#fenixtj

The sound of rapid footsteps growing nearer is the only warning before Holger is set upon and TACKLED!

"UHMPH!" Holger goes down

He is a sturdy lad, but the donkey pooka is sturdy too, and has momentum and surprise! Now there is a female childling atop him, and she grips his collar and SHAKES him as she berates him in very fast spanish!

"Si si, pardon..." he manages to get out

Gladiola may not know more than how to order a fiesta platter, not that you can get proper tacos in upstate NY, but she can tell he is being SCOLDED.

She has made a gesture, to keep a dog at bay from 'defending' Holger. He's going to have to face this one alone, but Gladiola does ask "Friend of yours?"

"Si, this is Salma she is... very nice?" The boy says as his intelligence is questioned in rapid spanish

Some words come through, such as "estupido" which is repeated.

Okay, maybe not questioned so much as judged

Finally she stops to catch her breath, and gives Holger a fierce hug (perhaps restricting his own breath)

"I can explain, Salma I.. ooff" He returns the hug, oddly gentler than she does despite his might

She finally realizes that there is a guest, a Knight at that, and manages to release the boy though her gaze stays on him as if afraid he'll vanish if she looks away. Standing, she dips a curtsey to Gladiola. "Buenos Dias and welcome to Fenix, Senora Cabellera. Thank you for bringing Holger home."

A sniff, rubbing at her face, and she adds, "Though I was hoping he would never return, so naughty he is in leaving us. I was ready to start auditioning for a new cabellerito, and they are so much work to train."

"Ah, so you are the childling court steward, or chancellior?" Dame Gladiola asks. Holger had mentioned a childling court, "An honor regardless. I am Dame Gladiola ap Daireann of the Silverwolf Barony, sworn to Baron Aiden and Baroness Nadeen. I merely escorted Holger. Who I think you should keep after all, for he did quite a heroic quest. He found a treasure, soon to be of great use to my lord I fear, and won for himself a fae hound."

"It is true," Holger says to Salma "Si? Now I will be an even better guardian, for I will have a fine dog of power who helps protect."

Then he adds, "Please do not replace me, Salma. I know I upset you, but I did not mean to."

Gwen turns her face a bit to hide a smile. Looks like Salma has Holger well trained over all, despite his breaking from his fence for a time

She sniffs. "It is not up to me, mijo. La Princesca has been quite wroth. She might decide, off with your head. And then Ahpuch would want to keep it with his collection of nasty things."

Holger shudders a bit, "I would rather not have him have it. Perhaps if my skull was turned into a fine goblet?" He muses "Though it would have holes so perhaps not a very good goblet. But " He steadies himself "If that is to be my fate, so be it. A man must do what a man must do, and I am training to be a man one day so this was important practice. I did not mean to upset either countess. I did not mean to upset you, but this was a quest of great import. I mean, come on, a puppy!"

Clearly the fact it involved a puppy should really sell it!

Clearly, Holger has forgotten that Salma doesn't like dogs... her expression looks dubious at best. But she'll give him a pass on this.

"Would not a horse have been better? Does not a cabellero need a caballo?"

"Our stable, it is not so big. Besides, a Dog can work besides me indoors and out." he explains, "This is no ordinary dog. Lobo De Argento has great fae hounds. THis one is a Great Bernese, a mix of Pyranese like on the farms and at Rivervale, and Bernese Montana dog, from.. er.. Berna?" He's not sure. "Anyway, very good dogs. And very smart. Maybe smart enough to enjoy a good story?"

This she considers, and slowly answers, "I do not know if we have many books for dogs... I will have to ask Senora Constanza." Clearly her interest is perked!

"Bueno" he says with a hopeful look "You though, you forgive me? I do not wish to be in the dog house myself"

"Some things are unforgiveable." She says, solemnly, but adds, "I will give you many chances to make it back up though." Hiding a bit of a pookaish smile.

"Gracious, mi amiga. " he hugs her again, "It was a very grand adventure. There are parts I forget. " He confides "But I do remember it was grand"

"Then you must tell me right away so we can write it all down."

"Well, there were prisoners of a great minotaur chief, at first I could not help them, though I THINK by then I had already gotten my prize" THen he blinks "Oh yes, that's right there was a riddle from a grinning cat before that, and an old woman with a hump. She did not carry the hump on her back though, too heavy"

He rattles off a tale that is by now, more than a bit disjointed, but nothing a pooka can't improve on!

Gladiola sees that Salma doesn't take out paper or pen, but she listens intently - clearly memorizing every line!

However, the story that she retells... anything might go!

The wilder is half way intrigued to see where it will lead

But for now, she waits patiently while too very good friends catch up

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