| Logs |
2000-03-05
| Starfall |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
Taking the Cornucopia
The crew of the Cornucopia, demoralized by the ballistae and the loss of a mast, frantically scrambles around preparing to repel boarders. The Mare starts to swing to lay alongside the larger ship while MacKenzie and Zhukov ready grappling hooks.
Dimitri listens close, his ears tall, listening to the wash of the water and the creak of wood and the cries from the deck. Slowly his lips turn, revealing deadly sharp canines. "Hear that... close we be. Mister Mackenzie, have five ready to repel counter boarders... pass out the crossbows to the deck crew. The two best watch over us, the rest keep their rigging clear..." The black fox pauses a moment, slipping the peace strap from his long and heavy sword, slowly drawing it from its scabbard. "The rest, just as we trained. In pairs. No one fights alone. Mister Mackenzie, you and Natasha take the enemy helm... the rest, we need to control the quarterdeck, and if it looks like an officer they go down. Watch your back and keep your eyes open. As for Alex and myself... we have a date to keep with the Pravinchandra captain, aye? And it would nae do to leave him waiting..." Alex grins with fierce pride up at her dark brother, her eyes bright with excitement, her ears and whiskers almost quivering with intensity.
Carroll uses the lull while the ships close and the crossbow fire has slowed or stopped to hurry to the weapons locker and to collect a crossbow, bolts for it, and a spare dagger. Thus armed, with a quick glance across the deck, he returns to his position on the quarterdeck with the helmsman, quickly although not eagerly.
Dimitri takes a step towards the stairs, sharp and sure. "Fast like hawks, teeth like sharks, it's time to remind them they woke a whirlwind when they wronged House St. Genevieve." The youngsters stand, both nervous and eager for their first battle, taking courage from the demeanors of their leaders. Jessie fires a few arrows, driving the last Cornucopian archer under cover before drawing her own sword. And with a curt, sharp nod Dimitri directs the boarding party topside, noting with a nod and a point where their positions are, each one getting a strong clap on the back as they leave belowdecks, with an eye to eye glance, firm and solid, until finally he too crouches against the gunwales, taut like a jungle beast ready to spring...
Horatio emerges from the ballistae compartment in the foc's'le, leaning against the wooden bulkhead and taking several deep breaths to calm himself down. He'd never seen that much blood before. He never- with a shake of his head and one last, shaking breath, he stands, this time not needing Alex's urgings to stand straight, and makes his way quickly to his cabin to get his sword -- no, to the armory, to retrieve a crossbow. He's not at all good with a blade, being more familiar with the crossbows, smaller versions of the ballistae forward, but the time's long past when he could find safety and shelter in the books of the library. This isn't the library; it's a fight to restore what Pravinchandra took away from them.
The grappling hooks whirl and flash in the sun as they fly, the two from the deck and more from crewmen in the rigging. The helmsman spins the wheel, nudging the ships together with a jar, and with a shout the boarding party scrambles across the gap between the Mare's quarterdeck and the grain-ship's mid-deck. Common sailors run for cover as the Cornucopia's few marines and her officers make a stand on her quarterdeck.
"For St. Genevieve!" and the darkling fox is the first across, vaulting the gunwales, his long blade making a dangerous arc. His gaze dashes out, sharp, looking for the flash of color and dress that betrays the captain and any poor soul who makes the mistake of getting between he and him.
Alex draws her sword, listening to the soft, menacing *sssshing*! as it clears the scabbard... her teeth are bared in a feral grin as she yells, "St. Genevieve!" then bounds swift and light over the railing, following her brother onto the enemy deck.
Sam and Natasha are close behind, picking up the battle cry and waving the new troops on. The quarterdeck of the grain ship provides a slight advantage to the defenders, since the attackers must scale it -- but the defenders are outnumbered and are forced to pull back. Natasha leads a few of the troops forward to guard against any activity by the sailors, while overhead Skeee and the scout-sparrow of the grain freighter keep each other busy.
