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The Seas be Ours

By Dustin Breazeale

Prologue

The long hallway was lit by a row of torches. Dancing flames illuminated the normally dark path, reflecting their light off the royal red rugs. There were no paintings or murals on the walls. Instead, golden sigils were hung, each representing a Kingdom or Nation which had sworn their loyalty to the Golden King.

A young grizzly bear, just out of his teens, stood at the entrance to that long hall. His dark brown fur was well manicured, the fur on his head being short and expertly groomed. While standing with purpose, he hesitated to go on as his nose wrinkling at the strong smell of burning oil. This was not a welcoming place. Visitors were not supposed to want to journey down this path that would lead to the throne room.

As a cub, Victor Crowley had always feared that hallway. But now in his young adulthood, Victor knew in his heart that this would be the path to his freedom.

The first step was the hardest, an instant change in temperature nearly singeing his exposed fur. There were no guards on watch, no cryptic warning of punishment for anyone who wanted to enter. So with every step his worries became lighter and lighter. When he left the throne room, back down this terrible hall, Victor would be free. Or dead, which was a freedom in itself really.

Stories and threats from his siblings suddenly flooded his mind.

"If you go down too far you'll burst into flames!"

"You know why there's no guards? It's cause the whole floor is made to drop out from under you into boiling gold!"

"The Iron Prince walked down that hall. We all know what happened to him."

The truth was that none of that was true. It had all been childish fears and teasing.

As Victor reached the end of that intimidating hallway, the hints of a smirk began to grace his lips. He had done it. He had made that walk unbidden for the first time!

Cool air washed over his fur to the point of being chilly as Victor pushed open the heavy ornate doors.

What lay before him was a throne room not as ostentatious as one would expect from someone called the Golden King. Nor was it a dark and intimidating chamber that would strike fear into even the most bold. The best Victor had ever been able to describe the throne room was just, ordinary.

Large windows had been carved into the stone walls, allowing natural light to fill the room. Off to the left was several fire pits. Their contents merely burning embers, meant to fill the room with the sweet scent of different spices. A basin of water was to his immediate right. Victor knew this was for those who desired to freshen up a bit, the walk down that hall was known for leaving its victims a bit sweaty. He declined to use it.

With a level head he approached a short stone staircase, though he did not dare ascend them. Instead Victor looked at the two thrones that rested at the top.

The first throne was the only lavish thing to be seen. It's legs and armrests were obviously solid gold, the vibrant purple fabric lining the seating and back making the gaudy thing look comfortable. Stones of many variety were embedded across the throne's crown. One of its most noticeable features was the end of the arms, sculpted to be the head of bears. With mouths open in a growl and rubies embedded in their eyes, it was a throne that spoke of royalty.

To its immediate left was another throne. Tall back, sturdy legs and large armrests. No stones adorned it to signify wealth. No itching had been carved into it to declare it unique. It was made from some dirty yellow stone that Victor knew not the name of. Simply put, it was ugly and looked very uncomfortable to sit on.

It was on the ugly throne that the Golden King sat.

At the mere sight of him, much of Victor's nerves began to fail him. The Golden King was a large grizzly, easily twice Victor's size. His fur was light, shimmering in a yellowish tint which could explain his title. He was clad in armor, as if always on guard for an attack. As expected, the eyes of the Golden King were closed in meditation.

Victor held no love or respect for this bear, but he did fear him. It was that fear in this moment that made Victor feel like a cub again and he hated himself for it. So he took all of his fear and forced it to fuel his resolve.

"Father!" He spoke loud and with intent, his voice nearly echoing in the room.

The eyes of Marcus Crowley opened. Yellow orbs of disdain locking on with Victor's own blue eyes of defiance. Every survival instinct in Victor told him to drop to a knee, to bow his head in a show respect. But he would never again bow before this ursa.

This single act in not showing respect seemed to amuse Marcus. His lips curling into a smile of venom and interest.

"Victor," the King spoke with a deep, nearly vibrating voice. "No pleasantries to hide the dagger behind your back?"

Not wanting to give his father ideas, Victor quickly held out his paws. "I'm unarmed. This has nothing to do with the family game. In fact, I've come to make a deal."

Victor could see it for just the hint of a second, there was surprise in the old bear's eyes.

"A deal? Well then! If this is business, then let us conduct it properly!" There actually seemed to be merriment now in Marcus' booming voice. It was something Victor never heard unless his father was ready to deliver a crippling verbal blow to an opponent.

Rising from the simple throne, Marcus moved to the more lavish one. There was no clear reason on why the King had this tradition or habit. Victor had his theories of course, but they were all bred from the same gossip his brothers and sisters told about the hallway.

"Rein!" Marcus called out, clapping his paws together in summons.

At hearing the name, Victor felt his fur go on end, his back going slightly rigid. He had been prepared for this verbal joust with the Golden King. But with Rein...

"Is that necessary?" Victor challenged on instinct, knowing such a foolish mistake would cost him ground.

