Grimble family

The **G****rimble family** was a family of rabbits from Golden Coast who later turned against King Whitson Mariner and his community in Natalia.

## History

### Golden Coast

The rift between the Grimbles and the future royal family of the Thirty Warrens began on Golden Coast. With King Gerrard left childless by the death of his son, Lord Grimble had aspirations of ascending to the throne. However, Gerrard chose Whitson to succeed him as king, something that Lord Grimble perceived as a mistake and that lift him embittered towards Whitson.

### *The Black Star of Kingston*

After the Crossing, Lord Grimble became Whitson's most vocal opponent among rabbits, contradicting the new monarch at every turn. Whitson refused to sink to Grimble's level, and even appointed his son as a captain. Unfortunately, the Grimbles continued to cause trouble, with Fleck Blackstar noticing father and son in whispered conference before a voyage across Ayman Lake.

### *The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner*

During the winter spent at Halfway Harbor, Whitson had Captain Grimble scout out the River Fay in command of the ship *Burnley*. During this time the Grimbles secured a fighting among many of the best fighters of the surviving rabbits. They also met and secured an alliance with the Dragons, intending to betray and strand Whitson's followers on an island held by the Dragons. In return, the Grimbles were promised a territory of their own to rule, and received the aid of a Dragon in kidnapping Queen Lillie and stealing the Ruling Stone from *Vanguard*.

The Grimbles and their followers and allies enacted their plans after Whitson's fleet departed Halfway Harbor. However, Whitson and his followers, aided by repentant deserter Galt, managed to rescue Lillie and escape the Dragons. Captain Grimble and his bucks were defeated and captured, while the Dragons killed a party led by Lord Grimble as punishment for his failures.

### *Prince Lander and the Dragon War*

King Whitson attempted a treaty with Grimble but did not succeed, as Whitson uncovered and arrested two of Grimble's spies on the way.

An exhausted messenger arrived and informed Prince Lander that Grimble's faction was trading half their younglings in exchange for a new alliance with the dragons. Prince Lander hurries to rescue the little ones. Grimble, expecting this, set a trap that would have killed Prince Lander if it had not been for Nickel Drekker. Prince Lander allowed Nickel to come along on the mission and then was forced to allow Nickel's sister, Winnie, and the five other Drekkers she was leading come too. They helped him infiltrate the Grimble camp and reach the barn where the little ones were being held. When they reach the barn, the little ones cowered against the far wall. Winnie called for them to come this way, but a doe who was nearly of age stood and said that she knew about the bargain with the dragons and she would fight them. Lander thought he understood how the older doe got in with the very young ones: she had learned what was being planned and defied her elders, and was put in with them as punishment or because she volunteered. Lander assured the young doe that she was going to be okay, and asked what her name is. She told him that her name was Hollie Grimble. Realizing that he was now carrying his enemy's daughter to safety, Lander steppe back. Winnie encouraged Hollie, however, and they continued on. Lander later tells Hollie that they aren't leaving anyone behind, not even her. Grimble is livid about the succeeded mission, and Lander comments that all-out war may be here.

When Prince Lander and Prince Lemual visit Mother Saramack for council, they find Hollie Grimble there. Lander was angry, as Prince Lemual had not visited Mother Saramack's chamber yet, but Grimble's eldest child was admitted. He snaps at Mother Saramack, but later apologizes. Hollie, who had been seething since the demand, stood, and said that she did not need his permission to go where she wished. Mother Saramack informed her that, if she was one of them, she did. Hollie apologized to Lander, saying she owed him more than obedience, but her life and that of all the younglings he had saved. Mother Saramack introduces Hollie to Lemual, and then sends Hollie off, saying that what was in Hollie's blood does not tell her future.

Grimble later invites King Whitson to a 'peace summit', with Whitson saying that, while Grimble says peace, what he actually means is 'surrender'. But he decides to go nonetheless. However, he suspects treachery, and Lander proposes that they invite Nickel Drekker to help them counteract it. Nickel correctly predicts that Grimble will send a strike force to make them eager to seek peace. After the attack, Hollie cannot be found. Lander asked if Hollie had run away, but Winnie says that she seriously doubts it, as Hollie has been fitting in well, and she would bet that Hollie has been taken.

Sure enough, when Whitson and Lander arrive at the peace summit, Grimble has a bound Hollie with him. He dragged Hollie out of the boat and Hollie fell down. Whitson stepped forward with his fist clenched, but Grimble instructed him to stay on his side. Whitson asked if this meant he was supposed to let Grimble kill his own daughter, and asked what Grimble had become. Grimble said he hoped to become more than either of them ever imagined, and Whitson asked if Namoz had promised Grimble a 'little dragon crown' if he slaughtered his whole family.

The dragons appeared from under the water, and a dragon priestess cut Hollie's arm and shook it over the cauldron. As soon as the dragon let go of Hollie, she ran right past Grimble and into Whitson's arms. After Grimble drank the potion, he turned into a hybrid of rabbit and dragon. The dragon sorcerer said that Grimble's transformation was incomplete because Hollie Grimble lived, and a dragon raised a crossbow to shoot Hollie. Whitson said he would never let them do that, as Hollie was under his protection. As King Whitson, Prince Lander, and Hollie were climbing into the boat again, Grimble shot at Hollie. Whitson blocked the shot, however, and ended up dying to save Hollie Grimble.

After Prince Lander and Hollie Grimble escaped Barren Point, the Battle of Barren Point began, but because of the arrival of *Steadfast*, was won by the Trekkers.

Hollie expresses grief over Whitson's death, saying that she wished he hadn't traded his life for hers. She tells Prince Lander that a great king died for his enemy, and that it is horrid and she is extremely sorry. Lander assured her that Hollie's duty was to live well, and she told him he sounded like Mother Saramack, which Lander felt as a deep compliment.

Over the course of the book, members of the Grimble faction are often refered to as 'Grimbles'.

### *Ember Rising*

Despite the failure of their attempt to establish a new kingdom, the Grimbles would be remembered in Natalia for over a hundred years to come. Over time, some came to believe that the Stone Sword of Flint was lost when they caused the wreck of *Vanguard*. Another theory suggested that they themselves stole the sacred relic, only to lose it after their plans were thwarted.