Adrianna's Dragon

Chapter 13 Sedition

"James Greene, I arrest you in the name of the emperor. Stand clear of that contraption."

"This contraption is the future. What am I being arrested for?"

"You'll be told soon enough. Where are your traveling companions?"

"You know how flighty women are, they flew off somewhere. Now Major you seem like a reasonable fellow let's just settle this now. Why are you arresting me?"

"You have been under observation for several months. We know about the Order. We also know about the woman your call your cousin. You will come with us."

"What about my stuff?"

"Just leave it, you won't need it where you're going."

"Can I put the fire out first?"

"No time for your toys." They rode off they were about a half mile out when huge explosion rent the air causing the horses to react throwing several men from them and a large chunk of twisted metal to hit the ground feet from the major. "So you were building a bomb that will be added to your charges." James was turned over to local authorities and chained to the wall on the third floor of the Dexter Jail. Two days later he was taken out of his cell and stood in chains before the regional magistrate.

"You may read the charges," the magistrate called to the bailiff.

"James Greene you are charged with aiding and abetting known criminals, publishing without a license, unlawful discharge of explosives, conspiracy, disloyalty and sedition."

"How do you plead?" the magistrate asked. He weighed about three hundred pounds James observed and looked bored as he sat in his faded purple robe and powdered wig.

"I plan to stand mute your honor," James said.

"I really don't want to deal with the likes of you," the magistrate shouted, his face red with rage and spittle flying from his mouth as he spoke. "So I'll enter a plea of guilty for you and be done with this charade. Take him away." James was not at all surprised with the proceedings. This was how imperial law was handled. His main concern was how well he would hold up to what came next, and how much they knew. When he was returned to his cell his chains were thrown over a bar on the ceiling and he was lifted off his feet. Then two men entered and beat him with short clubs until he lost consciousness then allowed him to drop to the floor.

When James came to he was lying on the floor of the same cell. A short thin balding man with a thin mustache was sitting in a chair at a small desk with two uniformed men, who stood on either side of him. "That was just a taste James, you will talk to us. I'm your interrogator, you can call me Steven. I'm the regional Czar of the Loyalty Police." He had a thick folder of papers on his desk. "We have been monitoring you for the last three years."

"I'm more than happy to co-operate Steven."

"The women you were traveling with, who are they?"

"My aunt Kaitlyn and my cousin Addie."

"Your cousin?" He paged through the pile of papers, "Adrianna Greene, Addie, she just pretty much popped onto your life. Isn't that a bit mysterious."

"Relatives do that in my family."

"We had a team watching you at the ball. You disappeared for about two hours. Some of the guests reported that you seemed overly fond of your 'cousin'"

"I rather like the girl."

"The two of you disappeared into the hidden gardens for some time returning more than a bit disheveled."

"It was a vigorous dance. Addie loves to dance."

"Then you disappeared after selling your home and just happened to turn up here with you fawning cousin in tow."

"Hoping to start a new life in the colonies. It's a place of opportunities."

"And you brought your young 'cousin' with you?"

"Well I married her Steven."

"Married your cousin, we'll add that to the charges, incest is a crime too you know." James shrugged his shoulders. "Where are they now?"

"They flew away Steven." Steven nodded to his men and they approached James and began beating him their short clubs while he lay on the floor trying roll into a ball and protect his head.

"I'll ask you again James, where are the women?"

"They flew away, no idea what else to tell you."

"We'll talk again James." Steven signaled again and his men beat James again leaving him unconscious and left. The next morning James was given bread and water. He sat on the cot in his cage and waited, losing count of the days. Then one morning the scraping sound of a heavy chair being dragged in to his cell woke him. Steven was back.

"I hope you plan on being more co-operative James," Steven said in his smooth unpleasantly pitched voice.

"I was last time Steven. How did you know about my cousin and aunt?"

"We have been watching you for some time. I already told you that. We know everything about you."

"If you know everything why ask me questions?"

"Tell me about the Order?"

"It's a group of wealthy do-gooders. I'm a member and so is my new wife."

"Who else?"

"I really don't know Steven." Steven signaled his thugs and they began beating James.

"Who else James?"

"I really don't know, we use secret names and wear masks. It's a lot of fun. You should try it."

"What is your secret name?"

"Phantom Scribe."

"So you wrote all those inflammatory pamphlets."

"I'm impressed you can read Steven." Steven got up from his chair and kicked James several times and stomped on him.

"What is your wives secret name?"

"We just admitted women so it's not official yet, but Hooligan will be her name."

"You went recently to a meeting in the peninsula."

"I'm impressed you know so much Steven."

"Where was it?"

"In the peninsula duh!" Steven signaled and James received another beating.

"Where in the peninsula?"

"I don't know Steven, I've no sense of direction, why don't you tell me?" James was dragged out of the cell and thrown in a hole and which was pitch black when the heavy steel door was closed. James guessed about the passage of time by the frequency of meals and how often his chamber pot was removed. The days slowly dragged on and on. The room was extremely hot during the day and terribly cold at night. He had neither blanket nor cot. He was certain of two important things, the imperials knew little, and Addie was safe. And that was all that mattered.