has to slow down his hands

“You’ve slept enough,” Tanish said. “I’m bored. I want you to teach me
some new tricks.”

“Have you mastered the ones I taught you last time?”

“Some of them.” Tanish laughed. “I’m quite good at those that I can use
when playing poker.”

“You cheat when you gamble?” Larten frowned, sitting up.

“If I need money.” Tanish shrugged. “I don’t like to steal. I’d rather
work for my ill-gotten gains.”

“You think cheating is work?”

“We’re only talking about humans,” Tanish said. “I’d never scheme
against one of our own. Come on, Quicksilver, you love to show off. You
have the fastest hands I’ve ever seen. Teach me, O wise and nimblefingered
one.”

Larten smiled and took a pack of cards from a small leather bag. He
shuffled for a couple of minutes to limber up, then taught Tanish a few new
ways to make the cards do whatever he wished. He had to slow down his
movements so that his friend could follow.

“You’re unnatural,” Tanish said admiringly. “Are you this fast in a
fight?”

“You’ve seen me fight many times,” Larten said.

“Drunken skirmishes, yes, but never in a real battle."

***

The Saga of Larten Crepsley: Ocean of Blood, Chapter 5