Samuje swam through the castle in a purposeful manner during the night, barely acknowledging the guards that said \u201chello\u201d to her. She made her way to the Caldora family\u2019s private communications console, reserved for contacting Realmfleet. She keyed in a command to open a communications channel. \u201cThis is Princess Samuje Caldora, requesting to speak with Admiral Sanfar,\u201d she began. \u201cAdmiral, are you receiving?\u201d An elderly Merman then appeared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour Highness?\u201d he quizzed. \u201cWhat are you doing calling me? Is there a problem?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI need to have my Captaincy reinstated,\u201d answered Samuje.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat for?\u201d asked Sanfar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…I need to fix the mistake of the Gamfinar Jungle,\u201d explained Samuje.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c…Revenge,\u201d scoffed Sanfar. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, but no. I won\u2019t have your Captaincy restored because you feel the need to avenge your crew. I won\u2019t have you make the same mistake as me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMistake?!\u201d argued Samuje.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, mistake!\u201d snapped Sanfar. \u201cRevenge is NEVER the answer! You\u2019re not commanding a skyship until a Psychiatrist has deemed you mentally fit enough! End of discussion!\u201d The call then ended. Samuje sighed as her shoulders sagged. She turned to swim out and yelped in surprise as a Merman was floating by the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour Highness,\u201d greeted the Merman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEndrek!\u201d gulped Samuje. \u201cWhat are you doing, floating around here?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat am I<\/em> doing?\u201d asked Endrek, Captain of the Royal Guard. \u201cI think the question is what are YOU doing?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…I, uh, I…thought I…heard a burglar,\u201d lied Samuje.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf course,\u201d remarked Endrek. \u201cAnd you thought the best way to scare them off was to call Realmfleet about getting you back in the Captain\u2019s Chair.\u201d Samuje gave up her attempts to lie.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have to defend my people,\u201d she insisted, \u201cand the best way to do that…!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYour Highness, put yourself in my place,\u201d interrupted Endrek, \u201cand look at this from a sensible position.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am!\u201d hissed Samuje.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCrashing into walls like this is NOT sensible,\u201d remarked Endrek. \u201cYou have a burning desire to help, that IS a strength, but it can be used as a weakness, especially where your mental health is concerned. You can\u2019t just live for other people with disregard to yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMy personal feelings are unimportant!\u201d insisted Samuje. \u201cI have to get back into the Captain\u2019s Chair!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor your own good, take my advice,\u201d urged Endrek. \u201cListen to someone whose head isn\u2019t always above the water\u2019s surface. Forget Realmfleet for a while!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…No!\u201d declared Samuje. \u201cThis is a matter of principle with me! I\u2019m going back in the air!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019ll crash and burn if you try it right now,\u201d muttered Endrek. \u201cCrash and burn. Good night.\u201d He turned to swim off before he remembered something. \u201cAnd try to keep the noise down. Some people around here are trying to sleep!\u201d He finally left and Samuje rolled her eyes before swimming back to bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the Endeavor<\/em>, Shalvey was asleep at her workstation. When Thangred came in, he sighed as he saw Shalvey with her head on her desk. He retrieved a blanket and placed it on her when he noticed what was on the screen. A notification was flashing on the screen. As Thangred read it, he nudged Shalvey. \u201cHey! Shalvey!\u201d he whispered. \u201cShalvey, wake up!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMm, whu?\u201d mumbled Shalvey as she woke up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLook!\u201d urged Thangred as he pointed the computer. Shalvey blinked as her vision was returning to focus. When they finally cleared, her eyes became wider! She rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn\u2019t seeing things and the notification remained the same! It read \u201cAudio\/visual sort complete. Audio\/visual threading complete. Audio\/visual file decoded.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYES!\u201d cheered Shalvey as she thrust her fists into the air. \u201cLet\u2019s see it!\u201d She typed in a command and the video played to reveal what was going on. As they watched, their happy faces turned to ones of angry disbelief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t believe it!\u201d growled Thangred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMr. Iggir\u2019s in on this gag too?!\u201d hissed Shalvey. She activated the intercom. \u201cShalvey to Arsha.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGo ahead, Commander,\u201d replied Arsha\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCaptain, could you and Chief Inspector Tanshwar meet me and Thangred in the Conference Room?\u201d requested Shalvey. \u201cI just finished with the two files.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Arsha and Tanshwar were opposite Shalvey and Thangred as Shalvey prepared her presentation on her findings. \u201cLike the police,\u201d she began, \u201cI had believed the files to be audio files, but I was turning up nothing when I was running strictly audio sorts. After I had to take a mental break, I was hit by inspiration. What if one of the files WASN\u2019T an audio file? I then ran audio\/visual sorts and my theory was proven right after the second try.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, they\u2019re just two halves of a video file?\u201d asked Tanshwar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExactly,\u201d confirmed Shalvey. \u201cAs Thangred and I watched the video, we learned what was going on with the kidnappings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou mean you have a culprit?!\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd a motive,\u201d answered Shalvey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet\u2019s see it!\u201d urged Tanshwar. Shalvey pressed play on the video. It opened with a bunch of Merfolk hanging around a warehouse. \u201cHey, those are the kidnapped people!\u201d revealed Tanshwar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey look pretty calm for being kidnapped,\u201d observed Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re right,\u201d mused Tanshwar. \u201cI know a few of them should be hyperventilating by now. Why…wait, someone\u2019s opening the warehouse door.\u201d The person wore a cowl to disguise their features as they swam in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere we are,\u201d chuckled the person as they removed the obscuring cowl, revealing HIS face. \u201cThe city\u2019s in a tizzy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMr. Iggir?!\u201d yelped Tanshwar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMr. Iggir,\u201d called a Mermaid, \u201cjust so we\u2019re clear, this is all to get rid of Tanshwar?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExactly,\u201d replied Mr. Iggir. \u201cI tell you, the man\u2019s just ridiculous!