#rivervale_lodge

Holger 's stoic expression means he has a troll smile as he enters in for more lessons at last

"Montana?"

Frank looks up from playing the guitar. "Holger. Welcome. Come in."

He sets the git aside.

"Hello, Mountain" He salutes and says "I am allowed to resume my lessons here now"

"Allowed?" Frank puzzles; sometimes the language barrier challenges communications.

"I came during the raid on the bad man who kidnapped the Centaurs"

"I was told you were busy"

"Cann I come back now for more lessons?" HOpefu

l*

"I see. Yes, Holger. I regret we were not able to meet when you were here last and I would be glad to meet with you now."

"I understand. Duty must come first, si? You had a duty to help with the rescue and the rescued after that" He reaches into a bag " I have brought banana sandwiches and chocolate milk to share with the new arrivals."

Frank's beard moves. "Would you like to meet them?"

"It is well enough If I do not" he assures "But perhaps sometime. Mostly I wish to learn from you and the Chieftain. I am learning much about being a troll. What should I learn today?"

Frank stands; he's 9 feet tall, so he goes up quite a long way. He goes to a bookshelf and gets down a book of stories; troll heroes, magicians, warriors. "Would you like to read another from this?"

"Yes, please. But it must be about someone who is scared but brave anyway , please? The Contessa says that is true courage"

Frank nods. "Being brave is being scared, Holger. Being scared.... and doing it anyway. That's bravery. And there is a story here....." Frank opens to a favorite page, smoothing the paper back ".... of just such a troll." He settles down to share the book with the younger troll.

And the boy settles next to the grump, focused and intent

It's in English, but some of the words (names, especially) are of Germanic and Norse descent so Frank helps with those.

Yup, his little brow folds as he tries to memorize the words in question. He must share with Salma!

"Do you know how to write phonetically, Holger?"

"FO..net..a.. " A blink "I do not know what that means so probably not?"

"It means writing something so that you can read it the way it sounds."

"Here." he gets paper and pencil "Write your name."

"Oh. " and he does

"My turn." he opens his hands for the paper and pencil and writes "Hole-gurr."

"That's how an American would pronounce your name-sounds. Now, look at this name." he picks out a hard one from the book, and spells it phonetically "You can write it so you can pronounce it easier when you read it."

He practices, closely, but then asks "I will study hard, but will this help me protect others?"

"Mmmm." Frank rumbles "There is power in names; saying them, learning to use them. That power can be used to protect."

He nods, and goes back to it, studying even harder!

Frank keeps the paper and pencil handy, in case Holger wants to notes some names pheonetically.

And he does "How do you say Mountain, Storm, and Hearth Phonetically, por favor?"

Frank gives him the pronunciations, slowly, letting him write.

And he nods and focuses, "Good. Should I have to write a letter here, or remember to send a message for help to defend my friends, I will be better for it"

"It helps when it comes to expressing yourself, too."

"Si, I suppose so. I do not think I will ever be a talker, but that is okay. I have good friends who say kind and wise things. Sometimes funny." He nods "And I smile, like this" Anyone else would think the expression on his face is impassive, but a troll can tell that the smallest part of his side lip is upturned

Frank nods, recognizing the look of mirth.

"It is not unwise to keep your words for things that are important."

"then I will try to learn how to express myself better so when I do, I give my best" A nod "But I do not knonw how well I can do it"

"Proficiency comes with practice, experience."

A nod and he looks down, and after practicing more, he says "Knight Captain Siv says you were a Knight before you were a knight.. only of the road? What did she mean? She says you were not a rover"

"I'm titled; Sir Franklyn of House Liam. I joined House Liam after my Saining. I work as an Over-the-Road trucker. So I guess I'm a Knight of the road, just not the High Road or Silver Path."

A nod "She also says that I must not touch your 'rig' without your permission, for some knights, it is their sword others may not touch, for you, it is your faithful sead tthe Dawn treader"

"My truck is my livelihood, my way of supporting my family. And I have a lot of memories in her. However, I have taken precautions against others using her without my permission, so."

He looks offennded on Frank's behalf "Someone would dare? " A shake of his head "There are those who think we trolls will endure too much. They are play with fire"

"The matter has been dealt with." the Mountain says, calm and steady.

A firm hurumph nod ("Good.")

WHich oddly seems to be universal , it doesn't matter whether your first language is spanish or english

"So what happens next in the story?" Frank refers back to the book.

"Oh, it gets very exciting" And he relates where they are