#debukefarmhold

"We will have Frank too I suspect unless she leaves him behind to guard the Lodge there. I don't think so though. I think the mountain will insist" Clem says "And at least two more beyond that" Pleased

"That Rover, I'd wager."

"We sure could use a rover, Balor know their trods an they know the Dreaming" Clem says

Vashti says "I could be a rover" A hurumph.

"You are both clever and brave. Though, I think, closer to I than Olgar in terms of the blade."

"Besides, Vashti, you're not going. If Zara's not, and she's not, your part of the bargain, you're not. I'm putting my foot down here." Clem says

A look at her sister and a sigh.

"Ah, that was that boom I heard," Vasthi stage mutters then sullenly and more clearly "tis different. I would not have my sister come to harm!! she would seek to restrain me and deny my innate battle lust...also I know the area."

"Trolls." She shrugs.

"Tis azure madness" Vashti says

"The price of doing business with azure protection" Clem says firmly

Then a look to Earl from Clem "You understand your part in things after this?'

"I do" Earl says and nods.

"Good" Clem rubs her brow between her clump of horns.

"I do not. What's next?"

"Depending on how the raid goes," Clem says "It's possible it will have to be two, even three pronged. The mines in the Dreaming, which may have a main force and a scout force, and possibly a warehouse set up in the mortal world, that we think the balor might flee too"

A soft hiss.

"There must be a way for me to aid..."

"Of course there is, who do you think will be watching and ready to go summon a rescue if this all goes side oggling?" Clem says then lowers her voice "Zara... I need you to be ready to race to Earth Runes, to Hemlock, to Scarsdale if you have to and if it goes bad, to ask for the unthinkablee. A rescue from sidhe."

Earl is agog "What, do the Hearth, Storm and Mountain know about this back up plan?"

"They'd oveer rule me if they did" Clem says

Her hands clench, but she nods.

'thank you" Clem says "I know it seems like I'm sidelining you, but you have connections I need."

"I can speak to the sidhe, aye. And mostly hold my tongue."

"Dornklippe is no friend of the Balor, and Hemlock bound to the Shackle-breaker."

"I'll be fine on myend," earl says assuring zara, "but I like the idea you're ready incase it goes wrong."

Vashti says "I should be infiltrating, earning trust, destroying them from within like a slow poison in their well"

Clem gives her a LOOK

Vashti smooths her dress "Not that I would ever everhtink of how how to do that to a nice farm"

"One does not drek in one's own bed, nu?"

"of certes, boorish and plebian" She knits

Clem sighs "I feel a headache coming on already."

"You just need to translate, aye?"

"It is easier with some practice. Pooka lie no more than sluagh or Eiluned..."

Vashti nods "Tis the curse of we of Puck's line that we should speak in poetry while others are damned to mere prose. Which is to be pitied more?"

A soft rasp of not-laughter. "Aye, truth."

Clem smiles at that "Well, Zara, your sister certainly has posh. I'll give her that much"

"Aye." A flash of a smile, brief. "She is my silver lining."

Vashti blushes

"You dispute this? I did not know how much I wished a sister, before thee."

"I.. for me, a choice of siblings was a choice of toxins to drink, the hemlock of a brother the nightshade sister? a knife shaped like an eshu, a club lke a troll, which would I like to strike me about the head and back until I lay gasping?"

Vashti continnues "you are.." A hand on zara "Suddenly there is you.. a healing draught, no poison. A bandage an salve, not a wounding thing. I do not understan but I am grateful"

She reaches out to touch the pooka's hand.

The two sisters touch hands

Clem smiles at the sweet moment

Earl nods "OKay, anything else?"

Clem nods "We may extend our reach, carefully. See if we can get a bit of help from Jessica. Not sure on that yet, but she is an ally. She's a busy Ally but ther you go."

Earl nod "Go to her, but don't expect much not because she doesn't care but because she's swamped"

"Aye - two holds now?"

Clem says "We don't know.. a few from each maybe?"