Kael Ashenvale had been in prison for six hours and was already running the yard's underground economy. Guinevere Lunaris had been in prison for six hours and was already running its soul.
A group of inmates were sitting in a circle near the far wall, cards spread across a stone slab that functioned as a table. Four men. One deck. The body language of people who had been playing long enough to develop grudges and short enough to still care about winning.
One of them looked up. Looked at Kael. Looked at the cuffs. Looked at the runes fading on his forearms. Made a decision that would cost him later.
"You play?"
Kael glanced at the circle. Assessed the cards. Assessed the men. Assessed the skill level in under two seconds based on how they held their hands, which was badly, all of them, the grip of men who thought they were good and had never met someone who was.
"Deal me in."
