Friendly Advice

In the morning, Adanita was sitting at her table, on her ship, in her cabin. Everything was as it should be. The gentle rocking of her ship was putting her at ease while she was reading through the latest reports that came from other ships. News from all over the world, for her to read while waking up.
All was as it should be.

She heard a quiet noise from the direction of the bed, and silently got up to have a look. Rosamund was asleep. He was curled up and trembling. She pulled the blanket up over his shoulder and waited in silence. Soon enough, he relaxed. The trembling stopped. Whatever bad dream he had had passed, and he returned back to deep sleep. Hah, maybe he should think to take care of himself before pestering her as much as he did yesterday.
And what a sound sleeper he was. She woke up when the sun was up and he didn't even notice her. Yesterday was the same, he didn't hear her moving around the cabin. She wasn't about to wake him up, though. She pulled the curtain separating the bed from the rest of the cabin, to darken the area. He did enough yesterday. She didn't mind him sleeping in, anyway.

She returned to the table and continued to read.

Or, at least, pretending to read. The thoughts were swirling in her head. Rosamund was a perplexing man. It seemed to her that he jumped to trusting her a bit too quickly, she wasn't sure if her telling him about the future warranted the amount of faith and good will that she obtained. Did he care about his family that much? She also wasn't sure how he decided on that plan of his. Where was the profit in it for him? Would the status really be that great of a reward? She genuinely didn't know.
And then, the fact he was willing to tell her what only his parents and his brother know. It scared her a bit that he just went and told her out of the blue. Was he making it up? He could be, but he didn't seem like the type. His nonchalant approach to his personal safety could be something that came from actually dying, too, right? Sometimes the world didn't feel real to her either, and she'd get reckless too. Was it something like that for him too?

Or, maybe not. Maybe he really was just fearless. The way he spoke to her brought a smile to her face. Every threat only made him stand his ground even more. Her control of her face was next to none, so she could've imagined how she looked when she heard his suggestion. And yet, he continued talking.
It was... to be honest, charming. And refreshing. He continuously broke every one of her preconceptions. She never regretted killing someone more than him.

He could be the perfect person for ensuring her survival. Or he could be a naive, overconfident fool.

Or, a traitor.

She sighed. This won't do. She could easily convince the other Captains, she did it before, but she wasn't sure if she was convinced too easily herself. She needed an outside perspective. And someone to be ready if he decides on betrayal.


She got up and put her coat and hat on. She knew the perfect man for the job. It was time to do some delegating.

She walked confidently through her city, greeting the people on the way to Teo's house. She even got them a basket of sweets that Teo loved. She hopped over his garden wall and loudly stomped on her way to his door. He kept snakes in his garden, it was best to spook them before they got any bright ideas. She knocked on his door. The air was filled with the heavy scent of oleander that grew next to it.

Teo opened the door. He clearly just woke up.
"Good morning!"
"Hey! Come in," he said, moving out of her way. "What wind brings you?"
"I need some advice, or at least a new point of view."
"Well, that's what I'm here for. Do you also need tea?"
"Please."

He went to the stove, where the water only started boiling, and poured the two cups for them. He also got them a plate, and Adanita placed some cookies on it. There, a proper breakfast.

"What is this about?" he asked.
"Lord Governor," she said.
"Ah, of course it is. What's up, Nita? What did the two of you talk about yesterday?"
"We were planning ahead. I'd like to hear your opinions," she said, taking a cookie.
"Keep talking," he encouraged her. "What can I help you with?"
"Well, Lord Governor came to me with a proposition to create a proper, internationally recognized country. How does it sound so far?"
"Utterly insane and impossible. Please don't tell me you're seriously considering this," he brightly answered.
Well this was going well. She smiled back. "I am. Would you like to hear more?"
"Always~."
"His first step would have us all go to Hipparcos with him. We'd need to rely on his assistance to begin diplomatic efforts with Bretonia, and obtain a royal pardon."
"And you trust him?"
"Trust is a strong word, but I am willing to give him a chance."
"Ca va pas bien dans ta tête," he cheerfully said.
"Would you like to know what would come next?" she asked.
"Of course! Please keep going."
"He'd like our assistance with protecting his brother and handling Duchess Almukantarat."
"Sounds fantastic! I can't wait to find myself walking down to the gallows."
"So, you hate the idea?"
He sighed, his face finally becoming serious. "Perhaps. What's the proper reasoning behind all this?"

