AN INTERVIEW WITH
ALEXIS MORDAIL
Q: Excuse me, is that a pistol on your belt?
ALEXIS MORDAIL: Or are you just happy to see me? [Beams a winning smile]. Yes, I get that a lot. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Alexis Mordail, corsair extraordinaire. I'm the captain of Admonisher, the finest ship ever to ply the open ocean... well, she's not plying anything at the moment, but...
Q: Why not?
AM: Ah! That would be because she's had her side blown off. [Chuckles] Cannons, fascinating as they are, can be rather inconvenient things.
Q: For someone who's just had his ship blown apart, you seem to be in a chipper mood.
AM: No worries. Admonisher is a tough old miss. She's been through worse.
Q: How does it get any worse than losing a half of your ship?
AM: Ah... [Pauses, snaps his lapels] The side that got blown off might have been the side I was standing on.
Q: Point taken.
AM: [Nods]
Q: So, you're a corsair. Tell us what that is.
AM: Right. Where I'm from, Avignary, we've got knightly orders. Except that unlike anywhere else where anybody with a long pole and a horse can be a knight, our orders of chivalry are nautical. Meaning that all knights are sea captains. And we call them corsairs, which is what I am.
Q: Interesting. I met another knight earlier. He didn't look anything like you. In fact, he was wearing armor from head to toe.
AM: Body armor doesn't do you much good on a ship. It certainly doesn't make swimming any easier if you go overboard. Besides, the ladies love my topcoat. [Grins]
Q: So what do you do for a living?
AM: For a living? [Shakes his head] My friend, I don't "do" anything for a living. I live. I think you meant to ask what I do for money. Well, I'm independently wealthy so I have time to dabble in a variety of disciplines -- engineering, literature, appreciation of all sorts of exotic food and drink...
Q: You never mentioned sailing.
AM: Ah. So I didn't. Well yes, I do that too. Sailing is a fine thing. Admonisher fetches a fair amount of coin, which is well and good considering how expensive repairs can get.
Q: It sounds like your ship gets into battles often...
AM: [Interrupting] The sea is a dangerous place.
Q: You're not a pirate, are you?
AM: Oh no, no. [Chuckles] I'm a right regular fighting gentleman of the sea. Of course, what happens on the open ocean usually stays there, especially if the losing side is sent to the bottom. Catch my drift?
Q: I think I do.
AM: [Grins wider] Wonderful!
Q: Tell me, what are your current prospects?
AM: As it happens, the chancellor of Itudaeia has chartered me to pick up an emissary...
Q: I think I know where this is going.
AM: [Continues speaking] ...to their shores for some sort of diplomatic summit with the imperial family. It's all stuffy international business and I won't bore you with the details. Now, if you'll excuse me, this has all been good fun, but I have to get back to work. Admonisher isn't going to repair herself, is she?
ALEXIS MORDAIL: Or are you just happy to see me? [Beams a winning smile]. Yes, I get that a lot. It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Alexis Mordail, corsair extraordinaire. I'm the captain of Admonisher, the finest ship ever to ply the open ocean... well, she's not plying anything at the moment, but...
Q: Why not?
AM: Ah! That would be because she's had her side blown off. [Chuckles] Cannons, fascinating as they are, can be rather inconvenient things.
Q: For someone who's just had his ship blown apart, you seem to be in a chipper mood.
AM: No worries. Admonisher is a tough old miss. She's been through worse.
Q: How does it get any worse than losing a half of your ship?
AM: Ah... [Pauses, snaps his lapels] The side that got blown off might have been the side I was standing on.
Q: Point taken.
AM: [Nods]
Q: So, you're a corsair. Tell us what that is.
AM: Right. Where I'm from, Avignary, we've got knightly orders. Except that unlike anywhere else where anybody with a long pole and a horse can be a knight, our orders of chivalry are nautical. Meaning that all knights are sea captains. And we call them corsairs, which is what I am.
Q: Interesting. I met another knight earlier. He didn't look anything like you. In fact, he was wearing armor from head to toe.
AM: Body armor doesn't do you much good on a ship. It certainly doesn't make swimming any easier if you go overboard. Besides, the ladies love my topcoat. [Grins]
Q: So what do you do for a living?
AM: For a living? [Shakes his head] My friend, I don't "do" anything for a living. I live. I think you meant to ask what I do for money. Well, I'm independently wealthy so I have time to dabble in a variety of disciplines -- engineering, literature, appreciation of all sorts of exotic food and drink...
Q: You never mentioned sailing.
AM: Ah. So I didn't. Well yes, I do that too. Sailing is a fine thing. Admonisher fetches a fair amount of coin, which is well and good considering how expensive repairs can get.
Q: It sounds like your ship gets into battles often...
AM: [Interrupting] The sea is a dangerous place.
Q: You're not a pirate, are you?
AM: Oh no, no. [Chuckles] I'm a right regular fighting gentleman of the sea. Of course, what happens on the open ocean usually stays there, especially if the losing side is sent to the bottom. Catch my drift?
Q: I think I do.
AM: [Grins wider] Wonderful!
Q: Tell me, what are your current prospects?
AM: As it happens, the chancellor of Itudaeia has chartered me to pick up an emissary...
Q: I think I know where this is going.
AM: [Continues speaking] ...to their shores for some sort of diplomatic summit with the imperial family. It's all stuffy international business and I won't bore you with the details. Now, if you'll excuse me, this has all been good fun, but I have to get back to work. Admonisher isn't going to repair herself, is she?
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