Echoes Of The Past (Pt. 1)

(This is the "second book" of The Lore Wain and Her Nephew. You're free to skip it but be warned... There is a lot of character development you'll be missing out on. Enjoy!)

As the refugee ships of her Annieran citizens took to port in Torrboro, Celeste pondered her journey thus far.

It was months ago that her older siblings, the rulers of Anniera, were taken from her in a horrible bloodbath by the hand of strander-pirates. If it hadn't been enough to lose most of her family in one day, shortly after she had lost her Kingdom to a cruel Captain known as Sealen Silver-Eye, who she later found out was trying to kidnap royal children for his own personal gain. It was by the Maker's mercy that Celeste escaped with her nephew, High King Echo, who was but an infant at the time.

Celeste and her crew of misfits had immediately set sail for The Hollows with the refugees, her Royal Advisor Ramger, and her Lead Captain of the Guard Kinabrick. Through the infighting amongst the crew to the run in with Zarabean's ridgerunner family back in Ban Soran, they all somehow still survived and made their enemies their friends. After a generous donation from Nala and her exotic farmer brother, Celeste and others returned to the ship with a new sense of purpose. It was decided they would sail for Torrboro.

Along the way, the trip was anything but peaceful. The royal advisor was hysterical for the first half of the trip and there had been family reunion that was twentyish years in the making. Not only that but a sea dragon interrupted their voyage to give a message to Celeste, warning her of the dangers of coming to Skree. This is when Echo would not stop crying and Ramger took all measures to ensure he would calm down. Alas, his technique unknowingly aged Echo into being a 6 year old child with the common sense of an infant. Not long after was there some worry about the fangs on board and a pact was made to ensure the safety of all the citizens on board.

Celeste had even received some sword lessons from Clef, who made sure she understood defense before ever learning offense. That way, she could protect her nephew in the way Throne Warden Everett had defended Castle Rysen the day the sky turned dark. During this short training period, Celeste thought often of her eldest brother and longed to make him proud.

But now that she was faced with the reality of everyone recuperating in another desolate city, she was unsure they had made the right decision coming there.

"Lore Wain Celeste." The voice of Ramger could be heard behind her as she looked over the railing of the ship. "Are we ready to exit the ship?"

She turned to him after a moment and nodded. "Let everyone know we're leaving... And if you or anyone else knows of accommodations for us and our people, please make it known."

"Yes, Princess." Ramger nodded back and made his way over to the others and began ordering them around, as he was accustomed to doing.

Within the hour, Celeste and her crew had set their feet upon the soil of Skree and within the next, they were in the center of the once active city.

"It's... worse than I thought." Celeste commented as she looked at the destroyed homes.

Ramger followed behind Celeste, holding Cynthia's claw/hand through it all. "... We must find a place to stay before nightfall. Dugtown isn't far from here..."

At this point in time, Clef had his mask removed from his eyes after his past being revealed months ago. Hearing mention of 'Dugtown' prompted him to quickly put his eye mask back on to prevent from being recognized by the locals.

"You're right." Celeste replied to Ramger before turning to Clef. "Do you know where a good place to stay would be...? I know it's been some years since you were last in the area and... This poor city isn't the same."

"... I can think of a place but... I don't think it would be big enough for the thousands of Annerian citizens... It would probably be big enough for us." Clef replied before glancing at Ramger. "I have a feeling you won't like it."

"Oh?" Ramger asked, looking softer at Clef now that he knew in his heart that he was his son. "Where? Maybe I know the place."

Clef cracked a smile and chuckled as he shook his head. "No doubt you'd know. It's a pretty famous establishment."

"Clef, just tell us." Celeste cracked a smile but kept a serious tone.

"It's a place called... 'The ThwapHouse'-" Clef went to explain before Ramger interrupted with a loud groan. Clef paused and then laughed. "See! I told you that you wouldn't like it!"

"'The ThwapHouse'! Pah!" Ramger scoffed, prompting more laughter. "The lady that runs the place is looney! She keeps all sorts of creatures in her barn, including squeeblins! And you can't trust a squeeblin! She even has a pet ridgerunner."

Zarabean rose an eyebrow. "'Pet'?"

Clef turned and looked down at Zarabean. "I can't explain that, you'd have to see for yourself."

Zarabean looked up at Clef with a skeptical look on his face before looking over at Nibble, who was oddly quiet for the occasion.

Clef looked over at Nibble. "... I think she's also our best bet for housing... a fang. No offense, Nibs."

Nibble broke out of his thought and looked at Clef. "What?" He asked before remembering Clef's previous statement. "Oh. If ssshe isn't nasty to fangsss, I'll stay with her."

Clef turned back to Celeste. "What do you think...?"

Celeste looked between Clef and Ramger for a moment before looking at Ramger. "Is this woman safe?"

"Well... She is but I can't guarantee that her pets are." Ramger replied.

"WAIT!" The voice of old Alagatha bellowed from the back of the group from beside Kinabrick. "DID YE SAY 'THE THWAPHOUSE'?!"

The crew parted so Celeste could see the ex-pirate at the end of the line.

"... Yes?" Celeste responded, taken back by Alagatha's sudden outburst. Granted, she figured she was just shouting because she couldn't hear very well.

"I KNOW THAT LADY! IT'S ME SISTER!" Alagatha shouted before she slapped her knee and let out a cackling laughter.

"What?" Celeste asked, still unsure of how to react to Alagatha's boastfulness that was gaining attention of the remaining locals. "She's your sister?!"

Alagatha waddled forward, nearly in tears from laughing. "I'm sorry, me Lore Wain. She's me younger sister. Her name's Rita and she's a strange one but I can ensure ye all get a warm welcome."

Celeste paused, looking very unsure of her decision before just nodding for Alagatha to lead them.

"Aight! Follow me!" Alagatha immediately took the lead with Ramger internally grumping to himself.

In all reality, Ramger would have been a lot more bothered if he hadn't have just spent a few months at sea with the sea hag. Between him, her, Kinabrick, and Clef, they had spent time each taking turns stirring the ship. Ramger was impressed with Alagatha's ability to manage a ship and keep it on course. He had to trust that she had good judgment regarding her sister... Not that he had much choice to. Ramger kept his mouth shut to keep from complaining.

As they walked along, Zarabean looked up at Nibble, who was walking beside him. "Are you alright?"

"Hm? Oh- yeah..." Nibble replied unconvincingly. "This place jussst... Itches the back of my brain. I think... I might have been here before..."

"Oh?? Is there anyway Zarabean can help?" Zarabean asked.

Nibble looked down at his ridgerunner friend and noticed that he looked a bit anxious. "Maybe ssstart with not being so antsssy. You're making me nervous."

Zarabean smiled crookedly. "Sorry." He looked forward. "I'm just not sure how this Rita will be."

"Why'sss that?" Nibble asked, having zoned out through most of the discussion.

"Clef said she had a *pet* ridgerunner. Zara- I'm not in favor of that term." Zarabean exclaimed. "I just hope Rita is good."

"Why wouldn't she be? She'sss uh... Alagatha's sssissster. Right?" Nibble then muttered to himself how hard it was to say 'sister' as a fang.

"Yes... But Alagatha used to be a pirate... This is the first I've heard of any sister." Zarabean's eyes narrowed warily. "I trust Alagatha but... I don't know about Rita."

Nibble clapped Zarabean on the back, causing him to nearly fall over. The fang cackled. "Ah, Bean. You're so ssshifty. It's a lady with a ThwapHouse. How bad can it be?"