Suitors and Research

A walk on the deck was a welcome break from the foul odors of sickness for Serenica. She marinated herself in the fresh sea air, while walking hand in hand with her new friend.

"You must have plenty of suitors," the bookkeeper said out of nowhere.

"Huh?" Serenica turned her head, but her long hair got on the way. She liked to keep it untied, since it was a way of appearing more feminine without actually doing anything actively, but it was a bother at times.

"Look at you," Myorka said, smiling. "You're the freshest thing after those waves."

Serenica contemplated on her appearance. She was aware of it, she had seen her reflection more than once. She had never considered it to be crucial to her survival, but she had to admit she had never been denied anything due to being particularly ugly, either. Whatever discrimination she faced was based on her being a Raelian woman. For her, the most important thing was how her personality was displayed in her every feature. Thick eyebrows, a bit unruly, making the gaze of her eyes a bit serious. There was a certain curvature in the lines of her upper lip that suggested deep thoughts and curiosity. It was as if she was always on the verge of discovering something. Her hair was a force of nature, forming curls and cascading on both sides of her face, framing her hollow cheeks.

She did not envy any other woman. She was too practical for that.

"I do not have any suitors that I know of," she said, now self-conscious, shaking her head. "I am content with that."

"Oh, you are missing out," Myorka chuckled. "Do they not appreciate female beauty in Neul anymore?"

"The ideal is pale, very pale, clothed in silk of the North, and I am married to healing," Serenica said.

"Which reminds me of something!" The bookkeeper snapped her fingers. "We need to talk about Kinley. Would you mind going back down?"

Serenica moaned. "Back to treat John the Halfwit?"

Myorka laughed. "Is that how you discuss your patients behind their backs?"

"Only those who have physically attacked me," Serenica lied. She didn't feel like explaining how frustrating it was to see a person who had destroyed their own health.

"We don't have to go there," the bookkeeper said, placing a hand on the shoulder of the healer. "We can talk in Spade's cabin."

That was not a positive thing for Serenica. She didn't want to have a discussion that could lead to exchanging words about witchcraft.

They did end up in the crowded cabin of the captain, with the captain.

Serenica avoided his gaze.

"What do we know about Kinley?" Spade asked, shuffling the notes they had on the businesswoman.

"She controls the city guard. Wants to be the only witch in Neul," Serenica said.

"I got a confirmation from Little John that she keeps everything stolen during the arrests," the captain said. "The location is unknown."

"She has more guards between sunset and sunrise," Myorka added. "Would you please pour me some wine, honey?"

"Are you day drinking?" Spade asked curiously. He pulled out a bottle.

The bookkeeper gave Serenica a warning look. The message was to stay quiet about the paw.

Serenica obeyed. "Can I have some as well? My ribs still hurt from crawling in the middle of a thousand boxes and barrels during the storm of a century."

The captain rolled his eyes.

"More during the night," the bookkeeper repeated. "That is interesting."

"We need to find out the location of the hiding spot," Serenica said. She wanted to sound clever and useful. "If we can't manage to get to her stash, it has all been in vain."

"Should we make Swordly talk?" Spade asked. "I am not even sure if he knows anything of value."

"He is our best bet, isn't he, though?" Serenica shrugged. "John is the first city watch deserter I have heard of. Those men are paid well enough that they won't snitch."

"Swordly it is, then," the captain said. "We'll have to make port in advance to catch him."

Serenica thought this sounded like a hazardous, impulsive and generally foolish plan. She didn't say it aloud. Spade and Myorka had a lot more experience in raiding places.

"What I think is important is finding out the exact reason for her keeping more guards at nighttime." The captain took a swig straight from the bottle and sat down. "It's still unclear to me why she chooses to live like a vampire."

They ended their little meeting. The bookkeeper got up, wiping imaginary dust off her dress.

"I must be going, I have some paperwork to sort out," she said. "But you two should talk. I will not hear any arguments against that."

Serenica and Spade shared a defeated glance at each other.

"I don't fully understand why you are so scared of me," the captain said as he put the bottle of wine back into his chest of alcoholic wonders. "You've seen things. Healers always do. Whether it's about life or death, there is no state of the human soul you are unfamiliar with."

Serenica felt her pulse. It was racing. She felt his temples, and against her fingers a feverish panic was throbbing, screaming the shrill scream of the mouse she had drank. Mother of worms, mother who followed Spade everywhere, guardian of the realm of the dead. Serenica feared her. She was not certain of her existence as a personified force, but the Mother was at the very least a symbolical entity.

The fact that Serenica knew of the strange, maggot-like wriggling underneath the captain's skin caused her to fear the coldness he brought with him.

"Except when hearts that have stopped beating start talking," she said.

"It's not the soul coming back. It's something else, something that can be easily studied and understood."

"If these things have been researched, why don't you hand me some of the research?" Serenica asked. "I would feel relieved after reading something that says my captain isn't a particularly sturdy ghost."

Spade fetched five thick books and gave them to her.

"Don't blame me if you lose some sleep before you get it," he said.

Serenica thanked him and left.