Serenica did not play for long. Her mother came, wanting to have a private conversation with her.
She had not remembered just how beautiful Katsie was, even with her wrinkles and her fingers covered in spices, Katsie was not actually that good of a cook – she made an awful mess in the kitchen, but she knew to use saffron and cinnamon for the better guests, and apparently the pirates were those.
"Don't you think I don't know what you've been through," Katsie said to her daughter, sternly, but stroking Serenica's hair gently as she spoke. "I am so, so sorry about Helen."
"You didn't invite me here to talk about Helen." Serenica gestured towards the roses that hid them from the crew. "Say what you need, mommy, you'll have everything."
"I don't need your gold, the swamp provides us everything we need."
