Book 1: Return of the Warrior
Chapter I
Lightning flashed as thunder ripped through the sky and mingled with the sounds of steel against steel. The Waterlily strugged against the stormy waves, holding her position as best she could. The Eastern Sea was alight with the fires of ships, and the air smelled of salt water and blood, a scent Keyla the Otter knew only once before, "This storm is not good, we're already struggling to maintain our position, where are those knights?"
"Just keep her steady, lad!" Starwort, an older otter and captain of the Waterlily ordered Keyla, "We'll be out of this yet, don't you fret none!"
Across the battling ships two mice leap from ship to ship, racing across the splintering and smoldering timbers of the raging storm. Vermin quickly boarded a ship to block their path and the two mice locked blades with the searats alongside fellow sailors.
"I still don't understand why we can't stand and fight Kieran! Stop the Empire here before they even reach the Eastern Coast!" one of the mice said, his shield crushing the skull of a weasel who fought him.
"We don't stand a chance Marcus! The fleet can cover our retreat but the King and all Tanaria must be warned if we hope to survive!" Kieran responded, his blade biting into the neck of the rat before him, "Come on! We're nearly to the Waterlily!"
Marcus pulls his sword from a fox, kicking the corpse over the ships railing and following after Kieran. Two more ships the crossed before reaching the Waterlily, "Ahoy Captain Starwort! Permission to board?"
"Get yer arse up here Sir Marcus, you don't need bloody permission to board my ship right now!" Starwort called back. Kieran was the first to leap to the ship, grasping Keyla's arm the young otter hoisted the mouse knight on deck. Before he had a chance to get aboard, Marcus was knocked to his back as another ship crashed into the one he was aboard. Vermin boarded and began fighting the Tanarian sailors, Marcus rose to is feet and saw a sight all too familiar, the large rat Baron of the Empire, Redclaw, the Scourge of Kingdoms as he was known.
"Get going! I handle Redclaw, get back to the capital!" Marcus called before charging at the Baron and locking sword to shield.
Starwort briefly watched the duel before turning to his crew, "Well? You heard Sir Marcus, let's get out of here! Oarbeasts, row like your lives depend on it! They damn well do!" Keyla grasped the helm and steered the Waterlily away from the battle and further into the storm.
Marcus watched the Waterlily retreat from the battle, then once again locked combat with Redclaw, "Your Empire won't catch Tanaria off guard again, Baron," Marcus growled at the large rat.
Redclaw cleared the blade lock, thrusting his sword through Marcus' neck, "If a prolonged war is what your king wants, so be it," sliding his sword free, Marcus' corpse fell to the deck, "Clear out the rest of these pests and make for the coast! The Empire will take Tanaria!."
The storm died down as ships found themselves swallowed by the ocean depths, stood on the deck of his flagship, watching the horizon. A ferret marched to him and bowed deeply, "My lord, the remaining Tanarian ships have surrendered. They are requesting mercy."
"Are they? Tell me Captain, what would you do to slaves who would fight back?" Redclaw cryptically inquired.
"Sh-show of force, my lord. Make them understand they are slaves now."
"Wrong, Captain. These creatures are fighters plain and simple, and will fight as slaves regardless of what we do. We have no need for them now, kill them all."
"As you wish, my lord," the ferret began to leave but was soon halted by Redclaw's voice.
"Captain, send a ship back to the Empire to report on our progress, I'm sure the Emperor would be pleased."
"I will do so my lord," the ferret left to carry out the orders of the Baron. Redclaw once again turned his attention to the horizon and the coast in the distance. The Empire had come, Redclaw had come, Tanaria was to be destroyed once and for all, every city, every village was to burn.