Norbert headed to the closest bridge, mask on as his whistling bounced around the city. Feeling out of place waiting in line, not seeing any other humans with him. One by one, people quickly went through the toll booth and onto the bridge. Norbert was next in line, saying, "Would like a return trip for the night" to the person on watch.
Not even looking up, just saying, "One silver."
Norbert took it out and placed it on; only then did the worker look up; Norbert thought they were a human, but the slit eyes and scales around the face said otherwise. Taking the coin out, they put a slip of paper with some writing Norbert didn't know.
Norbert just bowed and took the slip, folding it up and putting it in his pouch as he continued across the wooden bridge. The railings on either side with every several meters someone standing guard stopping anyone from getting too close to the edge. Norbert wondered if it was for the pedestrians safety or to stop help for the prisoners bellow.
Thinking about the compass and a good time to confirm his suspicion Norbert was unable to, remembering he left it in the room with the others. Shrugging at a missed opportunity but better the group not having it if he was caught, Norbert crossed the bridge, standing on the other side.
Remembering the direction, on the street, walking down and seeing the buildings here. Everything looked more refined than on the other side, with lights now on the shops and streets. Cobblestone on the footpath with the gutters cleared and nobody on the street. The alleyways look brighter, none threatening even at night.
As Norbert turned left on the fourth street found and started walking up it, remembering the owner saying he wouldn't miss it with the glass front and everyone milling around. As Norbert thought about what Krrrasna said about the place, it started to sound very familiar to the previous casino he went to.
Seeing lights ahead, Norbert could now see it was the same, the glass front, the three floors, the double doors and being packed in the bottom floor with the spiral staircase in each corner. Gulping, Norbert continued, knowing the coin would be better, and it wasn't like he would run into the owner out here.
Walking up the steps, Norbert saw that everyone around him was beast people; gulping and hoping wearing the mask would help him blend in. Norbert went to the doors and walked in, seeing the same layout as previously, went past the two bouncers and headed towards the kiosk desk to get his chips.
Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he was turned around, one of the bouncers looking down at him. He was standing before Norbert had to crane his neck to see the man. Larger than life, with two massive horns coming out of the side, Norbert just gulped, hoping it would be fine.
The two looked into each other's eyes; the worker huffed and pointed at Norbert's sword. Breaking eye contact, Norbert looked down as well, just seeing that it was how it usually was. Looking back up, Norbert held onto it. "I'm not about to hand it over to you", Norbert said, slowly putting his weight onto the balls of his feet.
The worker shaking his head, said, "Wrap it."
Norbert just stared before relaxing, and seeing other people's weapons tied up, stopping the blade from being drawn. Taking a piece of leather and tying the sword into the sheath, stopping the blade from getting pulled. Showing his side and the wrap, the worker just nodded. Norbert bowed and said thanks as he scuttled off, wondering what that was about, as he quickly spun around and saw nobody else getting stopped.
Shaking his head Norbert continued to the kiosk, waiting in line for him to be served. Slowly shuffling forward, Norbert just looked around, eyeing out the table he would be gunning for, seeing that they were all in the same position.
Trying to find an empty roulette table or one with an open spot for him to slide into, the space ahead of him opened up. Being waved forward, Norbert took out two silver coins, keeping the rest for later, wanting to raise it for more, and trying to go under with the suspicions.
The clerk just looked up, a lizard person through and through. Green scaly skin, clawed hands with webbing between them and a tail Norbert could see poking out the back. "Split it fifty chips each, bronze worth," Norbert said.
"Recommended to go to the floor above", The clerk responded Norbert, hearing in a scraping voice.
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"Not needed for now, maybe later, but thanks for the recommendation", Norbert said, not wanting to see the beast fights or whatever they would have up here similar to what he saw last time he went up a floor.
Receiving a bow, the clerk bent down, placing all forty chips in front of Norbert. Looking at the immense pile and knowing there would be more soon, Norbert asked, "Also, can I have two sacks to carry the chips in?" Norbert asked.
This deserved a strange look, as the clerk said, "Give me a moment sir" as they went to speak to Someone.
Norbert waited for several minutes, hearing the line behind him getting increasingly restless, countless people ditching for another line to go up to. Norbert smiled, hoping they could get the storeys he sent them through the mask.