Carroll watches his crew begin their attack, and the responses of the crew of the other ship. His first worry is anyone who tries to get aboard, or harm the Mare. Second worry is anyone with a crossbow or bow who can shoot his crew. Either of those worries he'll probably try and shoot himself. Horatio comes out on deck from below, keeping to the gun'n'l's protection, trying to keep an eye out for anyone with a bow or crossbow in the rigging of the other ship taking an unhealthy interest in the Mare's boarders, on in the Mare and the crew upon her. Carroll calls across the narrow gap to the other ship's quarterdeck, "Any of you who surrenders will live!" as loudly as he can.
The merchant captain, a squirrel resplendent in his uniform, is waving a sword around and pretending to direct the battle -- perhaps he even believes it himself. His two bodyguards stand between him and the two St. Genevieve siblings, while the crash of swords and cries of pain surround them. The two guards, a weasel and a cat, look more than a bit worried, but hold their ground in front of the two foxes.
Alex draws herself up proudly for a moment, her rapier pointed towards them, fully aware of how dangerously looming her brother is next to her, and haughtily cries, "Lay down your swords and you will be spared! We want only the captain of this vessel!"
gggghhhhrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr... rumbles out deep from Dimitri's throat.
The two look around, considering the odds...and realize that the battle could still go either way. The cat squares his shoulders, and the weasel shrugs, waiting for the attack... Alex nods once, firmly, her ruff bristling, "Then your deaths are on your own heads!" and dashes forward, wide and circling. She wants to both cut off the captain's possible retreat, and draw the attention of one of the bodyguards... once she's circled, she rushes swiftly in to engage, her eyes glittering and her teeth bared in a bright, feral grin. She engages with a ringing clash of steel... she's fighting defensively, keeping an eye on the captain, so he doesn't try to slink off. She flicks her sword lightly, testing her opponent's skill... the sword scrapes unpleasantly across the weasel's armor, and she grins, her ears flattening.
A slash of dull silver, the jingle of gold rings glittering in the sharp sunlight as Dimitri drives his blade down upon the Pravinchandra feline, a harsh and distinctive blow, leaving no question that the sailor faces one trained and first blooded by Blackpool's Marines. Sparks fly as Dimitri's blade screams against the cat's, and in one fluid motion the greatsword arcs around, already leading into the next block, the next attack.
The weasel's heavier sword manages to sweep the nimble vixen's rapier aside and leaves a shallow streak of blood on her torso. He grins, expecting an easy win now...
Dimitri's opponent manages to get through his guard, but only just barely, and the dark fox's leather armor stops the sword. The battle continues in earnest now, as the fighters probe for weakness.
Alex grins a little maniacally at the weasel, and her sword point flickers again, bright steel in sunlight -- a second later not so brightly, but now smeared red. She keeps her rapier point dancing like a crimson spark in front of her opponent's eyes... she's light and swift on her feet, dodging gracefully. The weasel snarls as he is cut and tries to attack, but the nimble fox dodges his swings with ease. She giggles softly, her eyes bright with mischief, and murmurs as the weasel misses, "You are in so much trouble, boy!"
Dimitri swings again, only snaring a bit of cloth. The cat barely parries the dark fox's strike, and his return swing is hopelessly wide.
The captain, his instincts warring between blind fury and pure cowardice, continues to yell at his troops. "Kill the damned pirates, you sons of wh---s!" It doesn't really seem to be encouraging them, though. In fact it seems to distract Alex's opponent from what he's doing, and she doesn't even have to work hard to avoid his next swing. Alex makes a tsking noise to the weasel, "Oh come now... pay attention! I didn't have to dodge at all for that!"
The tall fox simply sidesteps, his sword suddenly dropping low, his grip changing as a gauntleted fist slips a foot up the blade, just beneath the triangular stops. Low, hard, and two handed, Dimitri slides his blade deep into the belly of the cat, and there is less than a heartbeat's pause before the back of the feline's tunic tents and tears. Muzzle to muzzle for a terrible moment, before Dimitri slams his foot in the cat's belly, pushing him away, freeing his sword, leaving a trail of crimson in its wake. The cat squalls in agony for a mercifully brief moment before his body slumps to the deck in a spreading red stain. The squirrel captain yelps in panic as one of his guardians goes down so easily.
Alex looks a little punch-drunk on adrenaline -- as her darkling brother straightens, eyes grim, she crows to the weasel, "Told you you were in trouble!" and gleefully darts in to strike again! She dances lightly to the side of the weasel away from Dimitri, not blocking a single instant of the falling of the other bodyguard... and as the weasel is distracted at that terrible squall she sees an opening and drives her rapier sharply into his leg. Then she looks up at the squirrel, her eyes dancing, "And you get to face my brother, lackey!"
