A fantasy short story set in Tybraes many decades before When Comes the Firetide: Emergents. Daunet Zuree was not always the Vesvudak- the great military leader of the Kithoth Falenoth warriors. She was a child once, like everyone. But her keen strategic mind had always been with her. When the children gather on the field to play a simple game, Daunet joins. She quickly realizes that the rules can be used to her advantage for victory.
It is not cheating. It is strategy. Witness the early workings of one of the greatest military minds of Tybraes.
Excerpt:
“ESKA! Vaal… fer… aat! BROK!
“COME! One… two…, three! STOP!”
Daunet ran toward Javon on command, this count slower, so she covered more ground. Still, Artu was ahead of her, and Yasel just behind him. The two tossed their horns at each other and bared their teeth in a show of rivalry. Daunet pursed her lips. She wouldn’t beat them if she couldn’t get faster, or they didn’t make a mistake.
Wait…a mistake.
Daunet looked up the field toward Javon. She was closer to Javon than to Nova. Focus on getting to Javon.
“…ESKÅ! Vaal…fer…aat! BROK!”
“GO! One…two…three! STOP!”
Everyone ran. Daunet sprinted as fast as she could, in spite of Nova’s loud laughter. The other children turned to look. They, too, burst into laughter. Daunet held her head high as Nova pointed at her.
“Go e salur, Daunet!”
“You are wrong, Daunet!”
Daunet lifted her chin ever so slightly as she strode back to where she had started from, and calmly pronounced, “Om yaf.”
“I know.”