#fenixtj

"It's the dancing."

"Do you think if the two blades visit again, I could practice with them?"

"I thought you didn't like them?" Brow

"Well... I thought they needed better manners."

"mm don't we all," She nods "Well, they're wandering the County now I hear . I shall keep an eye out for them for you? "

"Did you see them fight? I watched them, they're very good."

"Disturbingly so." She admits "Better than I am"

"Well, that's why they're Red Branch."

"You Do stay in the loop, don't you?"

"They were being weird, so we watched them until we figured it out."

"I suppose I should fuss at you taking risks, but in truth I never knew a childling who didn't engage in a little sneaking"

"I'm a childling, not a child."

"oh so?" She raises a brow at this firm declaration "You are possibly both"

"Well, I'm not like Ariel and Salma..."

"No. I suppose not. "

"But that doesn't mean you're not a child" She says "And children need to be loved, and protected"

"So if something happened to me, Salma would stay here - right? Or if I wasn't here, she wouldn't be sent away to a fieldhouse?"

"Oh my . is that what this is about?" She says and crouches "Are you worried Salma is ONLY here for you and if you aren't here she can't be?"

"Yes."

"And that's why she won't pick a kitten."

"Oh my goodness. " A sh nods "I can assure you, AND her, that she was brought here because the Countess Jessica find the 'whipping girl' idea appaling... a crime. She would have saved that girl if she knew that horrid man was 'selling' children even if you were not here. "

"She doesn't believe that, I don't think."

"Well, I see why you wanted to talk about it." She nods.

"Would it help if I talked to her? or would you like me to see if Countess Jesssica can assure her?"

"Maybe?"

"They got mad, though, when I said I'd want them to run and be safe if the bad people came."

"Why? when you'll be running with them" She asks

A frown.

"I know, you want to stay and fight. And if you have to fight we'll make sure you're ready"

"But you shouldn't HAVE to"

"They came here, didn't they?"

"THEY work against Jessica as much as you, my dear, probably more so. The Countess Jessica angered Balor long before you or I"

A fierce look as she stabs the target. "Maybe. But I'd rather they be mad at me... or.. or hate me, before they get hurt."

"Not maybe, it is so. Jessica has assassins after here, enemies plotting. I love you, but it is not always you that is the center of the danger"

"Has anyone died because of Jessica?"

"I'm sure she will claim so" Sadly

"Did you ever meet Sir Gerald?"

"Sir Gerald's death was not your fault. It was the fault of those that were attacking. What you are doing would be like blaming the victim of a crime if someone near them got hurt by the criminals"

"He was protecting me"

"He told me to run and then he stayed and he died, because he stayed."

"Has it ever occured to you, that he knew this was the moment? This was his time? That to escape it would made things worse? We are Beaumayn"

"Not everything comes true..."

"So you realize that Sir Gerald's death being your fault is NOT true. Good"

She makes a face.

A brow "Yes yes, Vali used to the same as a squire. "

"I don't.." Another look.

"I understand you are trying to make me feel better." Diplomatically.

"Not only that. " she says

"I truly believe it is not your fault Sir Gerald died and that you are taking too much upon yourself" Firmly

"I don't want anything to happen to my friends."