User:Andrea Swifteye/Beta For Shieldmaiden

Post the Betas here Shieldmaiden.

"Land ho!"

Redeye stood at the prow of his ship and took in the Northern Coast at a glance. He recognised the horde of ships drawn up on the shallows- or, more accuratly, the ship that led them. The Red Tide, ruled by his old Cap'n, Zounzdican the Evil. Oh yes, he knew of her- indeed, she had once had him as her first mate. Memories he did not look back on with fondness. He would have murdered her if he had been able to pull it off- but she trusted no one.

Maybe things worked out better this way. Captain of the best ship ever to sail the Nine Seas, a loyal crew, a full slave hold- what more could he want?

The memory buried deep in his mind stirred . . .

The battle raged. I was only a young fox then, just into adulthood. The plundering and killing around me was glorius! The deck was littered with woodlander bodies, cut down in the prime of life. I could kill all day . . .

"Redeye, he's coming!" snapped my Cap'n, Zounzdican, "Get into position!" I ducked behind the mast and watched, fascinated, as burly young otter with twin curved blades hurled himself out of the cabin belowdecks, wailing like a banshee. My Cap'n and the one she'd temporarily allied herself with, Vilu Daskar, engaged him in combat as planned.

I waited until the time was right, then I struck! The otter fell to the deck, blood foaming like a waterfall from the wound. The three of us looked at him and laughed.

"So much for the mighty Galedeep!" I laughed.

We turned to rejoin the battle when I felt something crush my leg with furious strength. I fell to deck, gasping, and looked on the face of my assaulter-

"Cap'n! Cap'n!"

His bosun's voice brought him out of his reminicing stupor. "What is it!" he snapped angrily.

"Orders, Cap'n."

Redeye smiled broadly.