When I think back to that day, the first thing I remember is how blue the ocean was when my brother's ship pulled across the dock. Ok, technically I was below deck at the time, but I saw the waters when I went above. There wasn't a corsair aboard who wanted me above for all to see.
Me, Draus Firefox, brother of Crimthin Firefox, ex-associate of a certain egomaniacal otter crime lord, name of Odhran, among whose many misdeeds include extortion, illegal trade of weaponry, smuggling and to get more personal: Torture, murder and rape-but nobeast mentions the third if they want to keep twenty pieces of their body.
I never was a hero; I never bothered to pretend to be. It doesn't really run in this family: I'm a tough walking scum-of-the-earth killer and merc and my bro Crim's a pirate and a coward. My sister was the closest thing to a good creature we ever had and because of me, she's dead. For something I doubt she even knew about, she's dead. She suffered, too. Those damn hares couldn't even lie to me, couldn't say her throat was cut in her sleep. No, they found her naked and torn apart practically, 'cept for her eyes. They left those intact so they could stare and stare.
It's my fault. I'd drown some sorrows in hard grog if I could, but I need a clear head for what's coming. I fled Mossflower as soon as I could, booked passage on a ship using some money I had put away.
Odhran won't get away with what he's done to me. He betrayed me, used me, strung me along and when he had no more use for me, he was ready to see me die. Well, surprise, here I am. I sent a letter to the bastard to tell him he wouldn't be able to kill me, he wouldn't even find me: I was going to kill him when I felt like it. What a joke.
Only fools and the invincible could take Odhran out in his seat of power, only a fool would openly mock the psycho about that ottermaid he'd taken a shine to…only a fool wouldn't consider the repercussions all of that could have on his own family.
Long story short, Crimthin's gang was drinking at a tavern and an old mate, a rat, name of Tulley-guess his parents were drunk- hooked me back up with my brother. I gave him the money and he gave me a place on the ship to get me down South, nearest port by Fellasia.
I walked to the top deck, drawing by the black hood of my cloak and shielding my eyes with a raised paw, seeing the sun play on sapphire waves and a smile almost touched my lips.
"Draus." Captain Crimthin's voice came from the left, his face unreadable as he walked over to me, "We're here."
"I noticed, Crim," I replied curtly, resting a paw on my saber's hilt. Pirates are a rather unpredictable lot when all's said and done, even against kin. I wasn't totally certain Crim's crew wouldn't object to losing a tasty bounty like me.
"I never saw you, Draus, you understand me? No matter how you got here, it wasn't on Crimthin Firefox's ship."
"Yeah, I got that," I nodded lightly, watching my brother. "Crim…thanks."
"Hm, I owe it to you, Draus. But remember, the second I'm back with Odhran, we're enemies. No more mercy and no more favors."
"I wouldn't expect anything less, brother," I nodded in acknowledgement, starting for the gangplank. "Crim?"
Crim looked up lightly and I met his eyes, "I'm sorry…about Keena."
Crim's eyes closed for a moment at the mention of his late fiancé, lost at sea in the failed mission that had claimed the life of Odhran's pupil Kenosh, "Yeah. Get going, Draus."
I nodded and without a backwards glance, I stepped down the gangplank, onto the docks of Fellashia, successful port city that it was, I blended right into the bustling activity on the docks.
I'll get my revenge, Odhran, even if it takes twenty years, just you wait. I'll find some work, I'll get more money and I'll hire other beasts, maybe a big army, and I'll take your Nameless Clan and I'll hack you into fishbait.
It's pleasant thoughts like those that kept me optimistic among the actual hunt for a job. Once begun, half-done, and all that crap.
----
Massive brown paws clenched, crumpling a sheet of bark paper into a ball as, with a growl, Odhran, lord of the Nameless Clan, hurled it across the room and slumped back in his throne. "He threatens me…that washed up little has-been threatens me. Incredible."
The scarred otter's mouth turned down in a frown as he stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Do we have anything?"
The ferret he addressed saluted with his spear, nodding sharply, "We got an anonymous tip, sire. Firefox booked passage on a ship headin' south. We think 'e's at Fellasia…"
"Fellasia, hm?" Odhran nodded lightly, a grin twisting the otter's fearsome features. "Well, I suppose it's only right we give Draus the same honor we gave his sister. Call Steel Rose to me."
The ferret saluted once more and exited sharply. Odhran smirked lightly, the perfect solution forming. For a season or so now, Draus had been an irritant, disrupting this and that, sending forth irritating letter after letter. Odhran had decided to have Draus's sister executed by his personal killers to teach the fox rogue some manners. Draus had only grown more foul-mouthed and bad tempered, sadly. You just couldn't reason with some beasts…
The sound of footsteps greeted Odhran soon after and the otter's gaze focused on his ferret guard, accompanied by a trio of beasts.
The older two were familiar faces, Steel Rose had served Odhran loyally for many seasons and his younger brother, Tekrin was no less loyal or skilled. The Pine Martens headed his personal group of killers: the Red Thorn.
The younger was a beast Odhran didn't recall seeing before, perhaps he was on loan from another crime lord, he remembered something like that from Crimson Tears, a prodigy, a fast learner-he'd heard it all before.
The young stoat, however, was certainly an unusual creature: His fur was ebon black and neatly groomed while his eyes were a fierce amber, betraying a ferocity beyond his years. Odhran approved.
"Steel Rose."
"Odhran," Steel Rose's informality had ceased to rankle long ago. It was not in a marten's nature to yield, or bestow titles so Odhran let it go, "You want us for another job? The Thorns are getting bored."
Steel Rose's fur was a steel gray, his eyes a hard, dark shade and his only distinguishing feature was a splotchy red birthmark on his right cheek that made his hard, homely features almost repellant. Tekrin, by contrast, had a lighter shade of gray and a more jovial cast to his face, dressed like a youthful dandy in flamboyant colors.
"Yes, Steel Rose, I want you for another job." Odhran removed a small parchment and took a pen from an aid, writing down several words: "Draus Firefox. Fallasia. Worth: 10,000 gold pieces alive. 5,000 dead," He passed it to the marten killer. "This is his price."
"Firefox…" Tekrin replied with a light smirk, "Ah, yes, the little fox made we took care of a month back?"
"The same," Odhran nodded and grinned lightly. "I want to give him the Twenty Cuts…try to make sure he's in one piece."
"If possible," Was Steel Rose's response, the three killers already turning and starting an exit from the room.
"Oh, Steel Rose…who's the young one?"
"Him?" Steel Rose gave the young stoat a small glance and the stoat turned, wearing a cocky smirk, putting his paws on his hips, revealing a curved blade at either hip. "Davrag Joris."