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou ain\u2019t wrong,\u201d remarked another Mermaid. \u201cHe\u2019s been hounding me over \u2018improper usage of medical tools\u2019 and some stupid thing over a medical license! So, what, because I don\u2019t have some fancy card, I can\u2019t put my degree to practice?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEr, that\u2019s the general idea!\u201d commented Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, once he\u2019s forced to resign,\u201d replied Mr. Iggir, \u201cI\u2019ll take over and we\u2019ll all go to town! Business will finally boom again!\u201d The video ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWho\u2019s gonna resign?!\u201d growled Tanshwar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLast time I checked,\u201d recalled Thangred, \u201cthe Kurontar Sea Merfolk Kingdom wasn\u2019t the safest place in the Realms until you took over as Chief of Police a thousand years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cExactly!\u201d confirmed Tanshwar. \u201cI managed to keep criminal activity down so far and I won\u2019t stop now!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt sounds like Mr. Iggir really profited from those lawless days,\u201d remarked Shalvey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYeah, well, he\u2019s gonna REALLY be bankrupt once I tell the Royal Family about this!\u201d declared Tanshwar. \u201cIf you\u2019ll excuse me, I need to make a report to the Royal Family. May I have that video?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOf course,\u201d replied Shalvey as she handed him the data crystal the video was transferred to. He departed the conference room in a water chair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCommander Shalvey, I\u2019m impressed,\u201d praised Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was a tough assignment, I will flat out admit,\u201d sighed Shalvey. \u201cI almost killed myself. Thangred had to step in to stop me from spinning my wheels uselessly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou tend to go at assignments without a break,\u201d remarked Thangred.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019d prefer not to lose one of my officers like that,\u201d advised Arsha. \u201cPlease take sufficient mental breaks next time, all right?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAye, Captain,\u201d confirmed Shalvey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Caldoras were having lunch together. Samuje was just poking her food with her fork. King Jentay noticed this and decided to speak. \u201cSamuje,\u201d he began, \u201cI trust you\u2019re not on a starvation diet?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, Daddy, I\u2019m not,\u201d sighed Samuje. \u201cI\u2019m just not feeling hungry right now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know you want to go back to Realmfleet,\u201d continued Jentay, \u201cbut you served honorably. There\u2019s no shame in leaving now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWith no corruption in this kingdom?\u201d muttered Samuje. \u201cI can\u2019t stay in good conscience while our allies need our help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat might prove to be a spurious claim, if the report I got before lunch is any indication,\u201d countered Jentay. Samuje then looked at her father.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, this is something for the whole family to hear,\u201d remarked Jentay. \u201cMight as well tell everyone now.\u201d He cleared his throat and everyone gave him their attention. \u201cMy dears, I received a frightening report before we sat down for lunch,\u201d he began. \u201cMr. Iggir\u2019s the one responsible for the kidnappings.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWHAT?!\u201d everyone yelped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat for?!\u201d demanded Samuje.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAccording to Chief Inspector Tanshwar,\u201d explained Jentay, \u201cthe Endeavor<\/em> found evidence that Mr. Iggir and his \u2018victims\u2019 staged this whole thing so everyone would return to a view of looking out for number one. They determined it to be the most profitable outlook on life.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou mean this whole thing was a cash grab for them?!\u201d snapped Marianes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, I hope Mr. Iggir gets what\u2019s coming to him!\u201d hissed Jalmurna. Samuje remained quiet as the family talked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…Corruption at home?\u201d she thought to herself. \u201cI can\u2019t go back to Realmfleet on that note. …I guess I better stay here for a while longer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe need to meet Tanshwar and Mr. Iggir once the idiots that were in on this are located,\u201d declared Queen Lammeera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAgreed,\u201d rumbled King Jortol. \u201cI won\u2019t have this in our kingdom!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe question then becomes,\u201d mused King Kwinmar, \u201cwho else is part of this demented gag?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI hope it ain\u2019t Dr. Borg,\u201d shuddered Murbira.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis seems a little too petty for Dr. Borg\u2019s schemes,\u201d replied Samuje.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, we need to make sure,\u201d declared Jentay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll work with the City Guard to prevent further incidents like this,\u201d offered Samuje.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…I thought Realmfleet Captains can\u2019t join the City Guard,\u201d remarked Marianes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m switching priorities,\u201d replied Samuje. \u201cI\u2019m going to resign from Realmfleet. I don\u2019t know, maybe I\u2019m wussing out…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSamuje Caldora,\u201d declared King Vorko, \u201cgiving up that kind of power willingly, especially after what you went through, is the hardest thing anyone can do. What you\u2019re doing isn\u2019t a sign of weakness, but of strength and I could not be more proud of you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHear, hear!\u201d called Marianes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHear, hear!\u201d repeated the entire family. Samuje sighed happily as a great weight was lifted from her shoulders. She finally ate, her appetite returning.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Samuje swam through the castle in a purposeful manner during the night, barely acknowledging the guards that said \u201chello\u201d to her. She made her way to the Caldora family\u2019s private communications console, reserved for contacting Realmfleet. She keyed in a command to open a communications channel. \u201cThis is Princess Samuje Caldora, requesting to speak with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1513,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,236],"tags":[482],"class_list":["post-2853","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-three-realms","category-the-three-realms-book-3-the-first-strike","tag-fantasy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2853","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2853"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2853\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2855,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2853\/revisions\/2855"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1513"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2853"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2853"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2853"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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