She leaned back. "Well. He presented a very interesting analysis of the future events," she carefully spoke. "And I find myself agreeing with it. He claimed that, by aligning ourselves with Bretonia alone, the entire rest of Ganimed quietly declared war on us. They attempted to claim the Cove for themselves, he said that Mletaks would be the ones behind those mercenary fleets. By aligning ourselves with one country at war with all others, we painted a target on our back." She sipped her tea. "He also said that the war won't last forever either, so we need to begin some form of a diplomatic effort. If we don't tie ourselves down to Bretonia alone, we won't only be a vassal state. We should be able to create our own alliances and diplomatic missions - not only to Ganimed, but to other continents as well."
"Right. One problem, though. Everybody hates us and neither of us knows how to make political allies. And sending disgraced nobles among our Captains won't really make the best first impression. Would you like something in that tea?"
"At this hour?"
"I'm only offering," he said.
"Hah. Maybe later. Anyway, the solution to that problem would be Lord Governor himself, apparently. He offered to mediate, and to use the connections he made during the Verlice Experiment, too."
"Now why would he do that?"
"That is what I've been asking myself, too. I am not sure I can figure out his motives well enough. Or read him at all. What do you think?"

"He is certainly... something."

He took a cookie and bit into it, staring into the distance. Adanita decided not to interrupt his thoughts, and instead looked around the organized mess he lived in. Piles upon piles of books, stacked from floor to the ceiling, with only little paths left on the floor to safely walk on. A small bed pushed into the corner, a large table in the middle of the house, and simple, wooden chairs. The dried herbs, hanging from the low ceiling. A small stove, and a few shelves for plates and cups, but mostly populated by books. His hunger for knowledge was beyond compare.

"Nita," he said. "I don't think I can trust that man."
"What is the reasoning behind that?" she asked.
"Well for starters, we've barely met him a few days ago. You planned to use him as a hostage. Do you really think he'd just let it go?"
"I think he would, for the sake of his brother if nothing else," she said. "He shared some of his most personal secrets with me. What he told me isn't something you would just tell anyone."
"Is that so? Can you confirm those secrets are truth?"
"To a limited extent, but yes," she said. Fingerprints were real. And what he described of the other world could sound like hallucinations of a madman, but... well, maybe she was a fool, but he didn't sound insane to her. She owned a lighthouse that was powered by magic stones. Stuffing lightning into bottles was a common project for alchemists, even she knew that. So, stuffing lightning into wires...

"Did you say something about him drowning a lot?" she asked.
"Aye, I believe I mentioned it to you. Blessing of the brackish waters."
"Well, what he told me also confirmed what you said. Is that enough?"
He slowly nodded. "I believe it's enough for you. So, you say he's willing to help because he is grateful for your knowledge of the future? For that brother of his?"

She carefully thought about it. He was such a cold and posh man. When he spoke, even when he was angry, it looked as if his emotions and his tongue were completely detached. Could he truly have such a soft spot? But, on the other hand, those little anecdotes of his family, his father... "Aye. I believe he cherishes his family."

"Right. So, how do you know he's not pulling your leg? Or that he plans to betray us later?"
"I don't. The first is my instinct, I think he is serious with his intentions for Hannau Cove. The second is... I don't know. He'd lose land that his queen gave him. I don't know if he can stand to gain enough from this to balance the scales. Perhaps it would be enough for him to rescue his brother, and then throw us to the sharks."
"Precisely."

The two of them fell silent again. She stared outside his window, not thinking too much. All her worries were now spoken out loud. Not much was left to think about, was there?

"Which continents would you like to form alliances with?" he asked. "Which countries?"
"All of them," she answered. "The Cove thrives the most as a trading hub. I'd like it if we could become a broker between pirates and merchants, as well as proceed with our normal operations. Selling and trading goods. Our own merchant fleet... We're in the middle of the ocean, we are on a gods' given place. If we keep it out of everyone's hands, perhaps we could even stabilize the Cove enough to exist for another century. Who knows."
"Tall orders... Do you seriously want to compete with Mletaks and Bretonians?"
"I'd dare dream. But, as you said, I am not sure if Lord Governor can be trusted."
"You seem convinced to me. I am begging you not to gamble with the Cove without thinking. I can and I will start a mutiny against you, chérie. Please don't push me to that point."
"Does it seem as if I didn't think it through?"
"No, more like you didn't think it through enough. I am not convinced. I need a guarantee from him, at the very least." He sighed. "I'll have a word with him... And if you'd like my advice, perhaps take him with you when you go meet the Captains. When is the meeting?"
"This afternoon," she said. "What for? I can handle them."
"Aye, but I'd like to see how they handle him. And how he reacts. There are also logistics to running a country. Our internal affairs that must be sorted before we turn into a legitimate state. If you trust him that much, perhaps he will be able to offer some advice in my place."

"So you're in support for this?"

"No, I will be getting everything ready for a mutiny against the two of you, after he inevitably decides to stab you in the back." He gave her a grin.

"Hah! I'd like to see you try." She decided she now had to get ready for a double stab in the back. Brilliant. Always reliable, that Teodolit. "You know, he also said he'd like to speak to you and ask you some questions about your past. Try to not kill him on his way out, would you?"

His expression darkened. She could tell he was dreading the conversation already.


"No promises."