#fenixtj

"So she's a knight?"

"She is. Sained that way."

Salma gives Jessica an amused look, but she does not say anything!

"Oh, so she's BEEN a knight. I sained a Countess, after all."

Jess nods. "She serves Rivervale. Apparently she escorted a troubadour applicant here?"

"Oh! For the contest!"

She nods.

Ariel says "I wonder how many we'll get?"

"Churros?" She looks up, still behind in the conversation - ah, she had snuck her book out again, and was reading.

"Troubadours" Ariel says "Not Churros"

"Is a troubadour a pastry too?"

"Naaa" Ariel laughs "A mistrel, a musiker... only one wiht an official court position"

"But we will also reward those who are talented, even if they aren't hired."

The troll nods her agreement with this.

"Oh, but Ariel is our troubadour." A grin at the girl.

Ariel blushes "Shoot. I guess.. Phoebe's got a great voice. Did you know her voice has gifts? Can make you cry some of her songs"

"Well, she can be Jessica's troubadour. You are our troubadour."

A tilt of her head. "Like the Gift of Pan?"

"Ain't quite like the gift of pan, but it's powerful" Ariel says "She says she don't use it often. Mostly to keep the peace, calm folks ."

Ariel hugs Ellie at that, and puts an arm around Salma (Which may cause the pooka to lose her spot in reading)

She eeps, but she has since learned to keep a finger in the page!

And hugs Ariel back with one arm, holding the book with the other.

"Mm."

Jessica notices Salma has mastered a balancing act with books her own father manages. Some how the big man never loses his spot in his own papers or books

"Miss Jessica, is it okay if I enter even though I know i'll lose?" Ariel says "Just to say I did?"

"Yes! I think that would be a fine idea, Ariel."

"Just do me a favor? Don't audition thinking to or planning to lose? Go in a winner, let someone else eliminate you, if they can."

"That's right. You're wonderful Ariel."

"Oh, I thought the favor would be not to use the gift Of pan!" She says surprised "I wouldn't though. Farm taught me always let folks know first. " Then she bluehs "You sound a bit like Chief Clem there, telling me to give it my all and believe and what not. Thank you" A grateful look to Jessica. Apparently she really appreciates it.

Ellie gets a friendly elbow bump "Gonna make my head swell"

"Clem's pretty smart. Don't tell her I said that."

"That's what EARL says" Ariel notes

"Both parts..."

Giggle.

"Is an Earl higher rank then a Condesa?"

"About the same, but she's speaking of a DeBuke -named- Earl. Which is.... twisted." Jessica gives Ariel a small grin.

"Oh, he must be in charge."

"Because here, and at the Vale of Rivers, they are ruled by Kings. It is sensible, see."

Ariel laughs "earl ain't in charge of nothing.. and if he were he'd just do what Miss Zara asks. He's in lllllllluuuuuvv with her."

Clearly she thinks this is sweet

"Mmm."

"Well, then he should change his name. He could be a Burle, like in a tree. And your Miss Sarah will have to put up a swing on his arm to spend time there." She thinks THIS is romantic, apparently.

"Ewww. Cooties."

"Mountain Emmit says Miss Zara is Earl's Whispering Heights, and Earl is Miss Zara's 'Sweet Poe-tato'. Then he laughs at himself and lights his pipe and our Hearth, Miss Agnes? She rolls her eyes"

Ariel says this confidentially as if it is insider info

She nods with a vague smile, the look she gets when she won't admit she doesn't get it.

"Princesca, we will find you better than an earl. Maybe a duque, oh or a marqués."

"Ok!" Jessica claps her hands. "That's enough of that. Kitten found. I'm going to go see if Dagmar is still here."

And at mention of the kittens, Ariel's focus returns to the cats