Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: [R] Remi[Arcas]: Prisoner Transfer
Message-ID: <1992Dec16.153450.16095@atlantis.uucp>
From: aaron@atlantis.uucp
Date: Wed, 16 Dec 1992 15:34:50 GMT

The captain of the Arcas sighed with relief when he saw the detachment of
Seaguards approaching.  It was enough of a fuss getting them to come at all,
what with all that certification that the prisoners had actually been taken
at sea, and not on land, but now they were here.  The leader of the detachment
stopped before him and saluted.  "Ready to receive prisoners, sir."  He could
sense the lack of conviction behind the "sir"--the Seaguard were obliged to
give ship captains honorary rank, but the prevailing opinion was that most of
them didn't deserve it.

His first mate had been killed in the fight, so he sighed and said, "Follow
me."  He didn't trust that lackwit second mate, who had escaped injury in the
battle mostly by hiding in a barrel.

First he took them to the pirate captain's cell, which was actually a
converted luxury suite.  The man guarding it saluted him, and brought out the
key.

****

Remi sat waiting more or less patiently from the time the ship arrived in dock.
It had been so long since he had docked anywhere but pirate havens, and once or
twice in Valkeer, that he had almost forgotten the routine of docking merchant
ships.  For a moment he experienced a longing for a return to that simpler and
less risky life.  Then he snorted.  He would probably be lucky if he ever got
onto a ship again without being in manacles.  No, wait, this was Generica--they
didn't use slave labour here.  Still, he was sure they had ways of making him
"volunteer" for such service...

Finally, he heard the tramp of boots on the deck and voices approaching.  Then
a key in the door.  He stood to face his captors.  The captain of the Arcas he
recognized, and the others wore the insignia of Generican Seaguard.  They
looked on him with disdain and outright revulsion--pirates were the scum you
wiped off your armour after being spit on by a boy from the Low City.  But
there were rituals to be followed, even in his case.

"You are Etienne-Remi de Revimer, captain of the vessel Cote d'Azur?"

"Cote d'Azur has been sunk," he said.  "I am without a ship.  But I was the
Captain of the ship, yes."

"By your attack on this vessel, we are forced to conclude that you have turned
to piracy.  We therefore take you into custody under suspicion of piracy.  You
will be tried, and punished if found guilty."  The Seaguard paused, a smile
coming over his face.  "By the code of honour, you may submit to summary
punishment now, if you do not wish to face the tribunal.  Your honour will not
be besmirched if you take this punishment now."

Remi controlled his anger.  Like Hell he was going to let them cut his head
off now.  Not with so much unfinished.  That wizard--Radan, was his name--who
had felled him...Bronwen, whom he still wanted for his own...and the rest of
his crew that survived, that he had responsibility for.  No.  He would fight.
"I reject the choice of honour.  I demand my right to legal representation be
satisfied."

The Seaguard nodded, disappointment on his face.  "So noted.  An Advocate will
be chosen for you, and will serve you to the best of his ability or face
punishment himself.  Now I must ask that you put out your hands so I may put
the bonds on your wrists."  Without a word, Remi did so, looking aloof as he
was clapped in heavy iron cuffs.

Then he was led out of his cell and onto the deck.  The rest of the Seaguard
detachment went down to fetch his crew from the common brig.  He inventoried
them as they were brought up.  Vanshar was still alive, then.  Good.  But no
sign of Laurent, or Dragon, so they were probably dead.  Sardonikas had stated
many times that he would die before being captured, so Remi didn't expect to
see him anyway.  They all stared at him nervously--except Vanshar, who had been
through this before.  If Remi was convicted of piracy, he would be hanged, but
the others would face lesser punishments...still, if he was acquitted, so would
they all be, so their fates rested on his.

Remi didn't expect to be acquitted, of course.  He expected to escape.  It
would not be easy, with the vigilance of Generica's Seaguard, but it was all he
could do, and he would dishonour himself by not trying.

The Seaguard knew that, too.  That would make it even harder.

Finally, he and his men, all in chains, were assembled by the Seaguard and
marched through the city to the Tower where they were to be imprisoned.  Remi
kept his chin high, but his eyes were roaming as far as they could, to see what
opportunities were presented to them.  He caught Vanshar's eye once, and the
Rameshander grinned.  He could count of Vanshar, if no-one else...

-- 
---Alfvaen(Still looking for "October's Baby")
"I never gave it a thought, I never thought I should think                       I would go along with anyone and anything"  --Rupert Hine
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