#fenixtj

"Any time, Jessica" he shows her the list, just her. No childlings were on it "As you can see, he was top of my list, but, what needs be done and all that" THen to Salma he says "Noted. I take it you also are in charge of Churro management, once they get out of the kitchen anyway?"

She nods! Noticing the packs of food, she peeks in to check if there are churros included.

"I manage many things." She says simply.

There are Churros there. Yes, though it's hardly the majority

Jess nods.

She nods in satisfaction that they have not been forgotten.

"Well then I'll need your okay to take some of these home. Is there a tax? You need one for ... tribute?"

"They are best fresh, but are good with cocoa. Or coffee." She says, though there is a little wrinkle of her nose. A shake of her head. "Rovers, you are muy importante. I would not steal from you!"

"Gracias" he says

"We both have very important jobs" A nod

A brighter smile at the spanish. "De nada!"

THen, a thought. "If you find, in your travels, books? Who need a home?"

"With Holger here, they will be well guarded."

A scratch of his chin, "He guards books AND Churros? This is a man of many talents" Sagely then he thinks on it

"I guard the books. And he guards me." A smile.

"AH, I see." A nod "Well, that works out. As a matter of fact, yeah, we got a book or three that was nearly lost to the Guidestones backlash but was saved. I was thinking of donating them to a library in Earth Runes"

Her ears go up straight! "Oh, you mustn't."

"No? Why not? " He asks , and Jessica can tell he's enjoying this. He did raise Sylvi and hasn't gotten to play cluelesss older guy for a while

Why? Perhaps Salma hadn't figured that out yet, and she works through the puzzle for a moment, before smiling. "Because they already have those books, of course. Who needs two copies? No, of course, our Library would suit them better. Plus, the poor things must be, what is the word. Scared, frightened, they had a terrible shock. I will nurse them back to health, with Constanza's help. You know, warm weather is conducive to healing, si?"

"Is it now? Huh" As if he were learning a fascinating bit of trivia "And you say Earth RUnes already has these books that I have not named? Amazing how in the know librarians are." He looks over at Jessica, "You better watch this one. She's clearly interconnected on levels that are alarming." Then back to Salma, "Well, they were pretty shaken. How about this... I'll go drop the food off at Rivervale for the big meal tonight there so my wife gets a break. AND.. I get those books and return them to you, pronto. We can't let those poor libros suffer without proper medical care any further, now can we?"

"Si, si! Senor Olgar, you are a wise man."

"I married a wise woman, as you know, sometimes feminine genius is so powerful it can enhance others by proximity" A nod of one who has basked in such

"Fenix -is- a healing Balfire." Jess offers.

"Si!" enthused that Jessica has taken her side, it seems.

"Well that settles it" He nods as both Countess AND Libros Jeffe speak, "I'll get o nthat right now. Jessica, hope you don't mind me bopping back and forth a bit today." he grabs the food supplies "I'll try to be back with those books sometime today, maybe very soon but don't wait up for me or make a fuss. I know you're both busy"

"So are you, Uncle Olgar. If you need to send them with someone else or come later, then that will be ok." with quiet firmness.

Salma looks like she might object, but she holds her tongue. Books later are much better than books never.

"You got it, Jessica. And thanks. Any word you want me to pass on to your mom, dad, or your Aunt Kerri?"

"Say hi to everyone. Planning to come to Thanksgiving, as usual."

"Good, no promises we'll have emu again" Olgar says, then looks at Salma "You keep standing up for yourself" Then getting the food up he says "Later, Jessica. It's been.. entertaining" A chuckle ("Kid's adorable")

and off he goes, leaving withOUT Holger

"See you soon, Olgar." She says, not without fondness.

A curtsy to the Countess, and Salma will slip out if she has nothing else for the pooka.

Jess does not...

Then she disappears, almost as stealthy as a sluagh, though not nearly as smooth and slender.

from the shadows a whisper "...but I don't want to be a rover..."

She pauses.

"Apuch?"

"..I might be ahpuch, is ahpuch in trouble? If so, I am clearly not him" The boy's whisper says

"Ahpuch is not in trouble."

"Oh whew, then it's me" he admits

"You don't have to go anywhere you don't want to. None of you do."

"Gracias... you leave ONE nose nugget on a book shelf, and she plots to banish you. Diabolical, that one"

"Um. Let's not do that again, ok?"

A sigh "Si, senorita Contessa"

"Thank you. Are you well served for company when you wish it, Ahpuch?"

"Oh see, I am not the only sluagh here, and some non sluagh are tolerable. " A pause "Girls are still gross in a bad way, of course"

"Of course."

"I'm glad to hear it."

He nods and turns to leave when he pauses, then says "Countessa, I have heard something but I don't know if it's importante or not"