The crown had seemed to place a reward for exploration and investigation. While he often times paid little mind to the posters that lined the city, it had attracted the attention of others and in turn provided a vast influx of clientele in the process. The main building of his father's business had been flooded with letters, askance to be escorted in their endeavors. So many that he had simply decided to hold auctions for their services. After all, there were only so many employees at his disposal and the number of inquiries far exceeded that quota. And so, each employer would be deigned by whoever's coin purse was the largest. So it was that he had been assigned to the side of a cartographer.

While many were set on investigating the recent disappearances, the man was much more interested in mapping the region beyond. He was scrawny, wearing clothes that didn't seem to fit his person and he nearly swam in the pits of fabric. His hat alone sagged down over the entirety of his crown, more times than not being pushed back from his brow after settling on the extremely large protrusion of his glasses lenses. The thick glass also served to magnify his already large and almost bulging eyes until it almost appeared that they took up an absurd percentage of his face. He was older, his hair thinning along the top while still thick along the sides (and protruding from his ears). Alistair couldn't help but thinking that if he trimmed the fuzz away, the man would be able to hear once again as he often had to raise his voice to nearly yelling to be heard.

He watched the man scramble over his table, fingers searching through the thick stack of papers that lay in shambled discord upon the rough surface. Irritation marred his countenance, his lip trembling as he waved the guard away. "Please, please step out for just a moment. Go and busy yourself elsewhere while I work. I have little need of you until we at least leave the harbor." He didn't bother trying to voice his acceptance of the command, knowing that as long as those eyes weren't on him, he would never be heard. Instead, he merely bowed, a silent gratefulness for it actually as he excused himself from the passenger cabin.

Out on the deck, he would lean against the wall, deep umber stare watching the ship's hands work to ready and set about the course. He knew little of what to expect in the coming days, let alone how long the trip would last. Though to say he wasn't interested in the sailing itself would be a lie. His interest straying, his feet followed suit. His steps carried him to the railing on the side of the boat, looking down at the dark waters abysmally lapsing against the hull and swimming roughly against the legs of the wharf. Upon which rested a familiar visage. "Hmm? August?" He would call down to the goat below, hand raised in a wave to attract the other's attention.