Marcus looked to his son as if he were mad. "Absolutely! You know Rein is my most trusted adviser, scribe, sorcerer, torturer." Victor had to hold back a growl as the Golden King chuckled with amusement. "And if you are serious about doing business, it will need to be involved."

Victor realized he should have seen this coming and tried to get his plan back in order. Rein could undermine this whole thing if he was not careful.

Taking a deep breath, Crowley put on his best smile. "You're right, I was foolish to forget. Forgive me Sire."

Marcus nodded that he would. This time at least.

An odd humming began to fill the room. Victor's ears twitched as he recognized the tune. How could he ever forget it? It was the haunting melody that had terrorized not only him, but his siblings and all the staff for as long as anyone could remember.

From a hidden door behind some tapestries on the wall, 'it' appeared. The thing, for no one actually knew what Rein was, wore a black hooded robe that covered its entire frame. It always reminded Victor of something monks were said to wear.

Rein's walk appeared to be painful, seeming to take great effort and concentration. Long, needle like fingers hung out from the robe's sleeves, belonging to some species Victor had never seen. The thing that was Rein ascended the steps with difficulty, finally coming to a stop next to the Golden King and his throne.

"You summoned me Marcus?" To Victor's knowledge, this creature was the only thing to have ever called his father by name and lived.

Rein's voice was hollow, keeping a child like quality. It sounding neither male nor female, or perhaps it was actually both at once. You couldn't be sure of anything with Rein.

"Obviously," the King spoke with a dry tone. "I am in need of your advisement and to stand as witness."

Steadying his nerves to be as steel, Victor prepared himself as Rein 'looked' right at him.

The King's advisor did not have a face in the traditional since. An emerald mask was worn by the thing, the mouth opened in an unnaturally large smile. There was nothing in the mouth, simply the illusion of an endless black abyss. The mask's eyes could not be seen. Ether by choice or from strange orders by the King, a yellow blindfold had been placed over the mask of Rein's 'eyes'.

The final ornate touch to the ghastly 'face' were small rubies. They were embedded in a pattern starting from the blindfold and running down the cheeks of the mask. It didn't take an artist to see it created the strange image that Rein was crying.

"Aw, little Vicky Victor come to claim the throne?" Rein sang out like it was a nursery rhyme, it's head tilting to the side in study. "Little Vicky Victor, are you still afraid to be alone?"

Victor may have been afraid of his father, but he was no longer afraid of this vile creature! His reasons for coming here forgotten, Victor bared his adult, deadly grizzly teeth and began to growl at Rein.

"One more sing song comment from you fiend and I'll tear every fragal limb from..."

"Enough!!!" Marcus' roar sent the room into silence.

Clenching his fist, Victor fought to regain composure. Every violent desire that stirred within him he gathered up and forced down.

'This is a game,' he had to remind himself. 'Words, cunning, manipulation. If I turn violent, they win.'

"There will be no antagonizing from either of you! Do I make myself clear!"

It had been some time since Victor had actually heard the Golden King raise his voice. The experience had not lost any of it's bone chilling effects. Still, he would give no apology for the outburst, nor attempt some pointless defence.

"As clear as my conscience," there was no hint of regret in its voice as Rein gave a dramatic bow to the King.

While he wasn't sure, Victor deeply hoped Rein was crippled under that robe and that bowing as it did severely hurt.

"This is not a matter of the family game I've been told." Marcus' voice took the conversation back on topic, though irritation was more evident in his tone now. "How did you put it Victor? You've come to make a deal? Seeing as it is you wasting our time, let us hear it."

Standing straight and proud, leveling his gaze to meet directly with Marcus, Victor began to lay out his deal.

"I want the Aureum. You have no need for it and from what I have learned you are not allowed to leave land anyway."

It was a bold statement to make. Victor wasn't even certain if the information he had uncovered was accurate. Though judging by the way his father was trying to hide gritting his teeth, Victor guessed it held truth.

Rein spoke next, the Golden King unable or simply not caring to answer.

"That ship is worth more than your life boy," Rein raised a needle finger to point right at Victor upon the word 'boy'. "Furthermore a demand is not a deal. What could you possible offer in return?"

He really should have expected Rein to lead the negotiations. In the few times Victor had seen business take place in the throne room, it was Rein who always did the talking. The Golden King rarely spoke.

No, there would be no nepotism found here.

"Simple. I will completely remove myself from the game."

If Rein could laugh, it would no doubt be doubling over by now. "If it is suicide you want than I have a place in my lab for you. Always been curious what could be done with your eyes and I'm in need of fresh lungs. I understand you are not a smoker correct?"

Marcus held up a paw, saving Victor from having to bite his tongue. "Explain."

Taking a breath to gather his nerves, Victor continued. "In exchange for the Aureum, I will forfeit and willingly renounce my birth right in all of its forms. I will have no voice among the political houses and my authority on castle grounds removed. Any and all stances of equality amongst my siblings shall not be honored. For the Aureum, I am an unwelcome stranger in the eyes of this throne, this castle and this city. Those are my terms."

