The Lore Wain and Her Nephew Pt. 26

Celeste approached her group, keeping her eyes on Zarabean. "Why are you acting so offended?" Nibble asked with concern, "Alls I did was rub your head." "No doubt it is an inappropriate time for teasing." Zarabean sneered and folded his arms. "Will none of you take me seriously?" His shifty eyes looked side-eyed at Clef, who laughed at the nuggying moments earlier. Clef raised an eyebrow at Zarabean's look. "What??" "Zarabean?" Celeste's voice rang with concern. Zarabean looked over at Celeste with the rest of the group. "Why are you so upset?" Celeste asked, seeming concerned. Zarabean huffed and folded his arms, which is very much not like him. He seemed more bothered now than he seemed angry. Cynthia spoke up for him, seeing he was being a bit stubborn. "He's worried about the other ridgerunners coming to steal from us or worse... He got really mad since he was trying to tell everyone something and Nibble gave him an untimely nuggy... But! It's not Nibble's fault! He seems like he likes to tease..." "We teassse each other all the times but he doesn't usually react like this." Nibble said throwing his claws up in the air as if saying 'I ain't touching this conversation with a twenty foot pole.' Celeste kneeled down to Zarabean. "What's wrong?" Zarabean gave Celeste a side-eyed look before looking up at the trees. "Zarabean knows it's too late to run now... He saw a scout just a moment ago. They'll be here soon." - Back on the ship, Echo had been whimpering for about twenty minutes after Ramger and Alagatha last spoke. Alagatha kept trying to calm him but he was refusing to. "Little matie, calm yer heart down. Yer auntie will be back in a little bit." Alagatha said in attempt to soothe little Echo. Echo only started to cry in response. "Aaaaww, don't be like that, Echo!" Alagatha rocked him back and forth. "What seems to be the problem?" Kinabrick asked, looking over Alagatha's shoulder at the baby. She turned to look at the knight who was standing far too close for her taste. "The wee babe is upset. I think he wants his auntie." Kinabrick looked back at Ramger, who was standing at the back of the ship now. He looked back at Alagatha. "Have you tried having Ramger hold him?" "What does he know bout babes? Long johns has been standing back there ever since we spoke." Alagatha asked with sincerity rather than judgment. Her reasoning was that if Echo wanted Celeste, no one on board could make him feel better except Celeste. "He had a son once." Kinabrick said solemnly, looking down at Echo. "If you're tiring from holding the young king, I'm sure Ramger could hold him the other half of the time." Alagatha looked intently at Kinabrick and asked, "Why don't you hold him?" "I must be ready at all times to defend the party." Kinabrick stated. "I'll go see if Ramger can help relieve you from duty." He said as he went to the back of the ship to retrieve Ramger. Alagatha looked puzzled but continued to try and help Echo calm down. Soon, Ramger returned back without Kinabrick at his side. "Did you need me to help?" Ramger asked reluctantly but still willing to assist Alagatha if she needed. "Tell me, why do ye want to help now? I haven't seen ye volenteer to help with the babe before." She asked, seeming rather curious. Ramger looked away briefly before making direct eye contact. "For your information, I took care of Echo the days leading up to Lore Wain Celeste's arrival back at the Kingdom. I'm quite capable of taking care of a baby on my own." Alagatha held up one hand, "Aye, I wasn't asking to judge ya, I just wanted to know why you wanted to help." "... I had a child of my own many years ago with my wife Priscilla." Ramger admitted before holding his arms out to Alagatha for Echo. "Now, hand me the young king and I'll help soothe him." "Ye have a wife? Maker have mercy!" Alagatha snickered. "Some woman she must be." Ramger sighed. "'Had'. I 'had' a wife. Alagatha, I rather not talk about this now with the child crying. Please hand me him." Alagatha ceased snickering upon hearing Ramger's comment about his previous wife. Without a word, she handed Echo over to him. Echo continued to cry even in Ramger's arms. Ramger gently held Echo close to his chest. "Dear king, your aunt Celeste will be back soon." He patted the child on the back and swayed back and forth. "You have nothing to worry about, little one..." After a few minutes of Ramger calmly talking to him, Echo fell asleep in his arms. Once it was quiet, Alagatha whispered as to not wake the baby. "Ramger, what happened to yer wife?" "... She died." Ramger stated simply and directly without sugarcoating it. "However, that was a long time ago." "What of yer child?" She asked, having a sinking feeling the answer might be similar. Ramger was quiet a moment before replying, "Alagatha, I rather not talk about this. If you need me..." He looked away, "... I'll be in the Captain's cabin." Ramger then walked off to the cabin and entered it without a further word. Alagatha would of stopped him but she figured it was not a good idea with how unattached Ramger sounded upon telling her of his wife's death.