#fenixtj

Tito Woden has been working hard, then says "Jessica? I mean, countess?"

"Jessica is fine, Tito Woden. Yes?"

"I used tattle tale on the satyr who got away... the link was weak, but I had a look. Jessica, they're an anti peace movement"

"Or agents of it. I don't know who their boss is. He's not in the area."

"Great." Glumly.

"Can you write it up? I want to send it to the other Freeholders... more eyes, and all that."

"Si, and... Jessica. I don't think they're locals. You know what that means?"

"I have some thoughts, but I'd like to hear yours."

He goes on, "It means WE, your people, are still on your side. They have to bring insurgents IN"

She blinks. "Well..... that's a point." and one that is clearly new to her.

"Si" he nods "This isn't happening because we're failing. It's happening because we're succeeding" A wolf like smile on the younger trolls face, "And that scares them"

"Sooo...." she considers "Double down?"

"You're the boss, but I could see why you might want to" he nods "I'm just excited. Oh, maybe we should tell Otem?"

"Let's find him." And together they seek the Nunnehi.

Otem has returned from patrol as well. He's become regualr enough that he's been given a room

"Otem, do you have a moment?"

"For you? Of course" A nod "Is there trouble?"

"No but... Tito Woden, tell him?"

TIto Woden fills him in, stressing the fact these aren't locals. Otem isn't pleased but he seems to see Tito's point, still, he admits "I worry about this, Jessica. We're not so unified that it would take much to part us"

"I agree. But...." a helpless shrug "I want to hope, too."

Otem's features soften, "I am sorry, Jessica. Of course you do. So do I. I should not be so ill humored" He puts a hand on her "You're right. This is as Tito says, a sign of hope that they must go outside for their numbers to work against the peace"

"What do you think of pushing our advantage, then? We would say 'doubling down.'"

"It might provoke them to a reckless action and allow us to catch them. I approve, but we should make sure it is our warriors that do the provoking if we can?"

Jess is quiet a moment, then says "Tito Woden, will you excuse us?"

"Of course" the Seer says and withdraws

When they are alone... "I'm being targeted. There's a spy here."

"Do you know who?" He asks

"No. Ahpuch overheard some talk, and we almost caught someone but ... we did get a scrap of his clothing. It was a satyr, seems to have been male. an agent of an anti-peace movement from outside the Baja, seems like."

"That I heard, but a spy here made it sound liike one was insdie the hold itself"

"I don't want to think that... Ahpuch didn't .... I mean, some of what he said didn't make sense to me and when I tried to clarify, I didn't get much more but... maybe. Yes."

"I ..see. How can I help with this?"

A helpless look "Do you know how to catch a spy?"

"like all hunts, bait them I suspect. but beyond that, no. One advantage to our xenophobia is we were not spied on easily"

Constance comes in, petting Mamacita "Oh, I'm intruding"

"Um.... maybe a little. But we can go outside or something."

"No no, just wanted to know how things went with the haunting? I was going to put it in the records. It's not crucial"

"I'd ask the redcaps and sluagh who were there but the aftermath seems to be going well. Need to leave him be for a bit though; they have him rattled. Oh, and he signed divorce papers. I need to get those to Mitra."

"I'll go ask Phobos and Demos then" She nods and withdraws

"Well. I'm the bait I guess." Jess says, answering Otem's last comment.

"Yes, keep your eyes peeled for anything unusual I believe is the phrase? Did Ahpuch say anything specific?"

She relates to him the conversation she had with Ahpuch ".... and I asked him to write down everything, everything he could remember. Maybe there are more details in there."

"A pet mole? It sounds as if it might be someone dear to you"

Jess's expression is one of ... distaste, to put it mildly "Maybe."

"I just... can't think who."

"I am sorry, I do not wish to sow doubt in who you can trust. That doesn't serve anyone"

"But you're not wrong. A pet spy... A pet mole. I thought maybe Ahpuch had heard an unfamiliar phrase and reframed it to something he understood but... I can't make it out any other way."

"mmm"

"Otem.... can you catch this spy? No matter who it is?" quietly.

Then a glance at him, sad and amused "It's not you, is it?"

"If It were, whoever selected me has very poor judgement. I'm not good at it" A bit of an amused look "I will plant some false information and see who or what acts on it I guess? Different lies for each?"