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It was further rumored, in stories possibly started by the kender
himself, that Moonwick had on separate occasions stolen the tail
from a cat, the blonde hair from a human woman, and, on a night
of unexplained eclipse, the moonlight itself-which was how he
got his name. Otik subscribed to the more popular theory that the
kender's name was a flattering corruption of Moonwit.
Moonwick smiled up at Otik. "Here's your hops, and gods how
I prayed a thousand times that they'd hop themselves here. Where's
my reward?" He added, "Gold will do."
Otik did not smile back. "Kerwin was bringing the hops. What
happened to him?"
"You paid him in advance. He had money. He wanted to
gamble." The kender said earnestly, "I said we could do it for
anything: buttons, rocks, things in our pockets-but he wouldn't
listen. He said he felt lucky."
Otik stared at the kender. "So he gambled for money with you?
Lady of Plenty, look after your witiing orphans. What happened to
him?"
Moonwick looked sad. "He lost."
Otik said dryly, "I'm shocked." As Moonwick opened his
mouth in protest, Otik went on, "Never mind. Why are you
carrying the hops?"
Now Moonwick did look embarrassed and sincerely angry.
"Kerwin said that since I had his wages, I should do his work. I
said that was foolish, and we argued, and finally we agreed to
gamble for who made this trip."
"Naturally you accepted. Can't pass up a game
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