The vixen's opponent falls to the deck, his leg no longer able to support his weight. He guards himself weakly even yet, but he is no longer a threat. Alex steps back from the weasel, glancing around, making sure no one will interrupt.
His sword draws back as Dimitri takes a step towards the fancified squirrel, one step, two, his head lowered, his fangs sharp. Cold steel is raised, making sure that the captain can see the blood dripping down the blade and over his gauntlets. His growl is low, dangerous and feral, "Now... now that you have had time to think about it..." taut like a spring because Dimitri knows he will slice a certain Captain in two, "...surrender."
MacKenzie has driven his opponent back, and is directing the mop-up of his side of the defending line. On Alex's side, Jessie is anchoring the line, standing guard over the injured form of little Tina, but two opponents litter the deck in front of her. Alex nods, satisfied that their people are doing well. She continues to guard Mitya's back.
The squirrel cowers, waving what is now obviously a sword bought for appearance rather than strength in what might charitably be called a block. "I surrender!! I surrender!!" His eyes seem drawn to his fallen defenders. Alex's ears prick up at the squirrel's words... then tilt back in disgusted disdain. What a fool... doesn't he know to offer the sword hilt-first when surrendering?
Dimitri growls, sharp and fierce, his blade leveling on the Captain "Drop the sword. Tell the crew. Strike your colors."
The squirrel's voice squeaks on his first attempt, but another menacing wave of that bloody sword in front of his eyes gets his attention. His sword falls clattering to the deck as he yells, "Do what he says!! Stop fighting!!"
Carroll, watching from the Mare, smiles and comments to the steersman, "Looks like Pravinchandra gets another one back alive." He frowns and adds, "Don't know about his staff, though." Horatio lets out a breath as the shrill voice of the squirrel carries even over to the Saucy Mare. He doesn't relax completely yet, however; even with the fighting dying down someone, somewhere, might do something which at this point would be incredibly stupid.
The fighting dies down slowly as the soldiers facing Jessie's side of the line slowly disengage and put down their weapons... MacKenzie's side had already given up, though not before several of their number and one of the Mare's crew had fallen. Alex strides up next to her tall, dark brother, by the small, cowering squirrel... although she doesn't realize it, it's a striking tableau -- she streaked lightly with blood, Dimitri black as night with his scarlet blade, in the sunlight up on the quarterdeck. She laughs, raising her rapier high, looking out over the decks, and yells, "Another blow struck against Pravinchandra -- this is your victory, crew of the Mare!" Alex's words are greeted with a loud cheer, even Tina and Karl joining in despite their injuries. Alex turns and grins proudly up at Dimitri, her eyes bright and fierce, and murmurs very softly just for him, "So... do I pass, Mitya?"
Dimitri takes a step forward, his heavy boot landing upon the fallen sword's blade. "Mister Mackenzie, hold the deck. Alex..." Dimitri's dark frown levels on the captain. "Alex... see to our wounded now. Then give my regards to Captain Carroll and say I present him with the Cornucopia... Jessie... secure this squirrel."
Alex grins happily at Dimitri's words, "You got it!" She gets some unneeded folks from Mackenzie, and swiftly has the wounded helped over to the Mare... including the wounded from the Cornucopia. Cleo sighs and gets started with her portion of the job now that the fighting is over. Tina and Karl simply need bandaging and bed rest... Mikhail worries her, unconscious from a mace blow.
Dimitri slowly lowers his sword, taking a moment to crouch down and clean the blade on the corner of his tunic. Then it is a single step. A single step and a longish pause. Dimitri then goes to one knee, at the side of the Pravinchandran bodyguard. He slips off his hauberk with a clatter trap, so he can shrug off his tunic, carefully fold it, to wrap around the cat's wounds so he doesn't bleed to death. White silk and white lace turn the color of ruby, as Dimitri applies pressure to the cat's wounds. Strong and sure, until he can bind them about the fallen bodyguard. he then leans back, still in a crouch. He looks across to Cleo. "This one, this one will live."
