Prelude Cycle

By S. Kaeth

The novella is arranged as a series of seasons with one short story vignette from each of the four main point of views. These stories are set approximately three years before Between Starfalls begins.

Taunos attempts to get into the library of Far Dahutad.
Takiyah balances her love of learning with the judgements of her community.
Kaemada struggles mind to mind.
Ra'ael faces challenges on her path to becoming a priestess.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hakea Media
• Release date: Mar 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9781955220002

Book preview

To my readers. Thank you for letting me entertain you for a little bit.

Author’s Note

Thank you for downloading this novella! This collection of short stories is intended to be a sampler: an introduction to my writing style as well as to the world and characters of the Children of the Nexus series. The novella is arranged as one short story vignette from each of the four main point of views, each correlated with a season. These stories are set approximately three years before Between Starfalls begins.

Please feel free to share this novella with others. If you enjoy it, please consider signing up for my mailing list at skaeth.com to get more exclusive stories and content, as well as to be the first to know about new releases.

Copyright © 2021 S. Kaeth

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-955220-00-2

First Edition

Author’s website: www.skaeth.com

Content Warning:

Includes descriptions of fantasy violence, hallucinations, mental manipulations, and fantasy prejudices.

Taunos was never going to have a chance to get into the library. Not at this rate.

The first time he’d tried, he’d been tossed out before he had a chance to set foot on the sumptuous-looking geometrically-patterned carpet. He’d barely even gotten a glimpse of the rows and rows of gleaming wood shelves, all packed with books of all shades and sizes. More books than he’d ever imagined existed. And one of them might hold the answer to help his people.

But the guards were watching for him now, and this time, he didn’t come within five paces of the imposing double doors before they confronted him. This was not the notoriety he wanted.

I told you, not just anyone is allowed in. The guard’s exasperation was evident in her voice as she escorted him farther from the entrance.

Then who is?

She scoffed, giving him a light shove as she turned away. Certainly not nobody travelers.

I just want to learn! Is that such a crime? he called at her back as she returned to her post.

She didn’t respond.

Raking one hand through his hair, he turned, surveying the crowd. The land’s name was Far Dahutad, and he already loved it, especially this city, Arruk. The milling throngs of people from lands near and far in every direction, the shouting and haggling, and the languages without number. He’d never get enough of this place. Except for the dry wind. That was a sharp contrast to the misty air of home, and he’d already had plenty of it.

But the people! That was more than enough draw to overcome a little discomfort.

His stomach rumbled, so he let the crowd carry him over the cobblestone roads toward the market square while he thought over his next move. He needed to get into that library, but walking in didn’t work, disguises hadn’t worked, and this time he’d actually been paid as a porter to carry a bookcase inside and the guards had still stopped him. He needed a different tactic.

He stopped by a stand with sizzling meats on a grill and handed over one of the coins they used here to the middle-aged portly man tending the grill. As far as he could tell, Dahuti merchants accepted a wide variety of coinage from nearby lands. Odd jobs here and there had netted Taunos quite the collection of stamped metals, engraved beads, and painted clay.

The coin got him far more food than he’d expected. He was still getting a handle on what each was worth, so when the man handed him a dark-grained wooden platter full of grilled chunks of meats and a rainbow of vegetables in gravy, and then a pile of flatbreads wrapped in a striped cloth on the side, he just grinned as if he’d expected it all along. Taunos turned, moving with the platter when someone jostled him. He didn’t have a moment to check his pockets—pickpockets weren’t uncommon among the crowds. It would be a delicate procedure getting out of the stream of people, but there were tables by the crystal blue fountain. Once he got there, he’d be able to check his money pouches. More importantly, he’d hopefully find some new friends to share all this food with.

Holding the platter high, he pushed through the crowd, twisting and turning in a kind of dance, until finally he was free of the stream of traffic and could breathe more easily. The tender meat and rich gravy spiced with herbs made his mouth water and his stomach rumble, while the rise and fall of voices around him provided a musical background hum. And the flatbreads were lightly grilled and puffy, pillow-soft to the touch.

Hey! Someone’s shout rang out behind him.

Taunos looked around, more out of curiosity than anything else. A man approached him, one of the locals by his height and coloring. The man’s brown skin and broad features were framed by black hair loose to his shoulders, and his brown eyes crinkled like he was ready for a joke. He had Taunos’s money pouch in his hand.

Gotta be careful in the crowd. Even a cleverly hidden pouch can be snatched when you have your hands full.

Thanks. Taunos set the platter down at an empty table and took the pouch. I keep losing them, so I’ve taken to carrying multiples. There wasn’t much I could do about it this time without losing the food, though.

Hearty laughter answered him, as the man threw back his head, his mannerisms as loud as his voice. You’ve got enough there for a party.

Or some friends. Taunos grinned. He had various sorts of money difficulty every handful of days, either through forgetting or simply not paying attention. It’d netted him a crowd of sometimes-friends from near and far and many interesting conversations, so on the whole he counted it worth it. And what brought people together more reliably than delicious food, of which Far Dahutad had an abundance of variety?

The man handed him his money pouch. Have fun, then. And keep a closer watch on your purse.

No, I mean— Taunos waved at the food. Care to join me? I accidentally bought too much.

The man looked at the platters, back at Taunos, and laughed again. Are you new here or merely completely out of your mind?

Maybe a little bit of both. Taunos sat down and used his foot to shove a chair toward the man.

Alright, hold on. Let me round up some friends… If that was a true offer?

True offer, Taunos said. "There’s no way I’m eating all