Blyden Kreg was born in a small coastal town and grew up with the ocean as his backyard. His father was a fisherman, a hard man who expected Blyden to follow in his footsteps. But Blyden had grander ambitions. As soon as he was old enough, he joined the Seacean Navy, seeking adventure and glory. His time in the navy, however, was anything but glamorous. Blyden quickly learned that the rigid hierarchy and strict discipline suited him well, but his temper and intolerance for incompetence often put him at odds with his superiors.

The incident that led to his discharge involved the mistreatment of a crewman under his command. Blyden maintained that the crewman had been insubordinate and deserved the punishment he received, but the navy viewed the situation differently. With little support and no desire to fight the decision, Blyden accepted an honorable discharge and left the service.

Afterward, he found work in the merchant fleet, where he thrived. Blyden’s no-nonsense attitude and ability to handle tough situations made him a reliable, if unpopular, officer. When airship travel became more widespread, Blyden saw an opportunity to combine his naval experience with this new frontier of the skies. He signed onto an air freighter and worked his way up to captain.

Now, as the captain of the Griffin, Blyden runs his ship with a tight grip. He doesn’t care if the crew likes him, only that they respect him and follow orders. The job comes first, and in Blyden’s eyes, a well-run ship is one where the crew gets paid on time, even if they have to endure his rough leadership. Beneath his gruff exterior, Blyden has a deep sense of responsibility for his crew and ship, though he rarely shows it. Years of hard living and tough choices have left him with few friends, but Blyden wouldn’t have it any other way.

FIRST APPEARANCE

Blyden first appears in The Nullification Engine (The Alchemancer Book Two).