Mission:
I sighed to myself. This wasn’t going to be easy.

In the first place, I wasn’t sure why Ublaz had chosen me for the mission. Me, Kaelatar, Kae to my friends, a lowly Petty Officer. Maybe he had seen beyond my rank. I was clever, strong, intelligent and good with my sabre. Perhaps he had just picked randomly. But that made no sense. This sounded like an important mission. Bloodspray, the second in command. His disappearance had caused uproar on Sampetra. The rumor was that Ublaz had lost his power. But I didn’t believe it. There was something else to Bloodspray’s vanishing, and I was going to find out what. Maybe it was my determination Ublaz had sensed. It couldn’t have been my loyalty. I had none, not to him, in any case. My true loyalty was to my friends, my pals, the ones who mattered to me. To me, Ublaz was no more then a figurehead. But he issued orders, and wielded power. Maybe that was what caused these witless creatures to follow him.

My orders were to set out at once, and although I chafed at this a bit, I set out. Wouldn’t do to get slaughtered by His Royal Madness before I even began. I exited the palace through a small side door, running quickly down to the harbor. The moon shone into my amber eyes, and I shielded them with a black and silver paw. I leapt aboard my ship, running my scarred and tattooed paw fondly over her rail. The Wave Raider was a good ship, and one day I would captain her. But dreams could wait. I’d only move up in the ranks if I gained recognition from the Emperor, and to do that, I had to find Bloodspray.

Being a common seabeast, I shared my quarters and had not much space to boast of. Slipping into the dark room, I rummaged under my cot for supplies I knew I would use. Rope, canteen of water, pouch with bread and cheese, extra daggers. That should be enough. I sheathed the daggers in various spots of my broad belt which ran around my waist and over one shoulder. My canteen and pouch were attached to my belt, as well, while I looped the rope over my shoulder. It was time to go.

Like a black wraith, I crept out of the room, jumping onto the deck and taking a leap off the ship. I ran my paw over her keel, a strange feeling coming over me. Strange. This may be the last time I ever see her again, I thought, and then pushed that thought away. Bloodspray was renowned as a great fighter, but I had intention of losing, if it came to battle. I had confidence in my ability.

The open land on Sampetra was dark and dangerous at night. To go across alone would be risky, but I wagered that’s where Bloodspray would be heading. To get off the island he’d have to take a boat, and to do that, he’d have to wait for a time when nobeast would be near them to stop him. Ideally, night. Since Bloodspray was the second in command, of course he’d take the ship he knew to be the best. That would mean I’d have to stake out the Freebooter, the Bloodkeel and the Waveworm. They were kept in a different part of the harbor, and I’d have to move quickly if I was going to stop Bloodspray. I ran, my footpaws pounding into the earth, my sleek fur blending into the night. I was ready.

There was a dark shape moving towards the vessel I recognized as the Freebooter. That had to be Bloodspray. I could tell by his limp, and by the fact that nobeast else would be sneaking around the best ship at night. All the crew would be at the taverns, save a few guards. I pressed myself against her hull, listening carefully. If I judged the timing right, this could be over very quickly. Three, two one!

I leapt, pummeling the other with my paws as I went down on top of him. Before he could spring upright to do battle, I had my sabre at his throat. Hauling him into the light, I stared hard at the beast I held beneath me. It was Bloodspray, bleeding from the lip from where I had punched him. He snarled at me.

"Whaddaya want, ferret?"

"Never ya mind that, fox! Ya’re wanted ba the Emp’rer! S’let’s get goin’, afore ‘e decides ta give me the boot astead o’ a promotion!"

"I ain’t goin’ nowheres an’ no female like ya kin make me!"

At that moment, Bloodspray leapt out from underneath me, digging his claws into my neck and twisting painfully. I kicked out savagely with my hind legs, catching him in the midriff. He hacked out wildly with his sword, but I had him right where I wanted him. Days of starvation had taken their toll, and Bloodspray was no match for me. He went down, a dagger in one shoulder, a long slash from my sabre in the side. As I bent over him to tie him up, he spat in my face. I wiped the gritty liquid from my brow and dealt him a good whack to the back of his head with my sabre handle. Binding the unconscious fox tightly, I slung him over my shoulder and made my way back to Sampetra. I was smiling broadly as I entered the palace. I had done it. I had done what I had set out to do. My victory was almost intoxicating as I swaggered into the Emperor’s chamber and laid the unconscious Bloodspray at his footpaws. I had proven myself to the Emperor. I had bested his second. This was where the old Kaelatar was left behind and the new one born. This was a new beginning for me, a new beginning of a better life. My life.