#anywhere

Ariel says "Okay, we got out before they coudl tell us not to nose around or that they would handle it. Grown ups are funkillers like that"

"Yeah, always... if they're Red Branch, that makes them good guys. The Red Branch, they're the High King's, and David, you know, ended the war and brought peace."

She looks about for a certain little book-reading burro.

"Well, they WERE Redbranch, right so maybe they're like Sithlords who fell from the Jedi and..stuff?"

"Maybe... I haven't seen anything about them yet."

Salma is hovering near the doorway, book held behind her back and looking somewhat guilty. "Los siento, I got distracted." Ears drooping.

"That's okay! I saved you some cinnamon roll!" She offers it to the pooka, the napkin holding it turning transparent in splotches from sugar and fat.

"Seen? I.." then she waves "hi, Salma. Wow you missed some weird stuff.."

"Is this about the broken table? Or the broken Caballeros?"

"What broken table?"

"Cab..someone broke a taxi?"

One of her ears raises up halfway. "The lords were talking. I told you about..." Then another glance down at the book. "I meant to."

"They said that the table was broken. Then the other one - los siento again, I forget which one was which - said it was not the table, but the knights that were broken." Big eyes blink behind lenses. "Probably nothing important?"e

"What did they say, Salma?"

"Oh..wow. Broken Knights.."

"That sounds sad."

"The knights that had gathered 'round it. Is this a round table thing? Like Merlin? I did like when he turned the boy king into an ardilla... ah, it is... the little one, with the fluffy tail in the tree. And he was chased by the female." A small giggle, remembering the cartoon antics.

"A squirrel!"

"David is kind of like Arthur. He has a magic sword, too."

"That kind of makes sense what with the uhm..Red Branch knights thing..." Ariel says "maybe? I was... oh yeah, that!Sword in the stone... but if the Red Branch is the knights of the Round table... well, David DID go missing and the Red Branch got all broken up into different parts."

"I don't know of any Red branch, only azul y plata - the blue and silver tree, is the closest I can think of."

"I heard David never leaves his house anymore."

She squints. "Liam?"

"LIams is broken too, but.. I hear Mountain Frank is nice"

A nod. "If there is a red branch house, I haven't learnt of that one."

"Liam are kind." A firm nod. "You need to defend them."

"So why would two broken knights be here? Do you think they need healed in the spring?"

A... look, that moment of unfocus. She frowns at it and shakes her head.

"They LOOKED Fit to me" Ariel says "I mean... they were in tune"

"They're good fighters, for sure."

"Ellie, are you okay?"

She nods. "Uh-huh."

"Ok..." She says "Sometimes you seem to go away without going anywhere" Ariel says "it's uhm.." she doesn't want to say weird. "Different"

"You look dreamy. Someone could paint your portrait that way." She adds, reassuringly.

"...oh.. it.. is dreaming, sort of."

"A waking dream?"

She bites on her lip and nods.

"Huh... Do they hurt?" Concern

"That sounds lovely." She leans over, encouraging. "Unless it is a nightmare, in which case we can get you a dreamcatcher and sort that out, any maybe a nice glass of warm leche."

"They don't hurt. Sometimes they're really nice."

"How lucky you are, to dream awake as well as at night."

"What's a leche?" Ariel asks

"I.. guess so?" She smiles at Salma, but it seems a little papered-on.

A hand sneaks over to take Ellie's for a squeeze. "Leche is milk, but even better is horchata. Have you had this? It is my favorite."

"We could go ask the Senoras if they have any?"

"Nope!" Ariel says "never had." A tapping of hooves, "Horchata sounds like a dance... chata chata..."

As she tries to make Ellie laugh

"I've never had horchata..."

"No, see, it is "hor-cha-cha-cha." A graceless spin, but enthusiastic.

A little giggle.