From Dreams to Plans

The dream ended abruptly.

Serenica got up immediately, in a feverish state that she knew all too well. It was time for action.

Even though it was the time of sunrise and the first pale rays of light, she went banging on the captain's door.

"If someone hasn't died, I don't want to hear any of it," Spade grumbled, eyes crossed and very clearly not being able to concentrate his gaze on her.

"It's about treasure and Kinley and the Dreamer," Serenica said, speaking as rapidly as she could before her first pipeful.

"I heard that!" Myorka yelled. "Let the poor girl in and summon William."

The four of them sat down once again in the crowded cabin.

"So." The captain dug out four tiny cigarillos from his pocket, offering them to each of his friends. "You've found out something about her. Speak."

"If we cut out the supply chain of corna, she will crash? Right?" Serenica looked at Spade and saw astonishment creep onto his face.

"You've been walking in my dreams?"

"Not me, but someone has. Be more careful next time you close your magnificent eyes, Cap'n."

Myorka looked at her husband with a barely noticeable angry frown. "You of all people should know to sleep with protection if you're dealing with a being like the Dreamer."

"Enough of your quarrels, married couple," the Admiral said. "Yes - cut out the corna, she will crash and we can pummel her and her manor into dust. Pity we don't know if she keeps her loot at home."

"Oh, but I do know," Serenica said, gleaming with the pure delight of being privy to such an essential piece of information. "The magical objects are in the cellar of the Blue Girl, including things that I once owned. The lady of the house is double-dealing, much like the dressmaker, whose treacherous services we don't need anymore, anyway."

It got really silent in the cabin for a minute. Then a roaring commotion ensued.

"Did you have to sell your bloody soul for the treasure map?" Spade asked while giving her some downright violent applause.

"There was no need for a map," Serenica said. "I told the Dreamer that Innai wanted me to make the world a better place for the sake of his daughter. He walked me right into the dream of the lady who hides Kinley's stuff."

"Oh, my word," the captain chuckled. "I have no idea why the prince was so pleased with that, but you do have a streak of a master negotiator within you."

Serenica basked in the positive attention. The Dreamer had proved himself to be quite a fruitful acquaintance.

"So, we hit Kinley on two fronts?" Spade suggested. "First we find out who is supplying her with corna. It has got to be a smuggler, no way she can do it legally. Not sure if she would even want to, the taxation being so heavy and all."

Everyone agreed on that.

"I bet I can find someone who knows someone who can tell the name of the corna wretch," the bookkeeper said. "Will either of you fine gentlemen come as my security?"

"I wish I could, but I think I will have my hands full with Theod's men and integrating them in the crew," the captain said. "William?"

The Admiral nodded.

"So, what comes next? In Neul?" Serenica asked.

"Some of us sneak into the Girl, pretend it's just another night of drinking. There is no chance of Kinley doubting the loyalty of the Dreamer, and the lady of the house is probably both being paid and threatened well enough to not even consider snitching. So, Kinley trusts her loot to be in safe hands. Am I wrong?" Spade raised his cigarillo to his lips and took three consecutive puffs.

Everyone seemed to agree with him. Serenica thought it sounded like a desperate, witty and magnificent plan.

"The other, more sizable party neutralizes both her and as much of the city watch as possible. When we return the magical items to their rightful owners for a fee and take her gold, the last thing we want is the men in gray at our necks."

"Wait a moment!" Serenica yelped. "Did I just hear you say that you would give the items back? That sounds like something I should have said, not your idea at all."

"For a price, though, it's dangerous work," the captain said, drumming the table impatiently, as if the very notion of such selflessness would have been gravely insulting and awkward to him. "What do you reckon we'd be if we just sold them for the highest bidders? To be like her? Out of the question."

"You've grown soft, I like that," Myorka remarked, with her eyes a bit glazed, and Serenica knew what she was thinking - that man could make a remarkable father.

"It's not about being kind. It's about being just," Spade said sternly. "And we're still left with our bonuses of hazardous work and all of her gold. I was saying that the city watch will need to be mostly, if not completely destroyed and I will personally take care of Kinley. I doubt it will be easy, but I can take on a sleep deprived witch."

"Thank you for saying that." Serenica shuddered as she thought of Kinley's cold, piercing eyes. "I don't think I could do it."

The plan was ready. They scattered towards their respective duties. Serenica went to nurse an unexpected pang of homesickness with some tobacco and soup from yesterday.

The sun had now crawled properly over the horizon, and she could see Myorka had been right. The color of the waves simply didn't exist outside the tropical waters. It was such a luxurious, vibrant turquoise that by simply looking at it, one could transform their emotional state entirely. Aja Vana had to be near.

Serenica didn't have much to do that day as Heike had been sober and as healthy as he could be and there were no other men with such a prominent sickness. She decided to go to bed very early, somehow hoping she would meet the prince again.