Once the wounded have been safely moved Alexandra bounds up the Mare's quarterdeck stairs, a big grin on her face. She salutes snappily, "Compliments to Captain Carroll from Marine Major Dimitri, sir, and he wishes to present you with the Cornucopia, sir!" She adds happily, "And as second mate may I suggest, captain, that we send Skreee to see how much time we have to clear the Cornucopia before the indie merchanter arrives?"
Carroll watches the tableau on the other ship, and turns to watch Alex's approach. He murrs, "Very well done." He nods, and murrs, "That's an excellent suggestion. We need to move quickly now."
Skeee arrives on deck to report that the other merchantman has turned and is making full speed away from the battle. "I can tell 'em if you want, but I'm not sure they'll believe it... probably think it'd be a trap."
Carroll frowns, and murrs, "Not what I expected." He nods to Skeee, and murrs, "I think telling them would be a waste of all of our time, yes."
Alex practically glows at that comment from Carroll! -but just nods at Skeee's words, adding, "Captain, why not tell them? It will help add to our reputation... that we didn't make any move against a non-Pravinchandra ship!"
Horatio pads up quietly towards Carroll, the crossbow unloaded, carefully unstringing it. He manages to catch the interchange between Skreee and Carroll. "I should begin plotting where we wish to go next, Captain, unless there's something you'd like me to do?"
"More to the point," adds Jared, "We can use this opportunity to declare ourselves as privateers against House Pravinchandra, rather than pirates."
Alex says, "Exactly, bosun. So they think it's a trap... what merchanter is going to be able to resist for long the possibility of an entire loaded grain ship as salvage? And even if they do... the word will get around... that we left the grain ship."
Carroll smiles, and murrs, "I wouldn't have thought of it, yes." He directs the bat, "Skeee? Can you please approach them carefully, and tell them that we mean no one but Pravinchandra harm, and that they are welcome to this ship as soon as we have moved off?"
Alex says, "Captain, with your permission I'll have the Cornucopia's crew put in their launch. Do you want the walking wounded to go also, or will we hold on to them and release them when they're healed?"
Carroll murrs, "I don't want to release them so close to their ship, or they'll interfere with salvage rights. Bring them aboard, and stow them in the hold under guard, and we'll put them ashore someplace. As to their wounded, we'll release them when they're well enough to travel safely. Perhaps not hale and hearty, but I see no reason to send someone off bleeding to death."
Alex nods, "Certainly, sir." She turns and gives the orders to have the Cornucopia's non-wounded crew stowed securely in the hold for the nonce. She also makes sure a few folks are detailed to stay on watch where the wounded are being held, to make sure no one tries to do anything stupid.
Laying his sword across his shoulders, Dimitri is the last to leave the Pravinchandra ship. His path then takes him below decks, straight and true to where Tina, Karl, and Mikhail rest.
Skeee returns with the other ship's scout, who perches in the rigging of the Cornucopia and watches the preparations to abandon the ship. He looks a bit confused, but willing to get rich quick if you people are serious. Carroll smiles, and waves to the other scout. He does what he can to make sure that everyone is able to get on to the Mare, in as much of an organized way as possible. Alex grins and waves to the other ship's scout cheerfully... then continues being a good second mate, "Captain, may I also suggest you give Horatio a location to navigate towards? and then, if you don't need me, I'd like to um..." she glances down at her slightly blood streaked armor and grins, "-to clean up a bit?"
Horatio nods, having unloaded the crossbow and unstrung it, setting it across his shoulder. "Just say where to, sir," he says crisply. Alex beams happily at Horatio -- she likes that nice, crisp, confident tone in his voice!
Cleo fusses at Alex when she realizes that the vixen was hurt. "You lie down and let me put a bandage on that."
Alex grins at Cleo, "Yes ma'am... I'll go belowdecks just as soon as I'm dismissed!"
Carroll erks and murrs, "I think we'll let Cleo have you for the evening." He adds, "Please tell the others how proud I am of them, all right?" He dismisses her to Cleo's care.
Carroll finds Jared, and asks, "Do you know if we're all clear of the other ship?"
Jared nods. "I've had crew clearing the grapnels. We're ready to push off anytime you order it."
Carroll nods to Jared, and murrs, "Unless you can think of anything I'm missing, then I think now would be an excellent time to leave."
