Hamond walked up to the table and took a seat. He wished yet again they had picked a better tavern for their meeting, but for some reason they preferred the Golden Cock. The name was a lie, of course, as clearly not a speck of gold had ever passed through the tavern's doors. It was as run-down a tavern as you could hope to find this side of Hyarch, with warped tables, wobbly chairs, and windows darkened with dust and dirt.

Alexios and Bradan both swore by the beer brewed here, although Hamond didn't quite grasp why. It wasn't terrible by any measure, but he'd tasted far better drinks than what the tavern sold. Still, he supposed he had become used to the place, given it had been their regular meeting spot for some time now. Even if he'd rather they could go to one of Hallowscroft's better taverns.

Turning his head at the sound of the door swinging open, spilling light across the room, he saw Bradan standing there, wiry and unkempt as ever. Kalvarel was following right behind him, his long curly hair hanging down around his shoulders. The pair stepped in, and the door thudded shut behind them, darkening the tavern once more. Bradan quickly spotted Hamond with a glance, and beckoning Kal, the two approached.

“Heh, you're actually first this time,” Bradan remarked as he and Kalvarel settled into chairs.

“Wasn't as busy today,” Hamond said, “I just had to see to a child earlier, and he only had a slight fever. Didn't even need to be there, really.”

“Well, if you need some work, I have something for you,” Kalvarel said, “Got a handful of children getting ready for their First Ascension, and you know old Morgivel will need the help.”

Hamond let out a sigh. More and more of his work was spend taking care of illnesses and injuries among the Elefae, since their own healer was getting up there in years. He'd rather not put himself as the focus of the tension surrounding the Elefae, but someone had to be there. The other healers refused to handle such matters, and so it fell to him.

“I'll speak to him about it when I get the chance,” he told Kalvarel, “I don't think I have anyone to visit tomorrow afternoon.”

:”Hear, hear,” Kalvarel said with a smile, relaxed. “Knew I could count on you. Unlike a certain someone...where is Alex, anyway? Couldn't be arsed to come drink with us?”

“I wouldn't expect him,” Bradan chimed in, “Word is that the lord's son is back in town, and they probably have all the watch on duty or something.”

“And I was hoping to not have only three people for our rounds tonight,” Hamond grumbled. It just didn't quite work, with how the cards got divided.

“You know conquest is just fine with three players,” Bradan said, pulling the set of cards out of a belt pouch and setting it on the table, “Even if I don't get to take his coin tonight.”

“You were never going to take it anyway,” Kalvarel shot back, “Anyway, might as well lay it out.” He fished out a set of worn coins. “Five pikers on this round.”

“I'll match it.” Hamond pulled out his own coins for the bet.

“I'm tempted to raise it to a full hexty,” Bradan said with a chuckle. “But you two are just too poor, so I'll go down to your level.” Out came his coins.

“Someone's got a full purse,” Kalvarel said as he reached for the deck of cards to cut it. “I need to ask you for a bigger cut next time.”

Hamond just shook his head. He had no doubt whatsoever that Kalvarel and Bradan's business together was shady, but he wasn't about to ask too many questions about it. He would not pry into their secrets, and they would not pry into his. A strong friendship, and one Hamond had no intention of ruining.

“You fellows want drinks?” the barmaid said, walking up to them. Hamond did not recognize her, but it wasn't like he had particularly paid attention to the barmaids here before, he admitted to himself.

“Three beers, on me,” Bradan answered, not taking his eyes off of Kalvarel's card handling. Hamond hoped Kalvarel had learned his lesson about trying to cheat at cards, but clearly Bradan wasn't trusting his Elefae partner.

“I could've paid,” Kalvarel protested as the barmaid left to get the drinks.

“Eh, don't worry about it, Kal,” Bradan answered, “Plus, I'll bet with those soldiers back with the lord's son, I'll make it back many times over. I know I've got what they need.”

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“But will you make back what you lose at cards?” Hamond asked with a falsely innocent tone.

“Oh, shut up,” came the retort.

As Kalvarel finally dealt the cards, the barmaid returned and set a mug in front of each of them. Bradan fished out another handful of pikers, and handed them to the barmaid. Hamond took a sip, then picked up his hand. Not bad, he thought to himself. He'd gotten both fives of swords, along with a three of banners and a two of crowns. With a conquest of fives now off the table for the other two, he'd have a decent chance of setting up for winning with that.

Bradan reached over and casually flipped the deck's top card onto the table, revealing a four of swords. “Let's play,” he said, nodding at Hamond to indicate he had the first turn. Taking a brief moment to study their faces, Hamond realized both Bradan and Kalvarel were keeping their expressions neutral. Trying to do the same, Hamond played a five of swords, then drew two cards. A four of crowns and a rogue, which he could work with.

