In the days following the defeat of Count Doom, peace reigned supreme across the land. Speckles the Salamander found himself looking forward to going home with Sir Persevere. After all, did not his lady love Freckles live in the creek behind Sir Persevere's abode? But before Speckles could indeed travel the several hundred miles needed to get home, Sir Persevere was going to spend the week celebrating their victory with his fellow knights and soldiers. While Speckles enjoyed his fair share of mealworm bread, beetle juice, and layered butterfly cake during the ensuing festivities, he found himself rather bored. Sure, he enjoyed watching the musicians play their instruments, and he enjoyed watching the knights and soldiers dancing with their ladies. Hey, he even enjoyed watching the dragons, tesahorns, and other sentient creatures put on some wonderful dances and displays in celebration of Count Doom's death. But Speckles had no one his size to dance and play with here. If only Freckles was with him now!

So it was, Speckles found himself absently chewing on some layered butterfly cake while watching Sir Cypress recount his own tales of battle in the form of a song. The salamander was sitting on Sir Persevere's empty plate. Sir Persevere was paying too much attention to Sir Cypress's performance to notice Speckles' bored demeanor. But Speckles was about to have some excitement, after all.

Without warning, one of the waiters came to Sir Persevere's table and retrieved the knight's empty plate...with Speckles still on it! Sir Persevere didn't notice his friend calling out above the singing and clapping. For that matter, the waiter himself couldn't seem to hear Speckles above the din, either. In short order, the salamander found himself transported to the kitchen. A lady was sitting at a bucket filled with soapy water. The waiter brought his pile of dishes directly to the lady and set them inside the bucket. In that moment, Speckles found himself submerged in the soapy water.

"This is most irregular," thought Speckles to himself. "Salamanders don't take bubble baths!"

At first, the lady contented herself with scrubbing plates. Speckles spun head over heels in the water while the lady busied herself with her task. About ten plates later, her hand finally touched Speckles. "Someone must have left a sausage on his plate," the lady's water-muffled voice bemused. Directly, she pulled Speckles out and almost screamed at the sight of the soapy amphibian.

"Please don't panic, milady!" the salamander pleaded. "I am Sir Persevere's travelling companion. I was brought to you by mistake!"

The lady immediately calmed down and looked Speckles over. "You poor thing! You are covered in food and soap! I'm going to have to clean you up!"

"Please, there is no need-," began Speckles. But the lady spun around to another bucket filled with more soap and cleaner water and submerged him therein. Speckles protested as the soapy sponge caressed itself over his slippery body. A moment later, Speckles came out of the water still soapy, but very much cleaner. The lady found a basin filled with clean water and splashed it over the hapless amphibian. She would have dried Speckles with a towel, but the salamander would have none of it. "Salamanders need their moisture, if you don't mind, madame," he informed her.

The lady put the towel away and set a looking glass in front of Speckles. "There!" she crooned, "Don't you look nice now!"

Speckles admired himself in the mirror and had to admit she had cleaned him nicely. "Thank you for the bath, milady," he complimented her. "When I get home, I'll tell my friends about you. You could have a future in salamander grooming!"

"Well, aren't you sweet!" the lady blushed. "Shall I take you back to Sir Persevere?"

"If you don't mind, I'd rather stay with you for a while. We're both in need of someone to talk to." So Speckles and Katie (for that was the lady's name) spent the rest of their time talking while Katie continued washing dishes. Speckles told jokes and sang silly songs, all of which helped to keep up Katie's spirits as she set about her tasks. By the time the day was over, Speckles was sorry to part ways with Katie, but she dutifully carried him back to Sir Persevere.

"Thank you for letting me borrow Speckles," Katie told the knight. "He is such a delightful gentleman."

"Ah, so that's where he's been," responded Sir Persevere. "Well, I'm glad he was a blessing to you. You have my thanks for keeping him company."

Katie curtsied and walked away. Sir Persevere looked down at the salamander standing on his hand. "I'm sorry we didn't spend much time together today," the knight apologized. "We'll be heading home tomorrow. I miss my wife, and I know you miss yours. Klingeon and Aveline will be staying with us indefinitely. Is there anything you want to do before we leave?"

Speckles shook his head. "No, sir. I'm ready to go. But I didn't realize I was going to enjoy this day as much as I did. Who could have guessed I needed a bubble bath?"

The End (of this short story)