"Come on." Quick hands pulled the rope off her neck, and someone grabbed her elbow with one hand, unshealthing a sword with the other.

"Ralthani?!" She stared at the once pirate, who grinned, and jumped off the podium, taking her with him.

"Hurry up, Black Fox," he said, running with her through the crowd, pushing away startled people, and avoiding guards, who were over their momentary shock, and were now heading for them.

"I'm going as fast as I can," She reprimanded. "So, anyway, what the heck are you doing?"

"I believe the terminology is 'saving you,'" he said, grinning over his shoulder as they broke free from the crowd, and out of the Hanging Yard. "I found your crew- they've got the Midnight Serpent waiting for you at one of the docks."

The pirate glanced behind her as she ran for her life. Guards were following them, although they were all running a bit hesitantly. She glanced up at the Ralthani, who was still running as fast as the two of them could manage. Of course. The guards were afraid to attack their king- who currently didn't have an heir.

"So," Black Fox gasped as they jumped over a fence, "exactly why are you doing this? I mean, you've got your occupation at stake here."

The Ralthani grinned, and said nothing for a few seconds. "Ah, a pirate lady wouldn't understand. Here's the dock."

They ran along the wooden, creaky planks, finally reaching the edge, where a small rowboat with two men from Black Fox's crew sat, nodding respectfully to her.

"What's that supposed to mean?! Tell me!" Black Fox gasped, still out of breath.

"Have fun pirating," The Ralthani said, avoiding her question and pushing her into the rowboat. He glanced behind him, where the guards were now at the edge of the dock, running as fast as they could to reach Black Fox before she pushed off. The Ralthani turned back to her, and smiled. "Once a pirate, always a pirate, I suppose," he said, taking her hand and kissing it, as he would to one of the court ladies. "Cheerio!" He suddenly kicked the boat away from the dock, just as the fastest guard ran up beside him, panting and staring forlornly at the quickly disappearing rowboat.

Black Fox sat down, and grimaced. "What an idiot!" She proclaimed, ignoring the two men as they exchanged gleeful looks. She paused, and then sighed, her eyes moving to where the Ralthani was standing, obviously arguing with the crowd of guards, "an idiot, but one heck of a true friend."