The crowd was rowdy until the sound of a very gruff man silenced them. The shout caused Zarabean to freeze up and hold Echo ever closer to himself. All that could be heard now was Echo's crying and a set of heavy footsteps approaching them. Soon a gruff older man appeared as the crowd of stranders backed out of his way. He looked to be somewhere between an old pirate and a strander but it was uncertain which he truly was. This man had a peg leg and an eyepatch and smelled of fish and filth. The one eye he still had was a piercing gray and his beard was a grand matted mess. Zarabean felt as though he might faint when the scary man's eye met up with his. It was unclear what the man was thinking. He took a knee beside the cage to get to Zarabean's height before reaching a calloused fist through the bars toward the ridgerunner and the baby. Zarabean finched and backed away despite the man's movements being very slow. "Aye." The man opened his hand to reveal a plumyum resting in it. Zarabean glanced at the plumyum, then back at the man, and then back at the plumyum. Plumyums have always been Zarabean's favorite fruit, however, he did not take it right away. Despite the drool forming at the corners of his mouth, Zarabean knew not to trust a stranger offering such a valuable gift, especially one that captured him. "Aw, ye know ye want it, little guy." The one eyed man greeted with an odd sweetness in his bass voice. "Zara... Zarabean can't. He don't know you." Zarabean stammered, trying to resist the urge to take the fruit from the suspicious man's hand. "Aye, I haven't introduced myself, have I?" The man had a deep belly laugh before introducing himself, "My name's Captain Sealen Silver-eye. See, now we're not strangers, Zarabean. Zarabean's yer name, isn't it?" Zarabean's mouth clenched shut, feeling as though he gave away valuable information without meaning to. His knees were still knocking each other and his anxiety through the roof. He looked down at Echo, who was still crying and worried for his safety. Captain Sealen looked at Echo the same time Zarabean did. "That's a small babe. Why were ye holding it? We didn't mean to nab ya, ye just happened to be a bonus." He kept his hand with the fruit outstretched to Zarabean, "Say. How about a deal, eh? Ye give me the babe in exchange for the fruit and I'll even throw in yer freedom. What do ye say?" Zarabean's attention snapped right back to Captain Sealen and his hand outstretched with the fruit. Zarabean's bit his bottom lip, as if considering it for a moment. He looked down at Echo one last time. Echo had big crocodile tears streaming down his cheeks and a runny nose to boot. The sound coming from his mouth was a wail, a frightened one at that. Zarabean couldn't help but tear up because of his conflicting desires and embraced Echo the best he knew how. - "What do you mean 'he's gone'?! What of Zarabean?! He was supposed to be watching my nephew!" Celeste shouted in a panic, rushing over to the guard. "Your nephew was taken from his room. No one could identify who took them but what we gathered is that they were lasf seen heading for the docks." The guard replied, seeming worried like the rest of them. "Zarabean you say? Was that the ridgerunner that was with him?" "Yes, yes it was..." Celeste looked at Clef with tears in her eyes. Clef looked back at Celeste, his aggression from moments ago fading quickly into compassion for her. However, that look of compassion shifts to one of vengeful passion. "Looks like we're setting sail once again, my dear Lore Wain." He took her hand and began rushing her out of the palace. Celeste went with him quickly, not minding to stay hidden anymore. Her nephew was in danger, her reputation wasn't nearly valued as much as him.
Just as Celeste and Clef were about to exit the main hall, Ramger stopped them at the great gates. "Where do you think you're going?!" Ramger exclaimed before laying eyes on Clef and his jaw dropping to the floor. "The strander from the docks... What is he doing here?!" Celeste looked impatiently at Ramger, "Step aside, my nephew needs me!" "You do know how badly this looks, don't you?! Oh Heavens, if your parents saw you-" "Can it, Torrboro boy!" Clef exclaimed, shoving Ramger out of the way. "We haven't got time for another stupid lecture! The High King needs our help!" With that, Clef rushed past Ramger with Celeste without apology. Ramger steamed upon the interaction and called for the guards. Celeste quickly entered the royal stable and took out Muffin to ride. She rushed to get onto her horse's back. Clef helped Celeste before joining her on the back of the horse as well. "Let's go!" Celeste was swift as a dragonfly and shot down the path to the docks as fast as ol' Muffin could take them. Clef held onto Celeste, as to not fall off the back of the horse. When they finally made it to the docks, they could see a pirate ship far off on the horizon. "We missed it!" Celeste exclaimed as she brought the panting Muffin to a stop. "Aye, the ship's a sea worthy if you are!" Alagatha called from overhead on Celeste's ship. Clef immediately dismounted from Celeste's horse and offered her a hand to help her down. "Come on, maybe we can catch up to them!" Celeste nodded and took Clef's hand before getting off Muffin and quickly heading aboard the ship with him. "Hoist the main sails, we've got a baby to save!... And a ridgerunner too!" Clef shouted boat talk to the crew to get them moving. Nibble was quick to do just that while Alagatha helped. Celeste set her eyes on the horizon toward the ship her nephew and friend were on. "Hold on, we'll be there soon."
That is not good... For her reputation or anything else. At least Zarabean is good, so he won't give in!