"Really?"

"Yes, many men will fall under the spell of your charms, especially during the next twelve months," said the gypsy woman raising her eyebrows.

"Interesting."

"And you will live for a long time."

"How insightful," Ramsay said winking facetiously at me. “Why don't you take a shot, Evan."

"Not for fifty francs," I said, taking a step back.

"Go ahead, it's on me." She laid down another bill.

The Gypsy took my hand and traced several lines with a long yellowing fingernail. "I sense that yours is a very old soul."

"Actually he is one of the younger ones," Ramsay said chuckling. She placed a hand on my shoulder. "I'm going to check out the game. Come over when you're finished." She walked away, leaving me alone with the Gypsy.

"You've been alone for a large part of your life, yes?" the mystic said in the form of a question.

I nodded.

"You are in the middle of great changes happening in your life, yes?"

I nodded again, wondering if I wore my emotions on my sleeve.

"Many opportunities and adventures are open to you now, but you know this already yes?"

I nodded.

"But still there is something that troubles you, yes?"

"Yes--"

"Don't tell me," she said quickly. "It is a tantalizing opportunity, but one you don't feel you're ready for or worthy of."

"Yes, but how did you--" She held up a hand to interrupt me.

"I sense that you're not a very trusting person. You are accustomed to depending only on yourself." She looked back down at my hand. "It shows that this opportunity, if taken, will change your life dramatically."

"What about money?" I asked.

"Ooh, great wealth awaits you. I can see it right here," she said, tracing a long line on my palm with a boney finger.

Boisterous laughter periodically rang out from the game. Spectators stood in a circle around the seated players.

I'd heard enough. "Thank you," I said, withdrawing my hand. "Thank you."

I walked over to the edge of the crowd, thinking about what she had said. I peered over Samas' and Ramsay's shoulders to get a glimpse of the action. "What's going on?"

"No one has ever driven Chance from the table, but Auda is close. He hasn't lost a hand yet," Samas whispered.

"What did she have to say?" Ramsay asked.

"She said great wealth awaits me."

"Of course she did young Evan," Chance crooned. "Why do you think they call it fortune telling."

"I call your bet," said Auda. "What do you have?"

"Three Queens." Chance said, his wide smile evaporating with each heart Auda turned over.

"Flush," said Auda, pulling a mound of different sized silver and gold coins toward him.

"Blast!" shouted Chance. "That's fourteen hands in a row."

"Maybe he's cheating," Poppy said to Chance.

"That's irrelevant. Nobody cheats better than I do."

"You shouldn't have given your lucky dice to Evan," said Auda, goading him on.