Carroll directs Jared, "Let's get under sail east then southwards towards Maidstone."
Carroll adds, "We can drop the bulk of the crew off along the coastline, outside Larris. The officers, I think, we'll take to the city with us."
The bosun organizes the disengagement from the Cornucopia with no real difficulty, and soon the Saucy Mare is running east by southeast before a strong breeze.
The other ship, flying the colors of an independent vessel out of Skaergard, dodges away again for a few minutes, apparently panicking at the thought that the Mare is coming for them after all, but their captain sets course for the abandoned ship before you put her hull down on the horizon.
Carroll orders the ship in to shore briefly at a small fishing village 90 km east of Larris where the crew will be debarked, leaving only the Cornucopia's officers and four soldiers seriously wounded in the battle as... guests... of St. Genevieve.
Horatio looks over the chart, nodding quietly, and looks to Carroll. "Two days to get to Maidstone, Captain." He adds, "I'll take care of Alex, Cleo." He lowers the crossbow. "You check with the others, make sure that our crew and the crew of the barge are all right."
Alex's eyebrows go up and she grins again... my, but one combat changes things! Mitya was right! She cheerfully loops an arm through Horatio's and heads belowdecks, "Thanks, Horatio! Can we do this below? I want to check on our wounded too... and it's really just a scratch, it looks worse than it really is."
Horatio walks with Alex belowdecks, not quite helping her down the steps but certainly being there for her to lean on and not making it obvious that she's doing so. "Well, even so, can't let something like that go without treatment. Once I brush up on all the herbology that Master Kincade taught us at the Academy, I'll be better able to help Cleo help our wounded..."
Alex doesn't appear to need to lean -- if anything she still seems quite exuberant! She enters the infirmary still a bit high from combat euphoria... and it's about then the adrenaline beginning to fade. Dimitri sits quietly below decks next to Mikhail's bunk, talking softly with the other two wounded. Alex frowns slightly, seeing Mikhail, "Oh... poor Mikhail... I... I think I need to learn that herbology stuff better myself too, Horatio," and settles on the other side of Mikhail's bunk from Dimitri, "Hiya, Mitya. Hiya, Tina, Karl... how're you both feeling?"
Dimitri looks up and ducks his muzzle, "All secure above decks?"
Alex nods to Dimitri, "All clear, Mitya... they should be casting off from the Cornucopia real soon."
Horatio helps Alex onto the bunk, and quickly digs through his satchel. Master Kincade always said to carry around a handful of certain herbs; garlic, chaparral... oh, where is it... the tinkling of glass vials, the rustle of papers, the dull rattling sound of small leathern cases filled with little tools... ah, here we are... He pulls out a roll of bandage carefully wrapped in oilpaper, and a bag of garlic and a few other herbs, as he settles onto a stool near Alex.
Alex settles with a sigh on her stool, pulling off her gloves and tucking them into her belt. She leans to gently brush careful fingers across Mikhail's forehead, and murmurs softly to him, "Get better soon, Mikhail. You promised me a dance in Ettore Village, next Solstice, remember?"
Tina is sitting up with her leg bandaged, while Karl is having his arm splinted -- ran into the same mace that Mikhail did. Mikhail is resting quietly, still unconscious from the blow and with a nasty bruise forming on his head. The mouse speaks up first. "We'll recover, ma'am. Looks like we did good, eh?"
Dimitri nods quietly, as he reaches up to lay a paw on Tina's shoulder. "I heard from Mister Mackenzie that you two did good out on the decks."
Alex smiles at Tina, "I think so, Tina. I think we were all very brave... but you'd have to ask Mitya, he's the expert in tactical stuff like this."
Horatio gathers together the herbs, carefully unwrapping the bandage from the oilpaper and making a poultice. "You'll have to keep this on that for a week or so, Alex," he says quietly, "-but it will heal quicker with the poultice on."
Alex sighs, smiles, and nods, "Good enough, Horatio." She unbuckles her leathers, shrugging out of them with a slight grimace, and pulls up her shirt so Horatio can reach the wound. It really is just a nasty scratch, on close perusal.
