#dreaming

"Okay, she unleashed, and got a clue. There are some who furking believe that means the dreaming wants it found. If it wants it found, that means you may not be the only one got the message, little wriggler. You get me?"

"It could be a race?" the little girl seems intrigued

A slow nod, agreeing.

"Could be" The FLame says "Now understand, this maybe your kith's heritage, but there's any number of non sluagh who would probably want it. Nobles, often get greedy, but even then you got nockers like me who want to reverse engineer stuff, you got clurichauns who collect, and more."

"So - no time to dawdle."

"Then , miss Zara, it seems I should try to entice you into gentling your negotations of ...compensation, for the good of our kith, madame" She says doing her best intrepid lawyer voice (Has she been spying on august?) "for the good of all sluagh"

The flame looks...amused at this approach

"Of course, I could seek it myself. Or sell the knowledge to another sluagh."

Lily's eyes get rather large , then she says "Well, one would have to trouble you when I'm right here to tell" A pause "I have a package of gummi wyrms? They look like tiny dragons and suck down nicely?"

"Indeed?" She sips her tea.

"Oh yes, a unique twist on the usual gummi worm experience, and I know how adventuresim you are"

"Mm"

"Meh" the flame says "I think you can order em online"

"hiss..." then a cough from the little girl, then "I have a spider finger puppet I can throw in?"

"What, precisely, would you want from me?"

"The location where I might find the prize?"

"or, barring that, a clue on how to get on the proper path"

"I doubt that finding the prize is a simple affair, WItchling."

"That I may simply tattle-tale and have its location revealed."

"oh bother" She sighs

"Then what would you be willing to offer for the gummi wyrms and spider finger puppet, Miss Zara? You are wise, nearly a crone and I am but a childling" BIG eyes

"The first clues. An Omen. Now... the Flame might have different skills to offer."

A look to the Flame "You would help me?"

"mm depends, I mean, you pay her the gummi wyrms and the puppet, then you have to deal with me" the flame points out "what do I get?"

"But are you not three who are as one?" hopeful childling "Like the maiden, mother and crone? to give to one of you, is to give to all, yes?"

the witch of the flame looks over at Zara "Kid's got big ones, River."

"big what?" Lily asks confused

"Nevermind" Flame says "yes, I can help you. but you'll owe me a favor"

A soft giggle.

"what sort of favor?" lily mmms " symon always tells me never write a blank check"

"This Symon sounds smart" A nod of approval from the Flame, then a nod to Zara "don't you think, River?"

"That Symon is smart. Aye."

"Good advice that was, little witch. Remember, a true witch flies free even if she flies with others, beholden by her own code" Flame nods "Now, turns out, I would give you a job of peeping around a Dougal hold. No theft, just a glance at what waas going on there. Would that be acceptable?"

"The witchling is clever and stealthy." Zara endorses.

Pleased by this praise "I would not be offended by such a task" Lily assures

"Then, this might help you" the flame says and holds up a cigarette lighter, an engraved one "You've heard of the wisp spell, of course. Normally to use it, you need to know the target. What this will do is guide you to places or people you know who will help you on your way to find your goal. It is set to the ones you know"

"You'll have to return it later" Flame adds

"Thank you" Lily says taking it, then looks to Zara "River, that omen on your end? If it is still allowed?"

Zara nods, and takes the last gulp of her tea before swirling the dregs.

In this place, even a simple bunk resonates.

Indeed, energies seem to leak out of the cup, as if the spiraling patterns of magic are too big to contain. A polite tempest in a civilized tea pot.

Zara leans in to see, mutely inviting the other two to peer as well.

Zara beholds the results ... a bird wreathed in fire spreads her wings. A seal leaps from one boat to another. There is a conch shell pressed to lips but no sound can be heard.

"So, witchling... what do we conclude?"

"It's near an ocean" She says "For Selkies must be"

"Aye. And the flaming bird?" Gently leading.

"Where may one find a phoenix by the sea?"

"Ahpuch's place" A gasp of realization "Fenix. Ha, that silly boy knows not the treasure will be in his area. I must beat him to it"

"I thought Ahpuch was a sluagh too?" Flame inquires "So why do you need to beat him?"

"he's a boy, Madame Flame" Lily says as if that explains it "You can't let them win too often. It goes right to their heads"