To be on Top (Ashira)

[Substitute Author]

Ashira stared down at the crumpled body of the vole, as he breathed raggedly from his exertions against her, the cutlass she had given him lay limply in his paw and she could see his body tremble with emotion.  She smiled gently and thought, Mariana, he is so like you.  He thinks himself so important as you once did, but I saw to that, didn?t I, dear?  Yes?

            ?Brushtail, get in here!?

            Ashira?s eyes were cold, but the evil smile on her face was far more evident.  The squirrelmaid entered with practiced bearing and grace, much like a princess walking into court at her father?s command.  Her face was stolid, but Ashira was already adept at seeing the fires burning within the feisty ones.

            ?I have news I thought you might be interested in, dear one,? Ashira said, picking up a piece of limp parchment and waving it in front of the squirrel?s face.

            She remained silent, but Ashira could see her eyes fixed on the parchment.  It had been like this for six seasons, ever since Ashira?s father had bought her and her mother into the household.

            In the beginning she had treated Mariana as nothing more than a toy for her amusement. The mother had objected, going so far as to launch forward and grab darling Ashira?s ear to reprimand the kit only to be beaten back by snarls, hissing, and whippings that left her bloodied and bruised.  Not long after that she had been sold elsewhere, split from her daughter, and Ashira continued to do as she pleased.  ?Brushtail, yer fat, fish-eyed mother is ne?er comin? back,? she had crowed gleefully.

            Mariana?s eyes were wide like most squirrels in that stage of her life, and though she imitated her mother?s strength Ashira saw her fear.  The first time she had sensed it, she felt a shiver run down her spine and she bared her teeth in a satisfied snarl.  That feeling, it was so wonderful.  Power.  Ashira held power over another by the time she was nine seasons old and the first lesson she learned was never to use her name: it would allow her to retain self.  So for six, long seasons Ashira had used every manner of insult she could dream.  Even through the entire barrage of beatings, insults, and verbal abuse, Mariana had continued to carry herself in the same way her mother had, always proud, never one to let herself fall in the face of her master?or especially her mistress.

            Ashira?s pleasure had only grown the more Mariana resisted, until it was sheer, gleeful determination that pushed the ferret to break the squirrel?s spirit. And now she was sure she had the means to finish this game.  Ashira looked down at the parchment and read the same lines over again:

            Master Hadan:

            The squirrel that you sold to us six seasons past has now unfortunately departed.  You guaranteed ten seasons of durability from this body and we must therefore command the return of our trading price: 500 piece.

                                                                                    Faxon Garridon                                                                                                                                               Head Servant of Emperor Malachite

            Then she hung it out to the squirrel waiting for her to take it and said, ?Here you are. Try not to take it too hard.  I will not abide your filthy tears to stain this rug,? the ferret said.  When the squirrel gingerly took it, Ashira immediately turned her back on her to look out the window, but she did not notice the way the sun fell on her father?s beautiful estate, or the servant gardener working diligently to pull out the weeds.  All of her concentration was focused towards the squirrel behind her.

            At first it was so subtle she might not have heard it.  But there it was again: a hitch in the squirrel?s breathing.  Sobs that threatened to spill over attempted to be held back, but as Ashira waited she could feel the squirrel losing her battle.

            ?You have lost, little fish-eye.  You can no longer expect your mother to come rescue you.  I have won.?  Ashira grinned so widely it might have been mistaken for cheerfulness, but her eyes glinted with a malicious light.

            It was still another minute before the squirrel?s mournful moan of defeat left her lips and appeared to cause the house to shudder from its energy.  Ashira turned around to see Mariana crumpled to the floor, her eyes resting on her arm but the ferret snarled and kicked her head back.  ?I said I would not have you stain this carpet, filth!? But the squirrel did not seem to hear her as she curled up into a ball and continued to sob helplessly.

            Mariana had killed herself two months later, but she was by far the longest creature to live under Ashira.  Since then the ferret had honed her skills at slave breaking, and usually managed it within a matter of months.  Quick enough so the retched beast could no longer wallow in their own sorrow or nurse revenge, but serve their rightful Master?s?and Mistress??obediently.

            I shall break you, little vole.  You have at best a month before your spirit will be in my paws, Ashira thought, having long started walking back across the grounds.  I suppose Silus is at breakfast. I wonder if he has talked to that coward Jonas since last night.  She grounded her teeth just thinking of the pine marten completely disregarding the situation and her lost profits because of this venture, and yet he was so closely tied to the Emperor.  She highly doubted Jonas would speak of her opposition to him from the night before, but if she continued to antagonize his character he would undoubtedly put in a word against her.  Oh, how it rankled to be beneath him!

            She spotted Silus coming out of the dining hall and for a moment she was surprised to see he was accompanied by Sableclaw.  Her step did not falter, but her gaze lingered for an instant on the rat before she dismissed her from her mind.  ?Silus, a grand morning to you.  I do not suppose you slept well after??

            ?Jonas wants us to go back to the tunnel.?

            Ashira clenched her paws and struggled to control the urge to find Jonas and strangle the life out of him.  ?Of course he does.  He cares naught for our profit, only for his dear daughter!  We should be looking for the slaves!  They?re worth far more than one maid.?  One useless maid.

