Serenica had insomnia, again, even though she had stuffed her pillow with obsidian and herbs. She felt like an absolute failure – a healer who couldn't even get herself to sleep soundly in the one place that was, for her, the safest bed in the whole known world.
She went on a walk, and though she had expected to find a man or two guarding the darkness, she found five men instead. Her favorite John, another John whom she barely knew, Blackbones, Spade and Ed had gathered around a dead cat.
"Don't worry, Serenica, it died of old age after a great life," her favorite John said, but it was obvious that he was lying. The cats aboard the Princess were young and agile. This one had obviously suffered from an invisible illness. There were no signs of it having been maimed.
Serenica said a prayer for the sake of the little one. She loved their cats and she was glad that according to Ed this one had not suffered needlessly.
