#anywhere

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The Lodge branch of the King family meanders away from the main party to speak quietly.

Brekke asks Frank and Jess, "Do you want us to hear this, or would it best be a conversation you two engage in privately?"

"If Jess doesn't mind, I'd like you to stay, Brekke." Frank rumbles. Jess nods agreement.

Brekke nods. ((Mr. D's decision whether Siv decides to join in the serious conversation, or hang out with the younger set.))

"Look, I know. I haven't done it yet." Jess says, low. "I know it's dangerous, and it's not enough just to get people over the border. I've thought about it, that's all."

A concerned look to Jessica. "I know what I have heard about conditions there. If you say it is worse...Jessica, I think you are not wrong to consider this." Then she turns to Frank. "But you know better than I about this."

Frank walks quietly for a moment. "Jess isn't wrong. When I was.... you have to have somewhere to put people, it's not enough to just move them out of danger."

"Agreed. And we are not talking about Dreamers. We could easily find fae support to help situate them. But mortals...many of them probably more concerned with survival at this point than dreams...and many hurt and discouraged...." Again to Frank. "This is your house's specialty. What do you advise?"

"-Some- could be Dreamers."

That from Jess.

"Yes. Have you found any?"

Frank is thinking as they talk.

Jess says "So far, I've found Sayda; she's clurichaun, which is... different."

"And another Fae, um, Crystalized while in town to help the caravan." Jess purples slightly. "I found her."

"There have to be Dreamers in there; so many people trying to reach their Dreams, even if it isn't our Dreaming...."

"I agree. You will need to seek them out. I am sorry, Jessica, but they must be the priority for us."

"Dreamers or Fae?" Jessica gives her a dry look.

"Both. If they are present, our efforts must focus on them before we can help other mortals."

"That's what I've been doing, but Fae or Dreamers or Mortals, it's an -bad- situation, going downhill, and there's still the issue of what to -do- with them. The Fae I can hide for a while, with two Freeholds, but everyone needs papers, food, shelter...."

"And we are talking about hundreds of them, correct? You know that, regardless of what we can do, you must accept that there will likely be many losses."

"Thousands of people. Maybe... possibly dozens of Fae? More Dreamers?" She frowns resentfully. "Yes. Losses."

"Rivervale will do what we can, but the fact is that it is winter. Shelter for mortals is more difficult to secure in this season. And, yes, the question of documentation...." another look to Frank.

"Well, it's not freezing in Feathered Serpant, at least."

Frank has been thinking. "I think the issue is the scope of the problem. In ones and twos... even three... they can get lost in the system, moved, reestablished. Dozens...." He shakes his head. "That's a -lot- to hide, even if ... we assume they're Fae, they can be taken through trods and flickerflashed and such. Even -assuming- that... when they get where they're going, they need paperwork."

Brekke nods. "Numbers."

"The sheer -size- of the thing... same problem the mortals are having. We would only be able to, well, -process- so many people at a time."

A thought. "Anne Marie. For young ones...she knows how to negotiate the system."

"Even a small number is a small victory," Brekke reasons.

Frank brightens. "Anne Marie. Good idea."

Jessica nods. "Small victories, I guess. Yes."

"And...Jessica, have you sought out Count Jude on the matter?"

"Father V and Sir Jack are still with us in Renaissance." She shrugs, thinking. "I haven't been working with him, but I could feel the idea out. I don't want to make trouble with Countess Danya or the Duke by going to a Count in Pacifica."

"No, but Pacifica has the climate to make alternate housing a possibility for this season, perhaps. Forest fires notwisthstanding," she adds grimly.

Jessica huffs a chuckle. "Right. Might be they're a little pinched for housing just now. But, I hear you, Mom."

Frank is walking along, brow so craggy and furrowed it looks like a separate mountain range, his horns the peaks.

A slight wry grin to Jessica, then a look to Frank. "What are you thinking?"

He gives her a very VERY reluctant look, hating what he's thinking. "I'm... reviewing any contacts I might have had who could... Help. Move people. You know. From... when I was. In the business."

A long silence from Brekke...then a slow nod. "I think it is time to call in a debt."

"Brekke............" He hates this.

Raised brows in return. "A debt is owed. This is a worthy use."

He sighs, not arguing that point. After a few more steps he mutters "Da'an is a bitch....."

"Mm." Brekke nods, then turns to Jessica. "The contact I am thinking of, I want you to have as little involvement as possible. Please do not ask."

"We are smuggling?" Excited look, Siv has been as quiet as possible

But now she blurts.

Jessica looks at them, puzzled. "How do I have as little involvement with a contact that's going to help smuggle people on my watch, in my fief, to safety?"

"Contacts and contacts and contacts. But the organizer of it all...I want you several steps away, if possible." Then a sigh to Siv. "If you were just a bit louder, Siv, I am sure you could be heard by most of those back at the party."

"Sorry" sheepish

Frank looks increasingly sour.

Jessica, increasingly baffled. "Stay away from the one -organizing- the whole thing? I'm going to be the one on the other side, on my side, doing the same thing. But I should stay away from ... I don't get it."