Horatio leans down, squinting slightly at the wound, and nods, pressing the poultice against the wound and holding it there as he uses a clean bandage, but not the one he had kept in the oilpaper, to bind the poultice to the would. "Even so there's no telling where that one's sword had been, or what he'd been doing with it before he poked you with it. Or what he might have put on the blade..."
Alex nods to Horatio, her nose wrinkling up slightly, "That's an excellent -- if disgusting -- point!"
Dimitri laughs grimly. "Are you sure you aren't a marine, Horatio?"
Carroll sees that the ship is now moving again, and makes his way around the deck of the ship, telling everyone what a good job they did today, thanking them for their excellent work. He also ventures down into the holds, with a light and a guard, to tell the captured crew that they're going to be released alive and well in a couple of days or so, presuming no one does anything foolish and tries to escape or anything. He makes sure their wounded are being taken care of and that everyone's going to have enough to eat before climbing back to the deck. Carroll finally makes his way below, to where the wounded are, making the longest and most difficult stop. His smile is genuine, and his thanks to each of the crew there is real. Probably only his siblings can see how unhappy he is to have caused people who he is responsible for this sort of pain.
Dimitri looks up, from where he sits next to Mikhail's bunk. "It's fine Carroll... it's our job."
Alex will take Carroll's hand while he's there, after he's thanked them, and squeeze it gently, "Thank you, Carroll... for giving us a chance to strike back against an injustice."
Carroll smiles at his brother, and murrs, "It may be your job, but that means I appreciate it no less. Everyone seemed to do well, you two especially." He nods to Alex, and murrs, "It must be done."
Cleo thanks Carroll for his concern, later, and gives him the report on Mikhail. "He took a nasty knock on the head. I think he'll be fine once he wakes up, but right now I have to maintain spells on him to keep the swelling down inside his head... he should wake up in a couple days."
Carroll finds Cleo's words a great relief, and murrs, "Is everyone else all right? What of the Cornucopia's wounded? The Captain's guard?"
Cleo shrugs. "The cat lost a lot of blood, and he was the worst injured of the lot. He'll be fine, eventually, as long as I can keep peritonitis at bay. It'll take a lot of spell energy, though. The others aren't in particularly bad shape."
Dimitri nods quietly. "Pravinchandra owes me a new shirt. Alex grins at Dimitri!
Horatio smiles quietly up to Alex for a moment, before finishing tying off the bandage. "You are right, it's not serious, though it's more than a scratch. You should be fine though, well before we reach the next one." He looks up to Dimitri, giving his dark brother a wan smile. "No, Dimitri, I'm not. I don't think I'll ever be one, which, I think, is more than for the best." His expression hardens. "But I'm not going to take chances, not where any of us -- family, crew, what have you -- are concerned. Not with Pravinchandra..." He shakes his head, and finishes the binding.
Alex smiles at Horatio, "Thank you, Horatio... that's... very brave of you."
Cleo stops, thinking for a moment. "I should say, he was the worst injured of the survivors... the two archers who got in the way of that ballista bolt..."
Carroll nods, and murrs, "Do what you can, Cleo. I hope you'll have the time." He sighs at that, and then murrs, "Nothing we can do for them, I fear. Let's do what we can for those we can." He looks her up and down, and asks, "How are you holding up? Have we asked too much of you?" Alex looks up alertly at that question from Carroll to Cleo.
Cleo grins, a bit wryly. "Not to worry...one of the first lessons apprentices are taught... what happens when you let your intentions exceed your abilities. It's not something many of us wish to repeat, ever. I won't be making any more calls to Hildy until this is sorted out, though."
Alex nods quietly to herself, her ears falling to a more relaxed, relieved pose. She smiles at Cleo, "It did rather startle me... how quickly you collapsed, that time."
Carroll nods, and smiles. He murrs, "All right. If there's anything you need, ask. Don't feel that you're unwanted or unimportant because you're here. This is important, and I want nothing to risk our people that doesn't have to. You included."
Cleo nods. "That was right at the edge of my powers. I'm hoping I can hire another mage to boost my link when we reach Maidstone."
Horatio cringes slightly at Cleo's mention of the ballista shot. Perhaps none of the others notice it, perhaps only his siblings, but he hides it, and makes no comment as he returns the herb-bag and oilpaper-wrapped bandage to his satchel.
