A Race to Remember

The sign posted outside the tavern read, “A Travellers Venture: Come test your mettle against the best
of the best. Compete against each other in a race to the finish line, through obstacles and foes! Win
boasting rights as well as a hefty sack of gold. Register inside.”

Curious, I entered into the tavern, pausing just inside the door to let my eyes adjust. I saw a crowd of
large men, and a few equally large women, gathered around a table toward the back of the room.

As I got close enough to listen in, one of the men was bragging about his previous exploits, “...and then
I lopped it's head off with one blow, with my trusty axe.” He patted the axe strapped at his hip, and the
others murmured in appreciation.

I tapped the man with the axe on the shoulder, “Excuse me, is this where I sign up for the Travellers
Venture?” He turned around, and then paused, and looked down. I was a mere slip of a woman,
dressed simply in a leather wrap tied with a bit of rope.

He blinked in surprise, “Little lady, I don't think this is the kind of contest you are well suited for.”

I smiled up at him innocently, “Oh, I might just surprise you.”

He laughed, “Well, come on in then, and put your name to the paper. I welcome all competition, no
matter how small.”

I moved into the space he cleared, and looked at the register for the contest. There were about ten
names on the page, and looking around, it looked like most of them were still here, gathered around the
sign up. A discrete sniff told me that everyone here was human. I picked up the quill, looking at the
small, well-dressed man sitting across the table from me. “Are there any rules of conduct?” I asked
him.

“One gold piece to enter,” he informed me. “The race track will be clearly marked, and our wizard will
cast a spell that will mark you if you leave the boundaries, which will disqualify you. Outside of
killing, you may do whatever you need to succeed. First one to cross the finish line, wins.”

“Excellent,” I said, quickly scrawling my name on the register. I placed a gold piece on top of my
name on the register. The man quickly scooped it up and made a mark next to my name.

“Be here at dawn tomorrow, we don't wait for latecomers,” he warned.

“I'll be here.” I turned to the other competitors, who were watching me curiously, “Best of luck!” I
wished them.

“And to you, little lady,” the large man responded. “Try not to get hurt.” I nodded solemnly at him,
and headed out of the tavern before they could see my smirk. This was going to be easy money.

I woke early, and after a quick breakfast headed to the tavern. The race official was there, sitting at a
table, and one by one the other racers trickled in. A few looked at me in pity, and I heard whispered
comments on my lack of shoes, but I ignored it all, trying my best to not let my delight show on my
face. At dawn, we all followed him to the start-line, a trail just outside of town, marked clearly with
strips of red cloth.

A man in simple robes stepped up, and cast a complicated sounding spell out of an ancient tome. A
brief burst of sparkling light settled around us all, and then we were off. Several of the other racers
took the early lead, heading out at an impressive sprint. I could hear other racers behind me, as I ran. I
tugged on the end of the rope that was holding my leather wrap in place, feeling it loosen and then fall
away. I heard an exclamation of surprise from behind me, as I left the leather behind me and ran
naked.

Then, between one breath and the next, I slipped my skin and shifted into my much smaller, and faster,
fox form. I darted forward, easily passing by the racers in front of me, the sound of their cursing
ringing triumphant in my ears.

I leaped over the pit trap and the huge trees that were blocking the path, nimbly dodged the startled
men with quarterstaves that were waiting just beyond, and wove my way through the huge bramble that
the race track led us through. Before long, I could see the finish line just ahead.

I dashed across it, coming to a start before the astonished crowd. Shifting back to my human form, I
grinned at them, “No one said you had to be human...”