Massie Burnson

*This article is about the Trekker captain. For the location, see Massie (location).*
*You are right here in your story. Don't skip ahead.*
**Massie Burnson**, *The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner*, p. 32
**WARNING: SPOILERS FOR *PRINCE LANDER & THE DRAGON WAR* ARE AHEAD; CAUTION IS ADVISED.**

## Association information

### Affiliations

• *Vanguard*
• *Steadfast*

## Book information

### Appears

• *The Black Star of Kingston*
• *The Wreck and Rise of Whitson Mariner*
• *Prince Lander & the Dragon War*

**C****aptain Massie Burnson** was a Kingsbuck of King Whitson Mariner and a captain on the ship *Vanguard*.

## Biography

### *The Black Star of Kingston*

Massie is among the bucks chosen by Fleck Blackstar to form Black Star Company, and trains in both mining and combat. Along with his friend Gavin, he is one of the company's designated archers. He and his comrades assist in the construction of *Vanguard*, and later sail with it on its maiden voyage across Ayman Lake. Once there, they begin excavation at a likely coal mine sight, and soon locate a seam of coal.

Their digging efforts are interrupted by a strange cry, and the Black Star bucks form a defensive circle with Captain Vance's escort of soldiers. Gavin accidentally shoots Fleck when King Whitson appears, and Massie prevents him from running off. However, after the group carries Fleck back to *Vanguard*, Gavin leaves, and Whitson and Galt prevent Massie and Burnley from going after him. Massie cries for his lost friend on the return journey, but later takes part in the construction of *Lillie* and *Natalia* during Fleck's recovery.

When Fleck returns to duty, Massie objects to Fleck's inclusion of himself as one who failed Gavin, claiming that it was the rest of the company who didn't act to help him. Massie later accompanies Fleck on a search for Gavin when they travel back across the lake, but their efforts are unsuccessful. Massie resumes work at the mine site, but later joins the rest of Black Star Company in investigating a strange noise. The source proves to be a maddened Gavin, whom the group restrain and carry back to the mine.

When the Lords of Prey make their first appearance, Massie and the others make an orderly retreat back to *Lillie*, and Massie cares for Gavin during the desperate voyage back to Seddleton. As the birds closed in on the ships, Massie prepared to fight with three arrows drawn on his bow. He soon found himself defending a near helpless Gavin from their attackers, and was wounded after drawing his sword. The swift intervention of Fleck saved him and Gavin, and Fleck ordered him to take his friend belowdecks.

Massie later shot a burning arrow and struck a bird that was carrying Fleck away, and seems to have likewise saved Galt. He survives the Battle of Ayman Lake and, now promoted to the rank of lieutenant, is assigned to travel with King Whitson. Upon the safe settling of the king's community, he is to return to now Lord Blackstar's community at Kingston.

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

On the decks of *Steadfast*, Massie Burnson wakes Jimmi Docker, who orders the others back to their posts. As Lander arrives and all the captains return to their ships, King Whitson Mariner expresses his concern over provoking the Grimbles to Massie.

*Steadfast* remains an extra day at Halfway Harbor, but the other two ships continue on. As the river grows steadily more perilous, *Burnley* is sent before *Vanguard*. Fog surrounds both ships, and Massie becomes nervous. He sends Hayes to wake Whitson, and attempts to hail *Burnley*, but, too late, *Vanguard* collides with some unseen rocks. As procedures to abandon ship begin, Whitson orders that Queen Lillie be fetched, but she has been kidnapped by the Grimbles.

Massie reaches the shore with Lander, seething at the Grimbles' betrayal. Suddenly, Lander is nowhere to be found. Massie plunges into the nearby woods, where, upon following the young buck's tracks, he soon finds the prince. Lander urges Massie to keep his voice down and points out some unfamiliar tracks, which he thinks could be those of monsters. The two bucks enter deeper into the thicket.

Without warning, Lander suddenly dives into the edge of a clearing, having spotted movement. Massie follows, only for both bucks to be whipped off their feet and suspended upside down in a net-like trap. They are approached by a masked rabbit carrying a sword, who reveals himself to be Galt, an old friend of Fleck Blackstar who abandoned his own during the Battle of Ayman Lake. Galt frees Massie and Lander and offers them his help in finding Lillie in exchange for a pardon for his crime, to which Lander agrees. Galt then proceeds to tell the bucks of his backstory. After he had abandoned Fleck, he trekked along the river until he reached the island, where he made himself a home. One night, he awoke to eerie music, which he had traced to a group of hooded dragons sacrificing a rabbit. Galt tells Massie and Lander that he believes it is these dragons who have captured Lillie, with the help of Captain Grimble.

