Kelpie lay, swaddled in the arms of his father Captain Dune. As he lay there, Dune watched the enchanted water spirit scrawl along the length of the new borne infant. In this world, children earned their power through rigorous training. There were many types of magic users in the world of Altai, with the exception of commoners and slaves, and very few nobility. The strongest magic users were Core Deviators. This type of cultivator separated their soul from their physical body, hiding it somewhere no one could find. They then made their core, which was formed through taking the souls of others and processing them to create their own energy. These magicians were dark and powerful beyond control. Feared and often isolated, very few existed, however those that did were older than most of the land that rose above the sea. This was partially due to the fact you couldn't kill them, nor did they age with time because of the absence of their soul. Core Formers were also like Core Deviators except they didn't take their souls out of their bodies. Their lifespans were also extended but they could die. The third most powerful were Beast Shifters. They were often grouped into species, and ran around in what you could call packs. This is what Dune and his wife Syresa were, dragon shifters were one of the most powerful classes in the shifter class. Almost none rivalled them in both land and sky. However each Beast shifter earned their beast, working hard to tame it, meld their souls into their physical body and partially meld it into their souls. It was an arduous and painful process, that most could not live through. Dune himself being a weathered sea captain had never seen a kelpie shifter in person. There were rumors that those who had shifted into kelpie form had ventured too deep into the ocean never to be seen again. The fact that their son had been borne with a kelpie shapeshifting form already melded into him, had raised a plethora of questions and worries of the husband and wife for their son. Dune hid his confusion, smiling and bellowed out to his clan "This Child is our Heir!!! Hear his name! Kelpie!" The ships which had started to become less boisterous renewed their bellowing and laughter at the announcement of the heir's name. Each Captain greeted their King Captain Dune and rejoiced at the sight of the healthy little girl in the arms of their Queen. Each captain of the fleet introduced themselves as ritual to the small Heir. Captain Dunes right hand man bowed down before the King and Queen. "May the sea and sky bless this small child. May he have light always in his dark nights and shade for shelter under the scorching sun. My gift to the heir is my fealty, and this small piece of a stars heart." The man said in reverence. "Lester, rise please my old friend! You have served loyally under my grandfather, my father and myself. Do you not wish for peace? To rest yourself?" Lester looked up at Captain Dune "My King," he said in a tone neither loud nor quiet "I dream to see this tribe rise. To become all that it could be. I wish to see your children and your children's children succeed the throne." Lester raised his head and stared into Dune's eyes. The old man's face was dark with sun, his beard black with silver streaks running through it, his black dread locks were streaked with silver as well, and the crinkles around his eyes shown that he had a habit of smiling. he was a large man, even bowing down his presence dominated those around him. The trinket that Dune held in his hand was made of dark iron that came from the heart of a star. It was shaped as a pentagram with amethyst at its center. The chain the charm was on was also formed of dark iron. It was beautifully crafted and projected a devilish charm. Like looking into an abyss and wondering what was at the bottom. As Lester stood, Dune came forward with Kelpie. "My old friend,' Dune started "My son needs a guardian. Someone who would follow him anywhere. As a king and queen we will not be with him most of his life. We are the protecting power for our forces. We are the swiftest and strongest of our clan. Would you be willing to take this honor?" Although Dunes voice was low, the echoes of this question bound around the ship. Lester looked at his friend and king with much pride and emotion in his grey eyes "My liege, Nothing would make this old man happier." Dune and Syresa beamed with joy. "I shall speak with you more after the ceremonial welcoming about this matter." Dune said in a hushed tone. The next captain, the left hand man of Captain Dune came forward. "My gift to the prince shall be both my service and my daughters hand in marriage if you shall allow." Dunes left hand man Sean said in a pleasantly deep voice. Captain Dune gave Sean with a withering glance and looked almost angry. Dune forced a smile on his face, although it looked much to sharp and dangerous to be a smile. "My dear left lieutenant, there is no need to betroth our children so early is there? After all, freedom in marriage is something we should afford our children." Dune almost growled out. Lieutenant Sean looked up at Dune with a chagrinned face " Captain Dune, I meant no disrespect toward you or your heiress, I was simply trying to fortify our connections within our tribe