#fenixtj

Jessica nods. "We will have migrant issues here; they need help. We've found Kithain and Kinain among them. I'm also trying to establish communication with the local Nunnehi."

"I dont' know much about Mexican tribes." She admits "But I'll try to help."

"Thank you. I don't know much either, that's part of the problem."

"If this was a storybook, you'd end up in a fight with one, only to find a common threat, and then you team up, and the brave and you learn respect through team work and taking down the great evil that endangered the land... and then you learn he's not just some brave, but a Chieftain's son! And his voice carries great weight."

Jessica blinks at her.

"What?"

"I, um, never thought of it that way. I'd be just as happy if we could get a regular conversation going."

"Well, maybe not a common enemy, but a common interest? Peace SHOULD be a common interest, but that's the goal, so something else has to be the door. Right? "

"I suppose, yes."

"So..find out what they like, see if you like some of the same things... and use that to get to know each other?"

"I have been thinking of trying to find some at the Pit, to talk to. "

"What do they like to do at the pit?" She asks

"Combat."

"So.. fight with them ?"

"Maybe. Not really the tone I was hoping for..."

Another voice speaks up, " Tlachtli. You should find a way they can play that" John Longfeather shows up, "Sorry to intrude but I overhead and.. I think you might find that a winner"

"John, this is Dame Dil Hillwalker. Dame, John Longfeather."

"Hello, Dame." He says.

Dil stares at John and her mouth falls open just a bit.

At this point, The New Countess may realize that he's really a rather handsome guy

Jessica lifts an eyebrow.

"Habla..." He starts to say

"Oh.. yes. Hello" She blurts

"John is here to help understand and communicate with the Nunnehi. John, what is That? Tax.....?"

" In Tlachtli two teams played on a field shaped like an H between two walls. The field was divided in half and each team had its own part. The goal of the game was to get an 8-10 pound rubber ball to the other team’s side. To add to the challenge, only the hips and the feet could be used to move the ball. A stone ring was located at each side of the field. The first team to pass the ball through the stone ring of the other team was the winner of this game. Since this was one of the roughest of the Aztec sports, players wore leather belts in order to protect themselves from being hurt...not that always stopped injury. It was often of the ruling class only, but the whole community was crazy about it."

"I'd need to practice first. "

"Oh yeah, you'll need more than that, you'll need someone who knows how to play it"

"Sounds like you do."

"I do indeed know the basics... but I'll be practicing with you"

"And the local Nunnehi already know how to play, right?"

"Probably some of them like pros"

She nods. "Ok. I can live with this as a starting plan."

"Common interests help" DIl agrees

"I'll get to studying.. and get you a book with details on it" John offers.