User blog:Shieldmaiden/Alanna of Southsward

Prologue
''I was shivering in the hold, not with cold, with fear and rage. Above me, I could here the sound of battle raging about me. Every time I heard a thump that signified somebeast dead, my heart would stop and then I would hear his voice again, calling his bold battle yell. Why wouldn't he let me fight? WHY?''

''The door bangs open and a rat comes down with a cutlass in his paw. I grab a stave and go to attack him. He throws his cutlass to the deck and kicks it away, putting his paws in the air. Confused, I stop. "They know you're down here," the rat whispered, "They're going to kill you."''

''"What do you care?" I spat.

''"Do you think I like killing things? What's the point?" His haunted eyes said the rest.

''I was suspicious. A good vermin? I'd heard of it before, but only in legend. My father always said, "Never trust vermin, Jon. They want nothin' but gold an' slaves." Something was different about this one, though. I nodded. "OK, then what do you want to do?" I asked.

''"Can you snap my cutlass?" he asked.

''"No. My father could, but I'm not my father."

''He grabbed a bottle of red liquid I recognised as Blood Pepper. The pulp of the blood pepper was red as its namesake, and smelled like it too. But it was the hottest pepper in existance- hotter than Firebrand peppers. He smeared it all over his blade and then handed me the bottle. "Splash it on yourself. Chest region." I did.

''"Now lie down- yes, like that." The door creaked open and I froze. A searat chuckle. "So ye got 'im, Blackie!"

''The rat who helped me-Blackie?- laughed. "Aye. Stupid young 'un."

''The first rat left. Blackie knelt by me. "Stay here an' lie still. If'n the searats find out you're still alive, you're dead."

''"Why'd you help me?" I whispered.

''He shrugged. "I said it before- I hate this killing." He picked up his cutlass and turned to go. Then he spun back and hit me on the head with the pommel of his cutlass.

''All went black.