#fenixtj

"It helps!" he assures

"And dancing, too!"

"That's for swordfighting."

"Dame Ash made me learn some ballets, i helped me stay limber" He admits "But don't tell her she was right"

Ash rolls her eyes but smiles

Giggles.

A member of the kitchen staff with excellent timing appears with a tray of latte calde seasoned with cinnamon, honey, and nutmeg.

The tension seems out of the trio, well, Vali looks a bit spooked around the eyes. When he sees Jessica he nods again

She nods back.

And warm, sweet milk is served all around.

"Oooo! Miel leche!"

"mm" Ash sips "Very nice"

"She speaks a little French too, right?" Vali says "that's very important for beaumayn"

"Oui!"

"J'ai pris des cours de français avant de venir ici."

"Pero Salma me está enseñando español. Salma y Rosita y todos."

"Incroyable! Je suis impressionné" He says and looks at Ash "Full of surprises."

"Shes' also learning braille" Ash says proudly

"I'm teaching Salma!"

"Salma usually gets to be the teacher, but this way, she can read in the dark."

"that sounds handy. " Vali says "My wife makes me go into the other room to read when we're in bed"

Pause. "Does your wife have a tail?"

"She..does" he admits "And very cold feet after a patrol" He says rememberingg the feel of them after she's taken a long patrol in the snow

Like a good husband, he lets her freeze him.

"Why do you ask?" he says innocent like

"Just curious." innocent look.

Ash ' expression indicates she sees tthrough the 'innocence' all around "Vali was once my squire" She says

"Oh, wow! But he's old..."

"I'm not old " Vali says "I'm.. seasoned..."

"It's true, you can see where the salt and pepper will season him most" Ash aggrees with Vali, kind of

Giggling.

then she goes on "But he was once a very young wilder in my care too"

Vali touches his hair, there are NO gray hairs there.. are there?

"He had already done heroic things and wanted to jump right to knighthood" ash says

"I WAS a knight, the squire period was to break me in" A pause "Kind of"

"very stubborn adorable boy he was. If you ever get a troll squire you must be ready for stiff necked resolve" Ash informs her

"Do you think I'll be able to make knights?"

"one day? I'm sure of it" Ash says

"Holger will be a fine Caballero."

"Oh. I've met Holger. He's gone to Rivervale for some lessons from the Chief and Mountain. A VERY serious young fellow" Vali nods

"And maybe Salma and Ariel, too."

"But more Damas than Caballeras."

"The importannt thing is, whatever titles they have or don't have, you have good friends who care about you and ggive you good advice" Ash nods

"It's true, good friends have kept me alive" Vali admits then smiles "And happy"

"They're really good friends."

A member of the staff enters and hands Jessica a note. She reads. "Um." she looks at the assembled Beaumayn. "Sorry... I'll rejoin you later."

"Why?"

"Everything all right, my liege?

That from Ash

"Well, I have to head home but it was a pelasure" Vali assures Jessica "And I'll keep you posted"