The Brownie Went Down To Benden

Kassima: "Between those three marks Thera's owed me for about eight Turns now and all the as-yet unpaid forfeits I won from Mart, I'm beginning to think here must be something about me that inspires negligence to pay debts. Though I must say, the brownie did at least *try* and pay up once. I probably shouldn't blame him for fainting when he saw all those dead tunnelsnakes he was supposed to cut up and feed the Swarm."

The Brownie Went Down To Benden

M'rgan once went down to Benden--he was looking for some marks to steal.
He knew there he'd find some riders of the kind who were willing to make a 
   deal.
When he came across these women sitting and counting out the marks 
   they'd brought,
Well, the brownie took the seat across, and looked, and said, "Girls, let 
   me tell you what.
I know that you both know that I'm a wager-maker too--
Now if you care to take a dare, well, I'll make a bet with you.
You both claim to have luck and such, but give my great skill its due--
I'll bet the marks I've got 'gainst what you've brought, 'cause I think I'm 
   better than you."

One lass said, "M'name's Kassi, and this here's my friend Kin--
And we'll take your bet; you're gonna regret, our luck's the best there's 
   ever been."

Kin, Kassi, chant your best luck chants; the challenge will be hard,
'Cause the brownie's loose in Benden, and you know he cheats at cards.
And if you win, you'll get all the marks you could ever hold--
But if you lose, your own marks will be stole!

So then M'rgan, he dealt out that deck, said, "And now we'll start to 
   play,"
And the cards flew from his fingertips as he tossed discards away.
When he showed his hand to those riders, the watchers made a hiss;
The hand of cards he held was high--they'd never seen any like this!

As the brownie gloated, Kassi said, "Well, you're pretty good, M'rgan--
But you'd better sit down in that chair; you'll faint when you see our 
   hands!"

She had a Master Conclave, the highest one
Ever seen under the Rukbat sun!
A Wedding Gather was what Kin had to show--
And Mart couldn't beat that, no no no!

So the brownie bowed his head, because he knew that he'd been beat.
He tossed those wooden marks he lost at Kin and Kassi's feet.
And Kassi said, "M'rgan, just come on back if'n you ever want to try 
   again--
'Cause we'll prove, we will--'tis luck, nay skill! Ours is the best there's 
   ever been!"

They chanted, "For Slithereth, marks, and fun,
And for every greenrider under the sun,
For goldriders, Benden Weyr, and for dough--
You'll never beat us, Mart--no, no, no!"

					---Written by Kassima

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