Shifting Tides

   Admiral Valoix's icy façade remained unchanged as he slowly crumpled the message in his fist.

   "Am I to understand that we allowed our stranglehold on Castille to be completely shattered?"

   "Oui, monsieur." The courier swallowed. "Orduño came from the far edge of La Boca -"

   "I can read you simpleton." His quiet words hid poison. "What I want to know is how our vaunted 'General' permitted l'Empereur's enemies to grow so strong."

   "With all due respect monsieur," said the messenger, pointedly avoiding Valoix's gaze, "The General wasn't contracted to hunt Orduño. He was contracted to hunt pirates."

   "And the mercenary scum always fulfils his contracts," Valoix muttered.

   "He's chased the Brotherhood of the Coast away from our shores. It's only a matter of time before he engages the Hanged Man herself."

   Valoix's teeth ground quietly.

   "Very well," he sighed. "Orduño has shattered our blockade. He has a new fleet, one that he fancies can cross swords with ours. And the man in charge of the Montaigne navy has seen fit to chase some petty 'Brotherhood' rather than defend the crown. It appears as if Montaigne's true enemies must be vanquished by a true Montaigne."

   He turned to the entrance of his cabin, where a lieutenant stood stiffly at attention.

   "Draw the fleet back to San Augustin. I won't waste any more ships trying to repair a broken blockade." The lieutenant saluted and vanished out the door. The courier remained.

   "And what of the Vesten barbarians moving against our northern holdings?" he asked

   Valoix sniffed at the comment. Only a Porté mage could show such cheek.

   "Yngvild Olafsdottir is a Vendel concern, not ours. The Vesten have neither the numbers or the inclination to challenge us. All Olafsdottir wants is revenge. If she sinks too many ships, l'Empereur will simply petition the Guild for redress. Besides," he continued, "knowing the Vendel, they've got some suitably nasty trick to get rid of her."

   "But won't the Vesten cut off our trade routes to -"

   "Enough," Valoix allowed a hint of menace to creep into his voice. "Pirates are the General's concern, not mine. If Olafsdottir is truly a menace, we can send him after her... if l'Empereur still thinks him capable, that is."

   "Oui, monsieur." The messenger was wise enough to agree.

   A low rumble shuddered through la Impitoyable Chienne, followed by the unmistakable smell of cannonshot. Valoix remained unmoving as the ship lurched to one side. His wine glass shattered on the floor.

   "The Castillians! The Castillians are attacking!" arose the cry from every corner of the ship. Valoix sighed and stood up.

   "Get the General back here immediately," he admonished the courier. "Tell him to rendezvous at San Augustin where we can discuss his situation further. Time is of the essence. If he does hurry, Orduño will cut off any friendly ports. Go. Now."

   "Oui, monsieur." The messenger stepped back and closed his eyes. The wet tearing sound of reality sundering accompanied his as he pulled the Porté portal into being. Valoix turned away; a gentleman didn't need to see such things.

   "Damnation," he whispered as the portal disappeared. "How did Orduño get so strong?"