Later, Massie and Lander continue to hack their way through the brush, hoping to find the camp of the dragons. Eventually, they emerge onto the edge of a cliff, from the top of which they can see the camp, including a shack in which they suppose Lillie is being kept.

In the camp of the dragons, Lillie awakes, confused. Peeking out of her window, she spots Lander attempting to infiltrate the camp by lying prostrate on a raft, drifting towards shore. Just as a dragon is about to seize Lander, the young buck kills it with his sword. Taking advantage of the commotion, Lillie crashes through the door of the shack. Just as a group of rabbits is closing in on her, Massie appears. He, Lander, and a newly-arrived Galt temporarily take down their attackers. Massie and Lillie interrogate Tarn, one of Grimble's thugs, who reveals that the Grimbles are on their way to the island.

Massie and company hide, watching the dragons mourn their fallen comrade with an eerie rite. Just then, one of the dragons spots the group and orders chase, prompting the rabbits to flee back into the forest. They emerge onto a precipice of land above a churning river just as two of the swiftest dragons catch up with them; they try to escape by sliding down a steep mountainside.

Meanwhile, Whitson has taken *Steadfast* on a reconnoitering trip. As they approach a cliff, Whitson spots Lillie, Massie, and Lander running along its top, chased by dragons. The king orders the crew to drop anchor, and catches his wife as she and the others jump down onto *Steadfast*'s deck. As *Steadfast* continues downriver, the king promotes Massie to captain for his service.

As evening approaches, Massie spots movement on the edge of the island. Whitson orders Brindle to take them closer to shore. Massie recognizes the creatures as the supposed dead of *Vanguard*'s wreck. Whitson quickly holds a hurried conference with his captains, during which he explains his plan. Just then, *Desolation* emerges out of the river beyond.

The crew of *Steadfast* feign continuous mistakes, allowing *Desolation* to quickly gain on them. Whitson orders Brindle to pull hard to port, then back to starboard so that the ship is now aimed squarely at *Desolation*; the bow of *Steadfast* crashes right into the bigger ship's side. Though momentarily stunned, Grimble soon regains control and sends his bucks onto the decks of *Steadfast*. A fierce battle ensues, with Whitson and his followers winning in the end.

Back on shore, Massie and Lord Grant set to work leading provisioning.

### *Prince Lander & the Dragon War*

While headed for a treaty with Grimble's faction, King Whitson asks that Lander bring him Captain Massie. Prince Lander reminds him that Massie is gone, and that it has been weeks. Prince Grant worries that Massie might not return. While headed to rescue the oathbreakers' children, Lander recalls his adventure with Massie: the day they first discovered the dragons, and rescued the queen. During the trick to get the children, Lander remembers his training from Captain Massie and wonders where he is. But during the Battle of Barren Point (after the attempted treaty with Grimble), to his great surprise, King Lander sees the ship *Steadfast* arrive. There, at the prow of the ship, is Prince Lemual, Captain Massie, and Lord Fleck Blackstar. He presumes that the Third Scouts found Massie's band returning. They join in the battle. Later Lemual tells Lander that his presumption is correct. During that time, Lander tells Lemual how honored he is to wear the patch Fleck Blackstar gave him, and then says he's also honored to bear the Green Ember, and, with a heavy heart, draws out the Ruling Stone. Prince Lemual realizes what happened and hangs his head, Fleck Blackstar falls to his knees, saying he was too late, but Massie walks up, bows to Lander, and holds out a hand to Fleck. He tells them that, while the death of Whitson Mariner is a great tragedy, all he fought to defend is still there, and they must honor the old king by protecting what he loved.

When Lander calls a council to outline a plan against the dragons, he tells Captain Massie how glad he is that Massie is back safe, and invites Massie's wisdom. Massie bows to the king. When Lander decides they will attack the dragons, Captain Massie volunteers instantly for the army. Massie then points out that Captain Gavin is arriving with the rest of the force from Kingston. Later, Lander invites Gavin, Fleck, and Massie to come with him to Whitson's grave. After that, he brings them to the burial site of the starsword, saying that he wanted to accomplish what Whitson wanted to accomplish, even if this wasn't the way Whitson would have done it. When Gavin comments that, if it didn't work, it wouldn't matter because they'd all be dead anyway, Massie adds that this really takes the pressure off. When Lander demands that Lemual give him the antidote, Captain Massie joins Fleck and Gavin in standing up to him.