“Anyway, Kal,” Bradan spoke as placed down a two of swords. “Wasn't the elf elders trying to get you set up with a wife? I thought you mentioned something about it last time we got together.”

“Yeah, she seems nice enough. Absolutely cute, and I figure settling down wouldn't be so bad.” Kalvarel took a swig of his drink. “Thing is, them and my folks keep telling me we should have a traditional wedding and such, and we don't want any part of it.”

“Yeah, I'm sure you want to marry another man and woman to go with her.” Bradan slapped his knee with a laugh as Kalvarel grimaced. Hamond also grimaced, but for a different reason, as Kalvarel had just played a rogue card.

“Neither of us do,” Kalvarel explained, “I don't think most elves like me really want it anymore, but the elders got to have their way. Keep talking about the code for this and the belief in that...I even heard a bunch of other elves signed up for the war just so they could get away from this nonsense. Sort of wish I had done that.”

“Well, then you wouldn't be here now,” Hamond noted, playing his next card.

“I know, I know. I'm better off for it. Still, they need to stop being arses and realize times change.” Kalvarel took another drink, then chuckled. “Hey, maybe we should have a traditional Remuati wedding instead. That'll show them.”

“If you're asking me, I've never been to Remuat,” Hamond pointed out. Having the heritage of his mother brought up was unpleasant, and he'd rather forget it, even if his brown skin served as a reminder of it every day. “I wouldn't know a Remuati wedding if I saw it. Or even if I was the one getting married.”

“To be fair, I would have bet good pikers you were getting married before Kal here,” Bradan said, “You're the reliable type. Not the most exciting man around, but at least you'd keep food on the table.”

“I definitely need to ask for a bigger cut,” Kalvarel said to no one in particular.

“I'm afraid my work as a healer keeps me too busy to go out and meet girls,” Hamond noted. Another card went onto the growing pile.

“Didn't you say you weren't all that busy today?” Bradan said, with a smirk. Hamond figured that the man probably thought he'd perfectly set a trap.

“Tending to people, yes, but I had to go buy fresh blankets and herbs.” That was the thing most people didn't get about being a healer. It was more than just waving your hands over an injury to make it go away. Not everything could be solved with incantations, a lesson Hamond had learned years ago.

“Herbs I get, but why the blankets? Did someone bleed on them or something?” Kalvarel asked sarcastically.

“Vomit actually, and they had muddy trousers too.” As much as he enjoyed their company, Hamond wished at times the pair would take things a bit more seriously. “Trust me, I tried cleaning them, but it was a lost cause.”

“Nasty,” Bradan said with a shudder. “Do I want to know why you didn't get to just call on them at their home?”

“No, you don't,” Hamond answered, looking over his hand. His effort to gather a conquest of fives was not going so well.

“Well, that's why you're the healer, and we're...not.” As he spoke, Kalvarel played another card, and Hamond had to struggle to hold in a groan. That was the second five of banners in play. He'd have to pivot to a completely different conquest set, and he didn't know how much time he had to do so.

“I can't see either of your two being a healer, no.” Hamond shook his head, deciding now was as good a time as any to play a rogue. “I'll just have to handle enough healing for the three of us.”

“Good, because you're way better at it than playing cards,” Bradan said with a laugh, throwing four cards down. “Conquest of threes.”

“You arse...” Kalvarel swore, staring at the cards in his hand. After a moment, he sighed, and laid his hand face down. “You got me. I'm out.”

“I don't have to be better at cards than I am at healing.” Hamond played the three of banners. “I just have to be better at cards than you.”

“Son of a...curse you!” Bradan pounded the table, as Kalvarel burst out laughing. Hamond couldn't resist grinning himself. Now with only three cards to Hamond's eight, Bradan almost certainly wouldn't able to make a comeback. The only question was how many rogues the man had in hand.

“I think there's a lesson to be learned here,” Kalvarel commented dryly, after the laughter had died down.

“That being, of course, don't bet against a healer,” Hamond replied. Their Elefae companion started laughing again, while Bradan just sighed.

“I was sure that last three was left in the deck,” Bradan muttered, leaning back with a stretch.

“Gamble big, lose big,” Hamond said as the two kept laying out cards. It didn't take much longer, as it turned out. Bradan had been holding a pair of rogues. He'd clearly gone all in on his conquest set, and hadn't bothered trying to set up with reserve cards to counter a conquest.

“Good game,” Kalvarel congratulated Hamond as he swept the pile of coins towards his corner of the table. Bradan stayed silent, choosing instead to take a long drink of his beer.

“I'll dedicate this win to Alexios,” Hamond joked. Bradan almost choked on his beer, while Kalvarel laughed along with Hamond. He hadn't had this much fun with a game of cards with them in a long while.

“So then,” Bradan finally said, after managing to swallow his drink. “Ready for another round?”