"Take your positions!" he bellowed."Take your positions!" he bellowed. "Man the catapult! Mind the sails! Soldiers aft! Let's move it!" As the men moved to obey, and other officers began giving orders of their own, the mate turned to the men who had remained around Jess and her party. "Strip them and take them below. Secure them in the brig until this is over, then report to your positions." "Over my dead body!" Jess declared, reaching instinctively for the sword and dagger she no longer possessed. "My Lady," the mate said as he turned to leave, "the Empire has declared war on Tavect and we are about to sail into battle in the name of our Emperor. We haven't the time to search you now; as you are an imperial slaver, you will understand this and cooperate. The captain will likely release you when we come out of this and I show him your credentials, but for now you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. We will give you clothes to wear while you are here, but we cannot take chances with you now. Understand?" He turned and was gone before Jess could answer and the sailors behind her pushed her in the direction of an open hatch. |