#earthrunes

"Nay, to the bottom." An eyebrow. "I am helping."

"Mmm?" As if he doesn't understand

"I may work with your people directly, or on my own, but I am helping. This is not a request."

"If I wanted to be ordered around by an outsider I'd go to Coradel" Dalton says "But I admire your moxie. How'd you get past our scrying detectors?"

Zara simply smiles.

A roll of his eyes "Okay. I Know as a sluagh you can sneak. But what are you talents?"

She holds up the lock-picks.

"I am good with locks, aye. And you have seen that I can collect information."

"One of the prisoners is a kithmate."

"Yeah, dont trust us to help him?" A brow "We've done this before, and we already got folks that pick locks and can get info"

"I am sure you will do your best. But... he is a kithmate. And I know of his distress."

"And none of your people are witches."

"Furking got us there, but what if a glass of water is thrown?" Deadpan, then "Fine fine... look, my biggest concdern is if we get busted, I can trust each person on the mission to spit up blood before they betray this place. You see why I'm not as sure of you right?"

She rolls her eyes. "Aye, I am some - what? Noble shill?"

"Would you feel better if I sent the White Raven with you?"

"Feel better if I worked with what I knew" Dalton says "no, you can come along, but only if you're working WITH us, not around us."

She nods. "Which is why I informed you, nu?"

A nod "Fine. You know everything about the sitch we just discussed, obviously. You busy this week?"

"I am available, aye."

"White Raven huh" Dalton says "Thought you'd be taller" Smrik

"Better for squeezing in places." A smile.

"Point" He nods "Come on, let's have a seat."

"Aye. Let us take a look at this place. And I would meet the team?"

"Yeah, you're going to need to know our range and specialites" He leads her towards that room for a private talk

"In the field, I would prefer to be called Raven - no need for other appellations where folks may hear. Aye?"

"Smart cookie." He nods "In that vein, call me Mr. Pyck, That's Boondoggle, FawkeU, and Gingerbread. Gents? This is Raven. "

Zara bows.

Those weren't the names any of them used regularly, but they slip into it like famliar coats. Yes, these folks are professionals at sticking their nose into places folks don't appreciate. Raven is truly a peer. And plans now include a sluagh witch.

(End scene, for now)