Rino reached for the dropped cards on the table to shuffle a new round, but Reynar reached for his hand and stopped him.
"We need your reply, this instant," Reynar said with a firm tone.
Rino looked up at Reynar, still holding the edge of the cards firmly.
"I will give my reply..." he said, and pulled his hand slightly backwards, then flipped the cards into his palm. "...after this round."
Reynar's mold faultered a bit. He glanced at Malcolm first, then Dalia, then Zaira.
Each of them he looked at nodded in approval.
They seem to value Rino's presence.
Slowly, Reynar withdrew his hand with reluctant resignation. "Fine. Then, we play again."
In as much as the members have agreed that another round shall be played, Kasper leaned forward as if he protested against the idea.
Then, as if controlled by shocks, his clicked his eye close, and open, and said. "Let's raise the stakes."
Rino paused.