Finally, the clerk returned with the two sacks. Norbert nodded and thanked profusely as he shovelled the chips into one of them, slinging it across his shoulder as he went to the roulette table he had eyed off before.
This one was further away in a corner at the back; Norbert watched as only four other people stood around it with the dealer. Leaning against the table, Norbert removed the sword from his sheath, lying it against the table and looked around at what other people were carrying. Seeing he wasn't the only one with many chips or weapons. Everyone here was quiet, playing easy and just looking at the game, not a word said to anyone else, unlike the hustle and bustle everywhere else in the room.
As he sat down, everyone stared at him, Norbert just nodding as he took his chips out of the sack, placing them on the table in the designated position. Having the four piles of ten, Norbert waited patiently for the ball to stop spinning. Once it did and the payouts were given, Norbert took out his coin.
Staring at both sides, he spun it in his fingers several times, whispering, "Heads blue, tails purple", before flicking it into the air. Everyone watched the dazzling object in the sky spin before Norbert caught it, placing it on the back of his left hand.
Presenting the coin to everyone, Norbert saw the heads facing up. Nodding, Norbert took hold of two piles and placed them on the blue square; Norbert could determine the colour.
Everyone was staring at him for his actions, the dealer waiting and receiving confirmation that everyone had placed their bets and spun the roulette wheel again.
Norbert watched as the ball circled again, hearing it roll on the smooth polished wood. Waiting, Norbert heard it go silent as it fell into its position; as the roulette wheel slowly stopped, Norbert saw it was placed in the blue section.
Smiling, Norbert saw the payout come his way, earning an easy silver coin. Watching the chips given, Norbert noticed they were the same type as the others, now given one from the floor above.
Norbert stared at the dealer, wondering if he would have a situation like last time again, not wanting to do it in a strange city with people out to get him. Shaking his head, not thinking the same would happen again, Norbert flipped the coin, waiting for the good times to start rolling.
***
A crowd formed behind him, Norbert looking around and remembering the last time he had seen something similar. Once again, too late in the game, losing complete track of the time, people betting on him repeatedly, and others trying to win big with him only to lose. Norbert is once again the only one surviving in the den of greed.
Everyone else who was originally at his table left long ago, moving with the crowd and giving Norbert looks of annoyance. Norbert just raised his hands in defence, not wanting to be attacked.
Looking around, Norbert called a waiter, asking for a whisky with a straw, not wanting to take the mask off. Only receiving a nod in return, Norbert continued playing.
Looking at his growing pile, Norbert saw another ten gold coins worth in front of him, each time getting higher and higher, and the losses coming in on purpose as Norbert didn't want to get ahead of himself.
He repeatedly dialled it, trying to play the crowd of strangers behind him. With his latest drink with its tray placed in front of him, the waiter took the old drink from before; all the same, this one, Norbert saw a piece of paper folded up under the glass.
Nodding to the waiter and placing one of his chips on the tray, receiving a smile and a blush, Norbert opened the paper, reading what was on it.
In Morenas, Norbert saw the words written Someone doesn't listen on the paper and underlined.
Norbert just looked at the piece of paper, laughing to himself. "Oh man, I've gone and done it again, haven't I?" Norbert said, talking to himself.
Knowing he was once more in the end game of it, Norbert started betting big, trying to get as much as possible out of it in a short time, hopefully sending a message that today he played it cool and slow, knowing that those around him easily offset the cost of his win.
Remembering last time, everyone else tried to play the same as him. Even at the table, he was at now, Norbert could see others flicking chips and coins in the air, placing them in any random position they deemed worthy, trying to beat out him and everyone else.
Standing up, Norbert took his chips, sacks, and paper, counting up the chips and having enough of fifty gold coins, the value much more significant than he thought, thinking about the number of elixirs he could get.
Waiting at the kiosk, Norbert placed the chips and the paper. "Would like to cash these out and if you can ask the owner if the same talk will happen again", Norbert said, a growl coming through his voice at the end even though it was being neutralised mostly.
As he received a nod and the piece of paper being taken, Norbert turned around; looking at the still bustling casino, the moon starting to go down in the sky from its reflection on the windows in the other building, hoping this time would be different from last.