#fenixtj

"Freeholders can form a bond with their Balefire. My mother taught me how."

"You should watch our mom sometimes when she's by the fire with a cup of coffee and peaceful moments" Siv nods "Sometimes I think it's when she's most at rest"

"She is." Jess says with quiet but sure certainty.

"Mm sometimes I do get curious, but no, such is not for me" Siv shakes her head "And others are more worthy"

"The Dreaming finds worth where it finds it."

"Oh, but you never know, August Truthbranch had NO title" the squire says "But he won his knighthood, then became a baron"

"Is Baron August one of your heroes?" Siv blinks

"Of course" She gushes "A true seed to mighty oak story!"

"I really need to introduce you to Baron von Spitcurl, I see" Siv smiles

"You KNOW him?" She gushes

Jess blinks, but listens.

"I sure do. He's the husband and trueheart to the baroness who knighted me. He's the reason my handwriting no longer looks like a duck walked in circles in the sand" Siv admits

"Oh I hope to see him, that'll be yet another hero I've met then" the Squire turns to Jessica "Your sister told me how you earned the title flamefree!"

"She might have exaggerated....."

"WHat? Moi?" Siv faux scoffs at the notion

"Did you REALLY bite Rathbone's weapon in half?" The girl asks

"I did not."

"Have a seat.... I will tell you the real story."

Jess invites.

And the girl sits down, eagerly. Boggans work thier magics, and drinks each likes are filled and refilled

Jessica tells her... the real story. No exaggerations or boasting. She owns her mistakes and admits her successes.

The girl still claps at the end "Okay so you didn't fight with the strength of ten trolls, PLUS two, but you still got in some good hits"

"my version was better" Siv whispers just loud enough to be heard

Jess ignores it.

"On reflection, I wish I'd done things differently but at the time... I did what I had to. That is how we learn, sometimes."

"What would you have done differently you think?" Kassedy asks earnestly

A pause. "I would have faced Baroness Rathbone. Not struck her from behind." quietly, without pride.... and even some regret.

"But she was about to KILL folks." The girl reminds

"If I could, I would have done it differently."

"Hindsight is twenty twenty sis, we all have could haves and even should haves, but you still did good" Siv asserts

"Mm."

"This is what she does when she knows I'm right but doesn't want to admit it" Siv tells her squire with a wink

The squire giggles, then tilts her head "What is it like when She's right then?" The girl ask "And you're wrong?"

"Well," Siv says "It's never happened before so we may never know" A grin of wolf teeth

Kassedy rolls her eyes at that but smiles

Jess does not dignify this with a reaction.

"You two must love each other an awful lot" The girl finally says, sipping her drink

"She is my sister."

"Yeah" Siv nods

"Yes."

"Must be nice" The squire says

Siv chuckles "It's interesting. Now.. you're looking tired" She tells the nine year old, "And while we won't be staying the night, why don't you go find a good book to read so you can relax, mm? The study and all? "

"Well, okay, at least you're not making me take a nap.." The girl says

And with taht, Kassedy hops off

Bows to them both, and goes out the door, presuambly to the study

"So?" siv asks "What do you think of her?"

"She seems...Nice?"

Jess is not sure.

"You don't sound sure" siv says

"She seems nice."