Save me from what? he might have asked. If he'd been speaking to her.
He heard her get up and walk around his bow to stand in front of him. He casually turned his disfigured face away from her.
"Fine, then. Pretend to ignore me. I don't care if you answer me or not, but you have to listen to what I say. You are in danger, very real danger. I know you opposed me buying you from your family, but I made the offer anyway. They refused me."
Paragon permitted himself a small snort of disdain. Of course, they had. He was the Ludluck family's liveship. No matter how deep his disgrace, they would never sell him. They had kept him chained and anchored to this beach for some thirty years, but they'd never sell him! Not to Amber, not to New Traders. They wouldn't. He had known that all along.
Amber continued doggedly. "I spoke directly to Amis Ludluck. It wasn't easy to get to see her. When we did speak, she pretended to be shocked that I would make the offer. She insisted you were not for sale, at any price. She said the same things that you did, that no Bingtown Trader family would sell their liveship. That it simply wasn't done."
Paragon could not keep down the slow smile that gradually transfigured his face. They still cared. How could he have ever doubted that? In a way, he was almost grateful to Amber for making the ridiculous offer to buy him. Maybe now that Amis Ludluck had admitted to a stranger that he was still a part of her family, she'd be moved to visit him. Once Amis had visited him, it might lead to other things. Perhaps he would yet again sail the seas with a friendly hand on the wheel. His imagination went afar.
Amber's voice dragged him back ruthlessly. "She pretended to be distressed that there were even rumors of selling you. She said it insulted her family honor. Then she said-" Amber's voice suddenly went low, with fear or anger. "She said that she had hired some men to tow you away from Bingtown. That it might be better all around if you were out of sight and out of mind." Amber paused significantly.