Story for the day: Games

 Games
      
       Obhantaa Leraa and Kai Linaa sat in the training yard of the Diras castle keep amusing one another with a game of Otsbhaala. Obhantaa was showing the elven woman what he had learned of the game from his brothers and though he was not particularly adept at the traditional warrior's diversion, he was determined to practice to improve his abilities. Obhantaa had always performed any action shown to him with great effortlessness but the game of strategy, which required more than what mere vision could impart, was one that challenged him. He enjoyed the game and enjoyed losing at it even more, as the less he succeeded the more he was bidden to practice it with his brothers, but when his teachers were busy with their own exertion, Obhantaa played with Kai Linaa. Where the elven woman lacked strength, she gained a quickness of mind that made her strategies all the more difficult to defeat.
      
       Their warrior's game of twigs and shells lasted for hours and attracted many watchers. Several of the keep's workers traveling from the yeoman's quarter to the servant's rooms peeked over Kai Linaa's small shoulders to regard their quiet match and though they could not understand the rules of the odd game, they posed no questions to keep the two from being disturbed. The air about them was of good-humored nature and when one would make a fortuitous move, the other would enjoy the advantages of the mistake. There were smiles and laughter on both sides, and neither wished to end their game for the mere enjoyment of each other's good company.
      
       Eventually, Obhantaa and Kai Linaa were joined by the commander and the giant's three brothers. The three Haanta watched their younger brother's actions fervently, giving him small hints of how to gain the lead in the match. He took their suggestions and applied them but could not succeed in defeating Kai Linaa as the commander had joined the elf and whispered proposals to her of her own. The game of Otsbhaala soon expanded from two players to six, the women on one side and the men on the other.
      
       The commander made a few remarks on the subject of the number of women matched with the greater number of men and while Otenohi and Unghaahi were amused by her observation, the Den Asaan was incensed and protested that they were sustaining their position by mere luck. The commander then retracted her statement to amend that it was not the quantity of their grouping but the quality that was responsible for their perseverance. The Den Asaan contended that superiority had little to do with the chance the women were employing but his assertions were soon quieted by Otenohi who recommended Rautu remain silent to keep him from making any further humiliating accusations.
      
       The game remained at a standstill. The men could not breach the defensive wall and the women could not attack without removing it. It was agreed that the game was a draw and another tactical diversion was suggested to see who among them was the most gifted with strategy. It was well known that Otenohi had the talent and brilliance for scheming but the commander wondered how he would perform in a game of cards. She procured a deck from the kitchen and instructed them how to play Frewyn Jyn. As the regulations were much easier to follow that those of Otsbhaala, the game was quickly taken up and everyone was given a hand to play.
      
       It was explained that though a few matches may be won, such successes would not denote the triumph of the game as a whole. A certain number of wins was required to be proclaimed the victor and until that number was met, all other wins were irrelevant. The Den Asaan remonstrated over the rules of the game but played all the same if only to prove that he could defeat his mate by her given terms. Many rounds were played and there were various winners. Otenohi had won majority of the matches, followed in a close second by the Den Asaan, but it was Obhantaa Leraa who became the champion of Frewyn Jyn. The simplicity of the rules made his straightforward thinking ideal for the game and he had beaten them all in a matter of minutes.
      
       The Den Asaan disliked being conquered by a novice. He would have rather preferred to be beaten by Otenohi, his usual strategic partner, for when Obhantaa succeeded at anything thought to be difficult, he always did so with a genial smile and innocence that the Den Asaan found undue and taunting.           
      
       "I won, Ethnaahi," Obhantaa Leraa proclaimed to the scowling Den Asaan. 
      
       Rautu folded his arms and sulked. "You did so by accident," he grunted, looking away. 
      
       "A win is a win, Iimon Ghaala," the commander said. 
      
       Rautu peered over at his brother's winning hand and found it to be uncommonly good. "This game only denotes one's skill for cheating, not strategic ability," he accused.
      
       "If that were so, then I would have won," Otenohi said with a grin. 
      
       The Den Asaan decided that Frewyn games were unreasonable and too easily won by those who wielded the powers of chance. He thundered back to the keep, grumbling of his loss, while Obhantaa Leraa was congratulated for succeeding in the game and for his equal success of ruining the Den Asaan's quiet composure with his happy manner and remarkable ability.