Had Victor been expecting a shocked reaction, he would be disappointed. The Golden King's eyes betrayed nothing. His cold gaze merely watching Victor in silence as he more than likely searched for signs of betrayal in the offer.

"Your offer is not even worth the Aureum's lifeboat," Rein challenged. It's voice had taken on the tone like one tired of explaining things to a ranting child. Naturally it was a ploy to strategically get an outburst from Victor. But he was done taking Rein's bait.

"You would be wrong." A true smirk that Victor did not bother to hide became evident on his face. "While I may not have been to any house meetings in, let's be honest, never, I do have other allies. The people of this city for example. Not your high class or patriotic guards and army. I am talking about the lower folk. Those that cook your meals, make your bed, lower still the beggar and homeless. They are all around you, going unnoticed, unhindered, uncared for."

Perhaps adding a mock tone of sympathy to his last bit had been over the top. But this battle was as much about showmanship as it was facts and subterfuge.

Victor went on, "Those people actually like me, I'm nice to them. Which means the right word here and there, a little gossip thrown about, you know what that gets? It gets an uprising."

Before Rein could retort this threat, Victor held up a paw to silence it. And by all the wealth his father had, he truly hoped that whatever face laid behind its mask was stunned at his audacity.

"I am well aware the uprising would fail. You have more men, actual weapons and training. Many would be put to death including myself. However that would take a lot of time and effort, not much but enough to be a bother. Worst would be the idea put in my siblings' minds. Maybe they get bold, try and see how they could carry out my failed plans better? Or something simple as just how to improve on their schemes currently in motion. So I ask, is my deal really so bad? One ship, a ship you do not and cannot use, or keep me around to stir up enough trouble to cause you a minor headache."

Speaking with such bold authority was nothing new for Victor. He had been doing it for years on the streets and in taverns. But it was the first time he used his sharp tongue in the presence of Marcus or Rein. It was the first time they ever saw him as a threat in the game.

No one spoke for what felt like several minutes. Victor would not lose his footing by adding anything unnecessary now. He knew Marcus must be gauging the situation, having to reevaluate his entire view on what he thought was a passive offspring. Rein...well, Victor didn't much care to speculate what that thing was thinking.

As the moment went on, Victor began to worry he had overplayed his paw. He would not show the worry on his face though, treating this moment casually as if waiting to be served an ale.

"Seems you've thought of everything," the King finally commented, perhaps even with the faintest illusion to pride.

Victor offered just the slightest nod of his head. "You taught me well."

"Perhaps too well."

Something in the King's tone alerted Victor of danger. Had he oversold the trouble he could cause? Victor wanted to seem as a liability if kept around, not a danger needing to be eliminated.

"If I may interject," Rein's unnatural voice chimed in. "For all your words of forfeiting your birthright, they are just that, words. What is to stop you from taking the ship, gathering a capable army of your own and returning to conquer?"

"Besides the fact that I have no interest in the throne?!" Victor's voice sounding more defensive than he had wanted. That was fine, let them see his genuine disdain for his bloodline.

"How likely an outcome is that path?" Marcus asked, concerned more with Rein's accusation than Victor's defence.

Rein raised an arm, one needle finger tapping on its masked chin. "Out of all the many paths he will and may walk, returning in such a manner is highly unlikely. No, his journey is one that will take him far from here." A cold laugh came from the thing, a frightening sound Victor had never heard before. "And I see much blood, tears and betrayal on nearly every path. Aw Marcus, how you have greatly underestimated this one."

Whatever the words meant, Victor put them out of mind. He did not believe in prophecies and he certainly didn't believe in the mad ramblings of Rein.

"Very well," The Golden King announced, a hint of somber in his tone. "Victor Crowley, from this day forward The Aureum is yours. In exchange you are exiled not just from this castle but from Avarice City and all the aligned eastern kingdoms and nations within Avarice itself."

Victor's ear twitched with a touch of alarm. That was a harsher stipulation than he had been gambling for. And Marcus wasn't done yet.

"Your name, word and blood hold no authority or right from this day forward. Take your ship and if you ever set foot on any of my land again I will know. If you dare defy me on these terms Victor, game or not, I will kill you myself." There was no malice in the King's voice, just cold facts.

It was only a heartbeats hesitation for Victor, the realization that he was getting what he wanted sinking in. "I accept these terms. Though I do request two days to make preparations before setting sail. I would hate to be in violation of the exile before I'm even ready to leave."

"You have until sundown."

In all actuality it wasn't enough time, but Victor could make it work. The hardest part of his plan was already done.

"And I bare witness to the agreement." Rein added with far more interest than Victor was comfortable with.

As simple as that, it was over. Victor was free from the family game and all the twisted politics it involved. He really thought he'd feel more relieved.

"Well, I should hurry then." He waited for Marcus to raise a paw in dismissal. No parting words were given as Victor turned his back on his birth right and proceeded to once again walk through the now less intimidating hallway.

Free.

The concept began to take shape in Victor's mind, nurturing the idea as if it could easily be lost. Now was not the time for celebration, that would come later.

'Time to gather my crew,' he thought with no desire to look back.