Brianna clutched at Jessica frantically and began screaming, confirming Jess's suspicions that she could not swim, as Jess caught hold of the rope with her free hand, watching her punt and furs sink to the river bottom.Brianna clutched at Jessica frantically and began screaming, confirming Jess's suspicions that she could not swim, as Jess caught hold of the rope with her free hand, watching her punt and furs sink to the river bottom. "Surrender and come aboard," the same voice yelled. "You are prisoners of the Dark Empire. If you continue to swim, you will be shot. We have orcish archers and they can see you." Janesse, stopped, treading water as she weighed her options and reversed her course to swim back to the ship. Agnes did the same. Unable to climb with Brianna clambering all over her, Jess held tight to the knotted rope and shouted for another line, loudly informing the crew standing at the rails of her charge's plight and what she thought of them in no uncertain or polite terms. Another line was dropped, this one with a large loop and slip knot in the end, which Jess managed to work and pull around the frantic Brianna with great difficulty. She swallowed more river water than she cared to as Brianna's floundering dunked her more than once. Secured, Brianna was pulled from the water, and a near exhausted and greatly miffed Jessica Harveld began climbing out of the Handel River herself, with Janesse and Agnes following her. The princess fussed the whole way. The charm spell had worn off. Strong hands helped Jess aboard, handing her a towel and wrapping her in a blanket. A few seemed interested in groping for more, and while she was distracted fending them off, others deftly removed the belt that held her sword and daggers. |