through marriage. I have not but my service and that of my families to give the young Heir." Captain Dune looked down at Lieutenant Sean with distain lurking in his eyes. He had long known that this Lieutenant had been a schemer. If not for the internal strife and Lieutenant Sean's usefulness in suppressing the rogues of the tribe, Dune would have long dismissed him from his position as a left hand Lieutenant. With great mockery in his voice Captain Dune declared "I understand my dear friend. I indeed know how it is to have naught but your name and your services to give. However I will not do away with my daughters freedoms. Instead, I will take your daughters services to my son as a companion. He shall stay with my child and grow with her until the day she has found a husband." Dune's harsh smile turned wicked at the end of his speech. He had finally found a way to have more control of his left hand man. Dune had long worried that his left hand man had been scheming and plotting behind his back to overthrow his rein. He knew he had needed a way to ensure his and his families safety against such a man. This would do that by creating a loyalty between their children that Dune and Sean lacked. Sean Smiled up at Dune, feeling manipulated by his leader. His frustration shone in his eyes briefly, but quickly disappeared. "Very well Sire." Sean stated "Come forward Malaki." A small child, naught but 4 years old stepped out, Like her father Malaki had black hair, with yellow catlike eyes that glowed with intelligence and fierceness. She was tall for a 4 year old, and her frame showed signs of hard sea fairing work already, with olive colored skin, and a skinny frame. "Father, what is your bidding?" Malaki's small voice had a seriousness that most lacked at her age. Her tone was steely, though with her childlike voice it was hard for Dune to hold his straight face. Syresa herself coughed quietly trying to hide her laugh. "Malaki, you shall be the heiress's companion from now on. I expect you will take this charge seriously my child?" Sean said gravely. Malaki only nodded in return, and quietly stepped forward to kneel before the king. "I shall do my utmost to serve the Heir my lord." Malaki declared in his all to serious voice. Dune nodded in acceptance. "That will do, come stand next to us Malaki." Dune smiled as the child as he made his way up the stairs. As Malaki stood next to Syresa, he peaked over at the child with curiosity gleaming in her eyes. Syresa smiled at the child "Would you like to hold him?" Syresa asked. "Could I?" Malaki looked up into the Queen's emerald eyes. "Of course, mind her head though." Syresa said gently as she held out the child. Malaki mirrored the way Syresa held the child. His arms wrapping gently around Kelpies delicate frame. Her eyes lit up as she held the child. Kelpie cooed at her smiling his toothless grin. The two children contently played under the watchful eye of the queen while the next 98 sea voyagers and tribesmen and women came to give gifts and blessings for their new Heir. As the ceremony was ending huge fireworks exploded into the night sky as the banquet began. In the captains quarters into the wee hours of the night, Lester sat with Captain Dune speaking. "Captain what do you wish to speak privately of?" Lester asked. "Lester, we must hide Kelpies secret." "Oh, and what secret might that be?" Lester questioned. "Kelpie was borne but hours ago, yet she bears a Kelpie form already. The Kelpies have never been seen before, but the rumors are that they are a vicious and harsh race of beast. They are solitary, and live in the darkest part of the sea they can find. Far to many a brave man have been lured to their depths while trying to tame such a beast." Lester nodded his head, pondering how Kelpie could have bore a Beast form when she had just been born. " My lord, I have never heard of such a thing before. But we could seek the assistance of the Blood Shamans." Lester said. Dune nodded his head. "That's a good idea. But we can't alert others that something is wrong. We need to present as a strong front. People within the tribe have been stirring up trouble, and Sean's power has grown stronger of late. I fear they will soon try to mutiny." Dune said in a hushed tone. Lester's eyes widened at Dunes statement. "It's just a hunch right now, Lester. But my gut has yet to lead me astray." Lester looked at Dune " My lord, perhaps you could dispatch me under the eye of the other captains on a mission of secrecy? I as the legal guardian, am bound with the heir. It would not be too shocking to have the child and her companion accompany me on the mission in a few months time." Dune nodded his head at Lester's suggestion. "That could work Lester." Syresa Opened the door quietly as Dune finished his statement. "The children are sleeping." Syresa whispered to Dune as she crossed the room. Dune and Lester quickly filled Syresa in on their discussion as she sat down. Syresa and the two men hashed out the details, throwing together a plan of action in less than thirty minutes. "Then it's finalized. We shall have Lester bring Kelpie to the Blood Shamans in two years from now." Syresa said with a finality in her tone. Both men nodded in agreement and went too rejoin the banquet.