pling hooks that now bound the sloop to the larger vessel,
but they couldn’t do that and defend themselves as well.
Both went down under a wave of attackers. Roseroar had
been backed up to the stern. She stood there, enclosed by a
picket line of spears and lances. Every time someone made
a move to get under her guard, they ended up with their
insides spilling all over the deck.
Finally one of the mates barked an order. The spearmen
backed off, yielding their places to archers. Arrows were
aimed at the tigress. Being a brave warrior but not a
suicidal one, she nodded and handed over her weapons.
The pirates swarmed over her with chains and steel bands,
binding her in such a way that if she tried to exert pressure
on her bonds she would only end up choking herself. They
were much more casual in tying up Jon-Tom.
A towline was attached to the sloop as the prisoners
were marched up a gangplank onto the capturing craft.
They formed a sullen quartet as they were lined up for
review. The rest of the crew stood aside respectfully as an
unbloodied figure stepped forward and regarded the captives.
The leopard was as tall as Jon-Tom. His armor was
beautiful as well as functional, consisting of intricately
worked leather crisscrossed with silver metal bands. His
tail emerged from a hole in the back of the armor. The last
half of the tail looked like a prosthesis, but Jon-Tom
decided it would be impolitic to inquire about it just now.
Four long knives were attached to the belt that ran around
110
Alan Dean Foster
THE DAY OF THE DISSONANCE