Virgil Crane

The piles of gambling chips in front of Virgil made the other two piles look tiny in comparison.

He had been working the tables in this tavern each night for a tenday now, losing more than he won.

All his losses were inconsequential, as he would leave this tavern only to enter another and break even a few hours later.

Tonight was the payoff.

He was two hands from cleaning house and this round was all but done.

"Call" The grizzled older player to his left laid down the last of his chips along with an old oak container no larger than a shoe box. "That's all I have" he said with a half smile on his face.

A powdered noble smirked and met his bid, before both of them turned to Virgil. He allowed his eyes to flinch, just enough for his opponents to see before meeting the bet. Cards were flipped, firstly he older man, Displaying two pair. Jacks  over eights, with a lone four.
Virgil let out an audible gasp which caused the noble to grin and turn his hand.
Full house. Jacks over black aces and one hand went greedily for the pile of chips in the centre of the table.

Virgil threw his cards with a flick of his wrist to his right, the nobles face turning to a grimacing hatred as he saw the red aces, flanked by three queens.

"Get your hands off my chips." Virgil calmly stated as he scooped the centre of the table back to his corner.

The old grizzled man. Smiled and stood turning to the bar.

The noble, now flanked by two burly men towered above him.

Virgil woke in the alley, his left eye swollen closed, blood in his mouth and s sharp pain near his ribs.

"Ye played a good game  lad, but you need to work on your withdrawal." Said the grizzled man as he helped him to his feet.

"At least they didn't take everything of value."

Virgil looked down through his one good eye and saw the oak box.

"There's riches in this box but they couldn't open it. Only a man in the village of Greenest can open it."

Virgil spat some blood and tongued a loose tooth in the back of his mouth.

"Greenest?" He said incredulously, "I have to go to greenest to get anything from this bloody night."

The old man, still smiling offered a shoulder and Virgil accepted.

"I swear it's worth the trip. You've got a good soul." He now locked eyes with Virgil and Virgil could not look away.

"You will take this box to greenest and stay there until it opens."

The words resounded within his very core.
"Y-yes," Virgil stammered. "I will go to greenest."