Guys.” Maldenis cut them off. “I think the game’s almost over.”
Sure enough, the round had finished. The blond minotaur turned to Cullenian one last time. “Yield the Lochs.”
Cullenian held his gaze for a beat, jaw tight, then tossed the card down. The crowd erupted and the blond minotaur shoved back from his chair and shot to his feet, both fists raised in victory.
A female minotaur in a sparkly red dress stepped forward from the exuberant crowd. “The next game will begin shortly. Current players, please vacate your seats. Anyone who wishes to risk the Reaping may occupy any empty spot.”
They watched a few more games to be sure, but it was definitely Go Fish. The suits on the card were different though. Instead of hearts, clubs, diamonds and spades, the cards featured pictures of eagles, stags, wolves, and hares, symbolizing the Eyrie, the Fields, the Forest, and the Tundra. But it was the same game as on the Upperworld—ask any opponent for a card, collect a complete set, and the one with the most sets wins.
After two more games, Elian nudged Liora. “You should play.”
“Me?”
“You’re the best at it. And it might be our only shot at getting anyone here to actually talk to us.”
She hesitated, eyeing the table.
“Go now,” Zara urged. “Before someone else takes the spot.”
“But—”
“I’ll go with you,” Maldenis offered.
She looked at him. “You don’t even know how to play.”
“I think I understand some of it, but give me a quick explanation before we start so I’m sure.” He was alreadyslithering toward a vacated spot. “Besides, two players are better than one.”
She couldn’t argue with that. They pushed to the front and dropped into the last two empty chairs just as the female minotaur in red began to shuffle the deck and distribute the cards. Liora quickly ran through the game mechanics with Maldenis. Thankfully, no one said anything to Liora or Maldenis, though they did attract a few stares.
The first round began at the top of the table, next to the female minotaur, and went counterclockwise, meaning Liora and Maldenis would be last. When it was Liora’s turn, she studied her hand, then looked across the table at the stocky minotaur directly opposite her. “Yield the Forest.”
Silence. He stared at her, then at his cards and shook his head.
She drew from the pile without comment and glanced at Maldenis.
He was studying the table with the loose, easy confidence of someone who had decided not to be intimidated. She gave him a small nod.
Your turn. Good luck.
He shot back a grin that said he didn’t think he’d need it. “Easy-peasy.” He turned to the minotaur on his right—broad-shouldered, dark-furred, with a ring through one horn—and said in a pleasant tone, “Yield the Tundra.”
The minotaur blinked. Then reached into his hand and held out a card.
“Thanks.” Maldenis took it without hesitation. He glanced over at the rest of the minotaur’s hand casually. “What else you got in there? Do you have any Fields or Forests?”
“Why would I—” The minotaur stopped mid-sentence. Something shifted in his face, like he was blanking out. “As amatter of fact, I do.” He reached in and pulled out three cards, fanning them toward Maldenis. “Here.”