            "I know.  I told him last night that Dyera wasn't the most pressing issue now, but he wouldn't listen.  A reason not to have children, if you ask me,? Silus said, and she was pleased to see he was just as disgruntled with his leadership.

            ?Anymore that his Captain would command of us??  Ashira asked.  Her voice was dripping sickly sweet, trying desperately not to direct her ire at Silus.  He was far from her current source of frustration.

"The good doctor suggested us taking a couple of the remaining slaves with us to help.  I would have argued that point, but it's not worth my time," Silus replied, shaking his head in disgust at the notion.

Ashira balked.  ?Whatever for?  We are perfectly capable by ourselves!?  So Jonas was not out of her reach, but he was insulting their ability by tagging the rest of the slaves to them.  Ashira thought back to the frightened vole and wrinkled her nose.  Pathetic rodent.

Silus broke through her thoughts.  "I told him that with a few crewbeasts, Sableclaw, and you, we could handle the cave.  He didn't like the idea of you going, however, but your expertise might be needed."

?He didn?t, did he??  It satisfied Ashira to no end that Jonas would make such a statement against her.  He may know of her previous opposition to him, but now she could be sure of his feelings toward her.  She reveled in it the same way she reveled in the entire crew?s fear.  Ashira leaned in closer to Silus with what somebeast might call a genuine smile.  ?I appreciate the good word, Silus.  You wouldn?t allow the pine marten to gain the upperpaw over me, would you now??

The weasel leaned back as she moved closer, and he cocked his head in curiosity at her behavior.  "I wouldn't say he was trying to gain the upperpaw, but wanted somebeast around that could help in case of another bad situation.  I told him that unless the natives revolt or the "Big Evil" attacks, nothing would come of it."

?Mayhaps we should get ready an? head off to the tunnel before the noonmeal comes around??  Sableclaw said, her eyes going back and forth from the ferret to the weasel.

Ashira continued looking into Silus? eyes for just an instant longer before she pulled her snout back and continued to smile slyly at the weasel.  For once, she was pleased somebeast was not terrified of her.  Her eyes lazily fell to Sableclaw before she turned on her heel and walked away back to where the slaves had been locked up.  At her approach they slid back to the furthest side of their cages.

?Guess what, my little vole and rabbit.  You have a little task you can help us with,? she said.  When she turned to Sableclaw the rat eyed her warily like most of the crew and she said, ?Open their cages and bound their paws.  Try not to hurt them too much, I will not be dragging their carcasses to the tunnels if they cannot walk.?

Ashira stood to the side as Sableclaw barked orders for the slaves to be released and immediately tied up.  The vole looked at his surroundings as though he had a mind to escape, but Ashira pulled out her saber and lazily tapped it on the ground to gain his attention.  Immediately, the heroic glint faltered and he did not resist the weasel that bound his paws with rope.  ?Weasel, run to the dining hall and grab a full days rations for seven!?  He scurried off to obey her and she kept her eyes on the two slaves that simply stared at the ground.  She was not smiling in that sly way she usually did, but gave them a hard and unsympathetic look.  Sableclaw eyes continued to dart from the ferret to the slaves, but her limbs seemed to be frozen in place for she did not so much as twitch her nose.

When the weasel came back with one of the few tattered packs available to him, Ashira took it and shoved the bundle roughly into Sableclaw?s arms.  ?You, weasel, and you shall be coming with us.  That is an order.  Sableclaw, go get Silus.  We are ready to leave.?

Only a couple minutes later found the weasel walking in front of the rat with a wildcat just just behind him.  Silus said, ?Ashira, this wildcat, Anton, will be joining the crew.?

She eyed Silus' choice of beast and wondered what the weasel found in him.  He looked no less ragged than the rest of the crew, but he was a big body.  No matter, he will do as a fighter.  ?Very well.  Silus, you and the crewbeasts shall take point.  You know the way to the tunnel.  I will be sure our little dears keep their paws moving forward.  Sableclaw, you?re back here with me,? Ashira commanded.  Their tiny procession started out of the main compound and through the locked gates.  She saw Sableclaw peer back nervously when the crewbeasts had closed the door and locked them out.  There is no turning back, my cowardly rat.

When the gates had disappeared out of sight Sableclaw leaned in close to her and said, ?Y? reckon we?ll ever find the Cap?n?s brat??

Ashira snorted.  ?What do you suppose my interests are in your feelings?  Just walk rat.?

?Y? hate the Cap?n,? Sableclaw said, trying to keep her voice low enough so the slaves would not overhear.  ?You?re a better leader than he could ever be.  Mayhaps ye should take o?er the mantle for him after his death.?

Ashira?s eyes slid to the rat.  There was a wicked light in Sableclaw?s eyes as she looked at the ferret.  Still, Ashira did not address her.  How very kind of her to think that of me.  Ashira?s lips twitched and her eyes glittered.  ?Are you proposing to have him meet a tragically accidental death??

Sableclaw?s grin grew wider and she said, ?O? course.  What y? say to that, my good ferret?  When we come back we will make it the last time he ever gives orders to the likes of us.?

?Indeed, and then we may concentrate on far more important tasks,? Ashira said, gazing wistfully out at the churning sea for greater effect.  What a shame it will be when I tell the Captain poor Sableclaw did not make it out of the caves.