But if it had to perish twice

No pirates - but he had seen dolphins. She had seen them in the distance before, but she had never seen them up close. Perhaps she could convince her Knight to swim her out there and play with them.... “Were you close enough to see an eye patch? They might have been pirate dolphins for all you knew. You know? We should check it out, for the safety of the Empire.”

He tilted her head at her, and she mimicked the motion. “That depends, “ she pretended to scoff. Amusement dancing in her eyes. “Will any of these stretching techniques pull some height into stubby legs?” She did however prance a little on the spot, loosening her muscles as she eyed his motions, wondering if she could mimic them.

…. And then she startled, arching her back like a feral cat. “You. What?! ” she barked out, eyes wide. “Does he know?” oh man. And here she had spent the morning patting herself on the back for a subterfuge well done.

"Speech"