The pony leading the boarding party was a pegasus stallion as stern and well-muscled as a pony could be—which still meant he was a little shorter than she was. No firearms on his belt, not even a musket. But then, none of the birds on her ship had firearms either. Gina had made very sure that the monks didn’t get a chance to try and smuggle anything back with them, despite their protests.
The officer handed her seal back a moment later. “My name is Captain Skysword, Equestrian Navy. As I understand the treaty, no Accipian vessel is permitted in our airspace. I trust you’ve got a good explanation.”
As they spoke, his soldiers were rushing up and down the line of griffons, down into the decks, turning over everything they could. Of course, she already knew they wouldn’t find anything. Except for what was obvious.
“We do,” Gina said, replacing the seal around her neck. There was one mildly satisfying thing about talking to pony soldiers over griffons—Skysword hadn’t even mentioned she was female. “Emperor Gaius discovered that some members of house Vengeance were… stranded in your territory after the ban. This vessel was sent to retrieve them.” She gestured back at the monks. “Once you permit us to leave, there will be no griffons acting under the authority of any of the great houses dwelling in your lands.”
“That is… good, I suppose.” Skysword took a step back, giving her a little more space. “We’ll see if that story checks out. If there’s no contraband aboard—if you really are just on your way back with some monks, this shouldn’t take long. I’ll have to report this… need your names for the record… but that’s all. Assuming you’re telling the truth.”
Perilously close to the words that would invite violence from a male. Females rarely fought so openly—though often their retribution could be as swift. Unfortunately it wasn’t just the two of them here. Gina could feel the weight of many birds suddenly watching her then. Questioning her honor was the same as attacking the reputation of the ship itself, since she was technically commanding it. If she did not react, one of these sailors might.
“I must’ve misheard you,” she said, straightening a little. “Surely you didn’t mean to question my word, Skysword. You know we Accipians don’t speak just to hear the sound of our own voices.”
Skysword hesitated. His body tensed, perhaps on the edge of an angry reaction. Maybe he saw the birds all watching him, because he seemed to think better of it. “Of course,” he said lamely. “I’m not making any accusations. Let us see what the search turns up.”
They waited in awkward silence for several minutes. It wasn’t just the sailors that were searched—the ship was turned upside-down. Compartments had their contents scattered on the deck, barrels were poked into, and unicorns cast various spells wherever they went. They’re looking for guns, Gina realized, recognizing the technique. They were searching anywhere that powder might’ve been stored, any containers large enough to hold it. Not that it would matter on a ship without any guns.
Of course, the one thing that Gina knew would upset these ponies was not hidden at all. About five minutes into the search, one of the pony navy men led Isabel over to where they waited.
Isabel shifted uneasily on her hooves, seeming like she kept thinking of running away. But where could she go? Even if she was one of the best spellcasters on any Accipian ship, that didn’t mean she could go up against trained warmages. She knew it just as Gina did.
“We found her,” said an earth pony stallion in a low voice, nudging her forward. “She’s branded, Captain. They were hiding pony slaves.”
Gina snapped back before Skysword could respond. “If hiding is standing someone in plain sight aboard the upper deck, we aren’t terribly good at hiding things.” She rolled her eyes, casting a contemptful glance back at the naval pony. “This is Isabel. She’s a member of my household.”
“Is that true?” All of the captain’s harshness had gone from his voice, all of his anger. He took one step closer to Isabel, speaking entirely for her. One of the other soldiers stepped between Gina and Isabel, resting one hoof on her rapier. Fools all if you draw it. You ponies are outmatched if Gideon decides to disobey me. And she knew he would be watching every moment, just waiting for a justifiable infraction. He couldn’t just defy the orders of the emperor. But if they were acting in self-defense against an unreasonable enemy, well… that was something else.
Isabel nodded vigorously. “It’s true. I have been with Gina for a long time. Ever since she saved me from house Victory.”
“You’re branded,” said Skysword, voice still low. “You know that… Equestria does not recognize slavery as legal status for any of its ponies. If you’re a prisoner here…” He glanced briefly at Gina. “We can take you to safety. Take you away from them. You’ll never have to see another griffon again.”
Isabel didn’t seem to have to think about the offer very long. “I am a member of Gina’s household,” she said again. “My help is important. She couldn’t do her duty without me.”
Skysword’s voice was barely a whisper now as he leaned in. “Are you her slave or not, pony? I need a clear answer.”
Isabel shrugged. “I am not an unwilling captive in Accipio. I don’t want to be taken away. She’s not forcing me, and I’m not afraid. I don’t need to be ‘saved’ by some barbarian.”
That did it—her words seemed to hit the captain like a physical blow. “We’ve seen ponies like you,” he muttered. “Stockholm… you’ve clearly been mistreated. But we have treatments for all of that. You don’t have to be dependent on your old masters.” He gestured with one hoof, and one of the soldiers nudged her towards the bridge.
“Captain says you’re coming with us.”
That was when Gina stepped forward. “You will not be taking a member of my household against her will,” she said, her voice firm. It was as much an instruction for the other members of the crew as a warning for this pony. “The treaty does not permit you to kidnap any ponies who fly through Equestria.”
