Oathran's cards were the Queen of clubs and the Queen of spades. Combined with the Queen of hearts on the table, he held three queens. A strong, formidable hand. Triumph flashed in his eyes.
"Tell me I won," Oathran said. He was convinced. He'd seen her tells, he'd felt her tension. She had bluffed her way to victory over him before, three times. He was sure this was another ruse.
But Cecilia slowly shook her head. A smile touched her lips. She laid her cards bare.
The five faced-up cards, Ace of diamonds, Five of hearts, Queen of hearts, Four of clubs, Six of spades.
Her two hole cards. Seven of clubs. Three of diamonds.
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty." Her voice was soft. "I got myself a straight."
It was there, clean and simple for him to trace. Three, four, five, six, seven. A line of uninterrupted numbers that beat his three-of-a-kind.
"This…"
