#anywhere

The circle drive is amusing, so much repeat of 'standard' and then that one house that is so much more natural: The one she was told about

Brekke looks out of place in her parks uniform amidst the carefully manicured lawns, and the more natural property is actually a bit of a relief. Yet, a possible threat resides here. Do not forget this. She approaches the door and rings or knocks, whichever seems appropriate.

Walking on the clover lawn and past the old trees that are allowed to loom , she knocks on the oversized oak door

Yes, she approves of this woman's design style.

And Jordan pops out "Hey, Chief? I got a text you were on your way. What's the crisis?" ever pessmistic

Her expression suggests that he's not too far off about there being a crisis. "Hello, Jordan. Thank you for meeting with me. There is a complicated situation happening, and...are we likely to be overheard if we speak here?"

"By my grandma probably," He admits "Come on in if you want. It's actually pretty tall ceillngs"

She hesitates, then leans close to speak very quietly. "It is about her that I wish to speak, before speaking with her. Jordan, I am sure on some level she knows of your nature. She keeps you safe...but does she know of the rest of us?"

"She doesn't know anything" A lie.

A brow at him.

Smoothly enough done, not as good as Sylvi or Siv could lie, but far better than dirk

Doesn't help against a gwyd

He sees he look, and mutters 'shit' then says "I ...she knows I'm a centaur. I haven't told her about the other fae folk. She was leaving out milk and bread at times. I made her stop doing it. " A low whisper "it might attract slaugh when it sours"

She sighs heavily. "I may need to share some knowledge with her. Do you enchant her often?" The tone one of asking for information, not accusing.

"I.. don't need to" He admits "At first i thought it was chance, but she avoids my horse butt, she makes sure I have room. She knows, she might even SeE"

A slow nod. "Then...I must speak with her, please." Accepting the earlier invitation, she moves through the door.

Yes, roomy enough for Centaurs and trolls "Ah, grandma, we have a guest. A nice lady park ranger I met"

"Oh" the woman's hair is long and gray, not bundled up or short as is often the way past a certain age, it must be a hassle but she smiles as she comes out "Well well" her eyes sparkle "Blessed be, be welcome to all things though all people be their own"

She gives the woman a curious look at the interesting greeting, then nods in return. "Well met. My name is Brekke. I have heard a bit about you from Jordan. I hope you do not mind my intrusion." Friendly...with an undertone of caution, in case this turns out to be walking into the spider's web.

"I do not mind, please, call me Sybil. " She looks up at Brekke, of course, but not up to the eyes where they are on a tall mortal woman, but where they are on a troll "Can I get you a drink?"

Her brow furrows a bit as she realizes this, then she shakes her head. "Thank you, but no. I..." A pause. Now that she's here, she's not entirely sure how to broach the subject. "Jordan tells me that you are wiccan. I hope it is not an invasion if we speak about this?"

"A wiccan? one of his kinder words for my belief system" A smile "Hope you're not narrow minded, Brekke,but I'm willing to discuss my beliefs surely"

Jordan says 'In my defense, I mock all religions equally"

"Lovely, my boy, got get yourself a cookie from the jar if you like' His grandmother lightens the sarcasm by patting him on the shoulder

"No, Sybil, I hope I am not narrow-minded, and I do not intend to mock. I actually came to ask...for your insight. A phrase I came across, and that needs interpretation."

"Oh I'm being consulted, maybe I should charge," Achuckle "Save I am already in your debt, Brekke. SOMEONE helped Jordan during a difficult..change. I suspect you had a part. Ask away"

She looks at Jordan briefly. His suspicions seem confirmed, but Right of Ignorance demands neither admit it.

"It is part of a larger...ah...statement. What do you make of the phrase: I am Awake in the Dreaming?"

Her eyes widen "Then it means someone has ...intruded deeply in .. your territory, Brekke. Someone who like me considers themselves 'Woke' in a much older meaning of the term. rare, rare rare even among the wise. your gated community has a few holes, it can be done, oh yes, but only a few ...practicioners show interest. It's too wyld, too subject to laws so ancient that even stone has forgotten . I .. someone who works what a wiccan might call the craft had best have good reason for risking angering your kind, either that, or they're already an ally, or a dire enemy. i... my word. the power requireed, the lore needed. It would be as if you touched the astral'

Brekke listens, then sighs heavily. "I am not a clever person, and you already know more than you should. I think it is time to speak more bluntly." She pauses. "You know what I am. What he is," she adds, nodding towards Jordan.

"I do. He's a centaur, you're... one of the giants? Odd, you seem so much nobler than what i know of creatures of Scandianvian lore. But you're no wretched trow full of deceit. I've seen your kind, guardians one and all. Someone did a mean number on your kind's reputation, lady troll"

"HOLY SHIt" Jordan gapes at his grandmother

"Language, we have a guest, jordan" His grand mother tuts "Don't reflect poorly on this house and hearth when one of the Folk is here"

Brekke's face is a portrait of concern. "You know that it is dangerous to us that you have this knowledge."

"It is... why do you think I did not stay long when I saw one of your kind? Prying into the affairs of fae? people think your kind are so fragile, little victorian tinkerbells easily swatted away, and that's if they believe in yo ueven a bit. the've no idea, if they listened to half of the tales, the old tales, they'd fear you even the summer courts"

She nods. "It is dangerous to you, as well," she adds as a courtesy. "Mortals have gone mad if they see and know too much. But...you seem to be able to manage this?"

"I have a means to alow me to peek , pardon if I don't share the hows lest you gease me from the use. I don't over indulge. I am of the old practices, not wiccan, I draw blood when i have to. Blood and sweat, falling on soil and green. The great tree... oh fairies fit very well in my magic... but best from a distance. We're not enemies, Brekke. Far from it. You've helped my grand son. I did not like about that"

Another slow nod. "And...you understand that it would be dangerous if you were to share what you know of us with others."

"I imagine you might be obliged to kill me. And who could blame you? You needs must look after your own"

"And I have no desire to be put in such a position. I do not know whether I can trust you. I hope I can. Because...one of mine has need of help, and I do not understand how to help. I think you might be able to help me help him."

"Kill? whoa whoa whoa" Jordan stamps

Brekke looks at him seriously. "I have NO desire to do that," she reiterates. "But others of her kind, ones you don't know, have done things, vile things, to our kind. I will not let that happen." She looks back at Sybil. "I think we understand each other."

"I see, technocracy? They're our most bitter foes and would wipe you from any one's vision of reality" Sybil says

"If that is what they are called, can you tell me what those like you are called?"

"I shouldn't, but in the interest of trust, do you know the term Verbena? Beyond it's herbal aspects?"

Her brow furrows. "I think...I remember hearing it. From long ago. Yes." She nods. "Thank you."

"That is our tradition, my tradition. Some would consider us pagans, we are ..adept at the magics of life. That does not mean we do not deal death"

"Herbalists usually can, whether or not they choose to," she says. This seems more like a fact for her, not a concern.

"Now what has happened that I've drawn your eye?"

A slow breath. "One of mine had serious problems. He went into what you call our Wyld in an attempt to seek an answer. Now, things have appeared, signs that suggest he is in trouble and seeking help. One of ours had a vision, words. I shared a small part of it with you. I do not understand much of it, and...I wish to see if you can help figure out the rest."