Thornton reveals what the duckling has in store for them

"Good morning, little Robin," there was just a hint of musicality in the voice, and it was attached to a man who straddled the border between elegant and lanky. Thornton Caldridge, elvish first mate of the Midnight Duckling approached the bars, flanked by a couple of sturdy looking sailors one a bulky orcish woman, and the other a dark skinned fellow who's clothing seemed a decent bit nicer than one would expect from an ordinary tough.

"Good morning,"Robin responded. She did her best to take the measure of the man. He seemed refined in a way most of the sailors she had met in her life were not, though Robin had met plenty of well to do villains in her time, and there was no assurance that this man was any different. "Could you let us out of here, please?"

"Quite the unconventional approach!" Thornton laughed. "I admire your creativity, but no. The lot of you will be staying right there until we reach our various destinations."

"What do you even want with us?" Robin said. The rest of the Bravos were tuned in on their conversation to varying degrees. "We made a deal, remember? You were supposed to be helping us get that book back!"

"We did agree on that, yes..." Thornton said, placing a hand on his chin, one finger reaching up to poke against the tip of his nose. "After doing a bit of research, however, the conclusion was reached that another use for you all would be much more profitable. Not to mention far less dangerous."

Robin's frown deepened, and a momentary charge of arcane energy coursed between her fingertips, though she knew well that without her sword there wasn't much she could do.

"Aren't you going to ask me what that use might be?" Thornton asked. "I suppose it should be obvious though--we're going to sell you, of course!"

"Oooof course," Liv sighed from her corner of the cell. Even with her back turned, Robin could practically feel the sniper's eyes roll.

Thornton ignored her and continued, "The young lady Beaumanoir is of great value as a hostage. I have no doubt you are familiar with the art of ransom, and though we are certain your family would pay a nice sum to have you returned, there are countless other houses who might have a little more to gain--and to offer, of course."

Emmaline's eyes narrowed, though she offered no response.

"And you--the eastern disciple," Thornton said, meeting Fuu's measured gaze with his own look of appraisal. "Your sort have always been popular with collectors, but with the recent edict from his holiness, the newly crowned Archbishop of Aethyr..." the honorific practically dripped with sarcasm, "I don't know if he intends to ****, kill, or convert, and frankly I don't much care. Perhaps you should have gone into hiding like the rest of the wandering sisters? A bit late now, though, I suppose. It is quite the bounty."

Fuu still offered no response, though Robin was certain that thoughts were racing through her leader's head. Robin herself didn't know too much about the tensions between the two religious factions, but being raised in the foothold of Aethyr, and had never heard of the Archbishop doing anything like that.

"Then there's the rest of you. Strange that a group with such high marks would also be filled with so much rabble. The crew had assured me that you'd make for rather excellent sex slaves, and looking at you know, I believe they were right," his eyes wandered between them, taking in one beautiful nude form after the next. "I suppose there was one more diamond in the rough--so I suppose you won't all wind up as whores in some tavern in the middle of nowhere."