#fenixtj

Salma is chewing on a mouthful of Marzipans quite furiously.

But a thumbs up is given.

And once he is really really really gone.. the girls can have soft ggigles

"Nice job, Ariel."

“Si, our clever Cabracita. You are sneakier in the cabeza.” Tapping Ariel’s head with a grin.

"He must never know" A grin as she is tapped between her headbuds. One day they will be horns

“He thinks he knows all, so if he does not know it, it does not exist.” A strange wisdom, perhaps. Or just pooka silliness?

"...Do you think we should tell Jessica, about the Dauntain?"

“she would surely ignore their pleas.” A soft frown. “But what if she thinks them just dream-dreams? Dama Ash listens very well too. But she always tells us to not go into danger. What if they are too busy to help a boy with no mouth who cannot call for help?”

Ariel swallows, scared anew "Still, Dauntain. I don't know how brave I can be" A blush

Ellie fidgets.

"We should be brave, right?"

"If folks need us, we. .we have to be?" Ariel meant it as a statement.. .but it came out a question

“I can pretend hard enough to convince us all.”

"I've never seen a Dauntain."

“Holgar would protect us?” A question. “Or would he protect us by telling the Dama?”

"Not for real. I've seen thallain... Fireheart can take them."

“How do you fight what doesn’t dream? Thaillain are scary... but they are... are real.” A shiver.

"I don't know how to fight a Dauntain. But..."

“I know where the answer might be. If not in the Dama’s notes. But it might take time, and be painful.”

She mimes flipping pages of a book.

"We should go plot in the library" Ariel agrees

“I know where the books I am not intended to read are. That’s probably a good place to start.” A smile. She tries to behave, but... books are BOOKS.

"Okay, you are officially chief researcher, Salma."

“We must bribe Flex and Specs properly. I do not think they like candy, but I DID just bring them so many new books.” She seems willing to spend any boon, real or imagined, she may or may not have, in service to this task.

And they sneak out. there is plotting and reading and so on... oh, the risks are great, but in the stories, a princess and her friends, must be brave

(End Scene)