Let me show you a trick (Malifaux Short Story)

 At the beginning of this blog I said I wanted to put a few short stories up and this seems a good a time as any to post a short Malifaux story! Enjoy! 

@geekphotoguy

The dark wooden platforms groaned constantly under the sheer weight above, passengers disembarking from their carriages onto the makeshift ramps laden with cargo. Some, luggage-less and alone, others with vast arrays of wealth on show. Either way, they were excited for what lay ahead. 

It had been only a few years since the Breach reopened and excitement generated by the Guild earth side meant that more and more wanted to hoard the precious stones which lay hidden in Malifaux. The greed had engulfed an entire population who, for their own selfish reasons, wanted to be in receipt of the soulstones.

Popularity through the Breach was so much so that the shanty towns which had. Even set up for those with naught were being inhabited by some of the ruling class. That is, until they could find a permanent home which overlooked the slums! Many had tried but many had failed in finding their fortune or masses of power in the mines of Malifaux but for those small few... It was everything they had ever hoped for! 

On the platform of the smoke filled station a small stall was in place. It was an unusual curiosity; faded blue paint peeled from the base and a brown stained, red letter banner hung dishevelled, flapping limply in the wind. On the banner, if you could see, read 'Try your luck'. Next to the stall, slumped on an old suitcase, sat a young man wearing a deep mauve jacket with black trousers and an off white shirt bearing the triumphant stains of many a good meal.  As soon as a coach laden with fortune seekers arrived his slumped expression transformed into one of vibrancy and slick charm. 

One by one passengers disembarked staring in awe at the new sight which awaited them and stood in wonder at the encapsulating magic which was waiting to be discovered. 

This was the time.

The drooped eyes and glum expression changed into a bright smile with a mischievous glint which was sure to intrigue visitors.

'Welcome one and all to the city of dreams, the fortune maker, the heart breaker! What better way than to start your journey from rags to riches than get rich quick here?' His shrill voice bellowed out above the sound of the chugging engine. 'Anyone can try, could you be that guy?' He had gained the attention of many of the newcomers wanting to experience something new in this strange city. Others however, we're not so impressed. To them, he looked like a door to door salesman, pedaling his wares and what he was about to sell wasn't something they were prepared to buy. Mothers rushed children past who stated in awe and men raised eyebrows conspicuously as he goaded the crowd into preplanned responses. 

Those who were immersed in his antics stood watching his speak like an actor with such poise and vigor. In the end, the crowd were hanging on his every word as he recanted tales of Malifaux past and what may lay in store for the lucky few who find the treasures beneath. Finally, after finishing one particularly gruesome tale of a woman who appears from nowhere, he arrived at his mainstay. 

'Now,' he began in a lower, more sinister tone, 'who would like to strike it rich here on this very spot?'

Numerous hands went up and the figure knew who or what he was looking for. He extended a finger towards a pale looking woman with electric orange hair who rather forcefully made her way to the front of the crowd and planted herself firmly in his eyeline.

'Try... Your... Luck?' He announced as the crowd started up in rapturous applause. 

'I'll try' replied the woman in a somewhat firmer voice than her demeanor suggested. 

A feint grin wrapped around the man's face as he produced a deck of cards from his jacket pocket and began shuffling. During the course of his shuffling he went back to talking to the crowd, asking people why they left their lives on the earth side to start here. After a few minutes he had finished. The woman, who was still rooted to the same spot, had been watching him carefully and saw how he had been shuffling the cards. Despite not looking at the deck, the man was well versed in how to manipulate a deck.

'Pick any three cards from this deck. Now, you've all seen me shuffle this so you know nothing underhand is going on!' 

She picked three without hesitation: one from the top, one from the bottom and one a third of the way down. 

'Excellent! If you wish, you can show everyone behind you what you have!' She accepted the offer and made sure everyone had viewed the cards. 'Now place them in any order on the box... If I can correctly guess the 3 cards, then you owe me. If I get them wrong... I will give you this...' With that, from his pocket, he produced a small glinting stone shining a pale green in the desert sunlight. The crowd gasped and stared in awe at the stone, all but one; The pale lady. 

During the crowd's stares, the man stole a glance at the cards. Quick enough for no one to notice, almost. There in the lady's hand sat a 3 of tomes, 10 of crows and a red joker. While he flicked his head back and rolled the stone in between his fingers, he recalled the cards over and over.

'Now, place the cards here and I shall tell 'attempt' to tell you what you have. Remember Ladies and Gents, just one mistake and this beautiful stone will find itself in the hands of this beautiful lady! But if I am right you will be in my debt...' Once again, the crowd gave applause which cut him off mid-sentence. 
'What exactly will be required in your debt?' inquired the lady with a more hushed tone than her previous effort had been.
A rye smile once again crossed the man's face. 'Your freedom, my dear. Just your freedom.'
The lady looked unphased as the crowd behind her started to murmur and break off, some clearly disturbed by this sudden plot twist.
'Very well.' she replied 'My freedom it is.'

Placing himself back on his box, he gestured to the remaining crowd inviting them to come closer and extended his arm with an open palm to the bottom of the box for the lady to place the cards. She duly obliged and spread the three cards across the rough surface.

With a deep breath the man proclaimed 'Three of Tomes, Ten of Crows and... The Red Joker!'
Members of the crowd started to applaud in amazement, others shared stunned glances, while some looked unimpressed at the sideshow and wanted to see the end result; would win or not? Everyone saw the cards and they knew he was right and it was just a formality of the show to flip the cards so everyone could see his absolute genius.

'It is now time to see if I was right... Please pretty lady - flip the cards and see what will happen!'
He reached down to pick the cards up, as he did so the lady stepped forward and grabbed his wrist, stopping him in his tracks.
'Please, allow me.'
Letting go of his wrist, she slowly reached towards the cards. Flipping one at a time, she revealed the three of Tomes, Ten of Crows and the Black Joker. Those who were near and had not lost interest peered over as the cards were revealed, then the murmuring stopped.

'You... you tricked me!' yelled the man jumping off the case 'You tricked me!'
Their eyes met in the silence and the man's expression turned from a triumphant winner to a disbelieving monster filled with anger. She, on the other hand, replaced her grim expression with a broad smile. His breathing became deeper as she reached into her jacket and produced a small box which she held in her hands.

'Trick?' she whispered as she went to unhinge the clasp and slowly open the lid. 'Let me show you a trick...'