Dimitri looks up, quiet. "I'm going to be here for a while Horatio, if you wish to talk, later." Horatio looks up, blinking to Dimitri, and nods quietly in affirmation. Alex pats Horatio's paws quietly, but doesn't say anything when he flinches.
Carroll looks at Dimitri, and then at Horatio. He doesn't say anything, though, thinking that, for once, someone else has better words.
The trip is uneventful, though everyone is cheered when Mikhail comes out of his coma late in the third day and seems to be recovering fully. Two days after passing Larris the Mare ghosts into Maidstone harbor with the morning breezes, the red field and gold icons of St. Genevieve flying proudly at the top of the mainmast, above the inverted green and gold of House Pravinchandra, with the silver star on black of Starfall fluttering from the signal yards over the quarterdeck. A port agent comes out to meet the ship after they're directed to an anchorage, a heavy-set beaver in the emerald-and-forest of Maidstone's royal house.
Carroll is on hand to meet the agent, dressed as neatly as always, today in the family colors, himself. Alex is perfectly and correctly dressed as first mate, at Carroll's side. Dimitri stands at the side of the quarterdeck, looking to the ships at port. He notes the flags and the ornately painted names, wondering if there be any he recognizes. Dimitri is simply dressed in utilitarian grays, the only splash of color his earrings and a touch of lace at his throat.
Horatio also leans on the railing by the quarterdeck's chart table, enjoying somewhat the cool breeze of the offshore wind, watching the ships as they pass by. He stands, coming to nearby Carroll as the port agent comes aboard, straightening his tabard and otherwise, for once, looking like a noble's son rather than something just recently emerged from an extended sojourn in the depths of a library.
Alex keeps a sharp eye on the ship as Carroll speaks with the agent... she doesn't want even a hint of anything wrong to crop up just now!
The port agent clambers up from the guard boat which brought him out, squinting puzzledly at the mainmast flags. "What colors are those, Captain? And what is your business here in Maidstone?"
Carroll smiles, and murrs, "That sir is the signal of our vendetta. It is the family colors of our house, St. Genevieve, over the inverted colors of our nemesis, Pravinchandra. That House has damaged us and others enough." He looks back at the beaver, and murrs, "Our business here is to register as an official privateer."
The beaver straightens up. "Ah. I see..." He pauses, putting a new speech together in his head. "As a military vessel then you are immune to search here, but anything you land will be subject to inspection at the harbor office." He points. "And if you wish to register as a privateer, the Maidstone Naval Headquarters building is that one over there." He points again. He adds, "You need to register today, if you wish to operate as a privateer. If you have not done so by tomorrow, we'll have to inspect you as a civilian vessel."
Carroll smiles, and murrs, "Thank you for that piece of information. We will take care of it straight away." Looking out at the building indicated, and then back, he asks, "Is there anything I can help you with?"
The port agent shrugs. "Not today, if you're planning to register. I'll be back tomorrow, to check on that."
Carroll smiles, and murrs, "I shall look forward to being able to show you that it's taken care of."
Dimitri quietly walks down the stairs to the deck, next to Carroll. His long sword is balanced over his shoulder. "Want company?"
Carroll nods, and murrs, "Please."
Alex says, "Captain? Shall I organize watches to allow shore leave for the crew?"
Carroll nods, and murrs, "Figure out the planning, but don't implement it until we've got this little detail worked out. After that point, we'll be safer." Carroll leaves Alex with the command, and murrs, "Let's get this taken care of, shall we, Dimitri?"
Dimitri softly growls, "After you, Captain."
Alex organizes watches with the bosun. Alex then sighs... responsibility calls... and with some help from Cleo, as the most 'off duty' woman she can find, she unpacks, shakes out, and airs her court dresses... since she may need to use them.
Carroll comes back from the Naval HQ somewhat bemused. "They actually ask who the vendetta is against, what flag you're flying for it, and warn you that the Navy of the city-state in question will treat you as a pirate. All proper and aboveboard and legal, here..."
Dimitri looks across at all the ships. he spies one, however, and grins darkly. he whispers quietly... "I wonder what tavern they hang out in..." He nods to the Pravinchandra ship. "Who, me?" He then pauses, quiet. "Have the bosun inform the crew we have a Pravinchandra in town. Be very careful... we don't want to show our cards too soon... or too late."