**Lander Whitson**: You're all rogues. Thank you.

—Prince Lander and the Dragon War

Right before the battle, Captain Massie assures Lander that, although he told them they would almost certainly die, about a hundred young soldiers volunteered to be scalebreakers. Lander thanks Massie, and tells him how much he valued Massie's mentorship and care for him, and his loyalty to King Whitson. Captain Massie tells him that the farewell can wait, as he is also a scalebreaker. Lander tells Massie that he needs him to command the left flank, to which Massie replies that Lord Galvet is doing that, and that it's too late to change up because they're already gone. Lander shakes his head and smiles, saying that it will be good to have Massie with him. Captain Walters arrives, telling Lander all is ready. Lander tells Captain Walters that he needs to be with the left flank, alongside Captain Gavin, but Gavin shows up then, telling Lander he's here. Lander inquires if this is a conspiracy, and if Captain Blackstar is about to show up too. Massie tells him that, although it is a conspiracy, Lord Blackstar is actually on *Steadfast.* He adds that Lander tasked them with finding the best warriors to join him, and they had. Lander thanks them. So Lander joins the battle, followed by his scalebreakers and flanked by Captains Walters, Massie, and Gavin. During the battle, Lander and Massie tam up against an enormous dragon. Later, after sending an arrow into the dragon army, realizes that the tall wild-looking rabbits that have come from the trees are lead by Galt, who has returned to help them once again. When King Lander asks where Fleck Blackstar is, Massie tells him that Fleck is on the ship, pursuing the enemy. Lander turns to see *Steadfast* on fire, and says that they've got to get off the ship, at which point *Steadfast* explodes. Lander falls to his knees, mourning the (presumed) loss of Fleck Blackstar. Massie kneels by the king, telling him that his army needs him for one last effort, and offering to lead them if Lander can't. But Lander stands up, telling Massie he is here. After Lander kills Namoz and faints, he is woken by Captain Massie, who apologizes that he hadn't come sooner; he was pursuing Grimble, then asks if Lander is well. Lander says he is afraid of what may come, and then realizes the starsword is not where he left it and begins to panic, thinking that the enemy has it and will kill them all. Massie comforts him, showing him that it is in his scabbard, and telling him that a friend has put it there. He comments on the danger of the thing, and Lander tells Massie that he is prepared to do what he promised he would. Captain Massie calls for a medic for the king, and after he is fixed up a bit, Lander falls asleep again, and is once again awakened by Captain Massie, who gives him mossdraft to drink in the hopes that it will help him, and he begins to feel a little better. Lander feels that clarity on the matter of the dragon eggs is close, and he leaves the dragon tomb without saying a word. Captain Massie follows him discreetly, in case there's a stray dragon on the mountain. A messenger from camp arrives, handing Massie a note, which he opens with apprehension, but smiles at the contents. He then continues to follow Lander. As Massie continues up the mountain, he reminisces about the incredible victory he's just seen. He believed that he would never see another battle as glorious as that one. Lost in his thoughts, he forgets to continue following Lander, and hurries up the mountain until he finds Lander standing amid smoking rocks. He tells Lander that the lords are waiting for Lander's decision. They talk about the wood below, Lander saying it will be his life's work to cultivate it for rabbit life. Massie reminds him of the decision, to which he says that he'll bury the dragon eggs with the starsword. Massie shares his worry that it will be too easy to find, to which Lander said that they would dam the river and make the mountain forbidden, and try to forget. Massie continues to worry, and to assuade them, Lander tells him that, if something goes wrong, one of his heirs will remember and rise against the threat.

Lander comes down the mountain and gathers Lemual, Massie, and Gavin. He tells them that he has much to discuss, and the first thing he addresses is promoting Captain Massie. Massie is honored to be the first Lord Captain, to which Lander replies that he will be less honored after he finds out all Lander has for him to do. They all congratulate Lord Captain Massie, and then the discussion turns to the plan for a new warren and the forbidden mountain. Lander then shares the news that both Galt and Fleck are presumed dead, to which Massie says is extraordinary: the old captain and his lieutenant together. Lemual proposes that they drink a toast to the fallen, and then Massie adds that there is something he has forgotten to tell them: that he has received word (the note) that Prince Grant is awake and talking. He tells them that, yes, it is really so, and begs them to forgive him for forgetting about it.

During the epilogue, Galt and Fleck see King Lander coming down the mountain, with Prince Lemual, Captain Massie, and Captain Gavin beside him. The army cheers King Lander seven times, and Galt and Fleck join in with the army as they witness Massie kneel, raise his sword, put his right fist over his heart, and lead the army in reciting Blackstar's Oath.

## Physical appearance

Massie had dark-marked fur and dark eyes. He wore a uniform with Blackstar's patch on the shoulder, and he carried a bow and arrows.

## Personality and traits

Massie was a kind and brave buck. He was always willing to protect Prince Lander and King Whitson Mariner, no matter the cost. He was known to have a journal, in which he documented his thoughts throughout his expeditions.