“No,” Skysword agreed. “It permits us to take anyone who passes into Equestrian airspace without permission as prisoners of war. We’re well within our authority to lock you all in irons, impound this vessel, and drag you all to the Canterlot dungeons.”
There was a sudden silence on the deck of the Lapwing—the entire line of griffons watched closely. Many adjusted themselves in small ways, settling claws under them, or making it easier to jump and grab for weapons.
“I would… suggest against attempting that,” Gina said. “Or threatening my crew again. We aren’t ponies, Skysword. Accipians do not appreciate being spoken to that way.”
“No, we don’t,” Gideon said, shoving one of the pony guards sideways and approaching them at a slow walk. He wore only the light robe of his office, still untied from the search. As he walked, he eyed the ponies making to stop him as though they were utterly beneath his contempt. “I think it’s time for us to be leaving, Gina. Why don’t you tell this pony to cast off. Turn their tails for their own cities and leave the Lapwing to its mission.”
Gina had a few precious moments to hope for one of the pony-males they were always hearing rumors about—the kind that could judge the weight of their statements the way griffon females did. The ones who thought before they acted and didn’t accidentally start wars.
Her hope was misplaced. “Officer of the watch,” Skysword said, gesturing imperiously. “This prisoner has not followed instructions. We’ll be taking him as well. Clasp him in irons.”
“Unity forgive us,” Gina said, retreating one step from Skysword.
“What was that?” The captain asked, glaring at her. “Be thankful that’s all we’ll be taking. You can have your citizens back once that slaver emperor of yours—”
At that moment, the burly stallion who was apparently the officer of the watch made it to Gideon with a rusty set of manacles. The griffon remained still, frozen and tense in a stance Gina could recognize, even if she couldn’t replicate it herself. He was poised to strike.
As soon as the pony got close enough, he did.
Maybe this fight might’ve been more evenly matched. Had they been on the ground, where earth pony magic was strongest, a trained earth pony would be a serious adversary. But this high up…
Compared to Gideon, he might as well be a blind child. The griffon moved in a blur, stepping directly towards the pony and smashing a knee up into his face. His second blow shattered a bone in the pony’s leg, sending him sprawling sideways across the deck.
Sheaths echoed as ponies all over the deck drew their weapons. A few of her own crew dove for theirs as well, or anything heavy-looking they could reach. Most of the monks didn’t even bother, just rising with their claws at the ready. Their tools couldn’t be taken away in a simple search.
Isabel dodged out from behind the ponies, back towards the griffon side of the ship.
“Leave now!” Gina shouted, her voice loud enough to sound over the chaos. This was the last chance they had—any further, and there would be blood. Her crew could accept humiliating the ponies this way as victory enough for the way they’d been treated. But if the ponies fought back… “You don’t want to fight us today. Believe me.”
“No, you don’t,” Skysword whispered, his voice low and dangerous. “Surrender now. Every one of you who raised a weapon will be taken into custody, and—”
Gideon stepped forward towards him. There were three ponies between him and the captain now, weapons at the ready. Gideon was still unarmed, except for his claws. He looked completely unafraid. “Fly away, little songbirds. You’re not meal enough for me.”
They didn’t fly away. A few seconds later, and the deck descended into chaos.
Gina had been in the center of brawls before, but this was different. Ponies and birds fought, shouting sounded from the nearby ships, pegasus ponies filled the air. A limp pony trailing blood went rolling away from her along the deck, even as a massive metallic sound shook the air and a huge harpoon flew over her head, smashing directly into the Lapwing’s mast.
She lacked the training to gage which side was winning, though her involvement no longer mattered. Gaius is never going to give me a mission again. Assuming she even made it back to Accipio after this.
Isabel was at her side as they retreated below-decks, trying to get as far away from the battle as possible. Ponies didn’t follow them—the fighting was all above.
“You could’ve let them take me!” Isabel shouted over the melee. “My life isn’t worth this!”
“I protect my own,” Gina answered, her voice quivering. What would they do if they lost? Screams of the dead and dying all sounded the same to her, no matter their species.
Isabel’s horn glowed as they made their way to the lower-decks, to the coal-bunker. Beside it were the barrels of lantern oil and alcohol, both equally precious. Damn ponies had dumped a whole barrel out onto the deck. How desperate did they think Accipio was to hide gunpowder?
For obvious reasons, there were no lanterns down here, not where a single spark might mean death for everyone aboard. She could smell gas gently rising in the room, filling the air around her. It made her head spin.
For a few quiet minutes they hid there, together, listening to the battle unfold aboard the deck. Eventually the screaming died down, and a dim outline appeared in the gloom ahead of them. Someone was bringing a lantern down here. Were they completely insane?
“Hey, Imperator?” Gideon’s voice, sounding low and grave. “Are you down here? Someone saw you flying down here like a female.”
“I am a female,” she said, emerging from behind a large container of coal.
“Good.” Gideon was on the stairwell, looking down at her. His body was covered with deep red stains, soaking through his robe all over. “Makes this simple. Can’t have you flying back to Gaius to sing stories about this, can we?” He held the lantern high above his head, then tossed it with all his might, towards the barrels of oil.
Gina’s whole world became flame.