#rivervale_lodge

Sylvi frowns. "It's not that the adults aren't willing. They're trying. They're just trying to keep you safe at the same time. They don't want to get us involved...but I think you and Siv are right and we have to get involved."

"What if I give Dagmar a fat lip, to make it really real and fool him?" Dirk offers

Snort. "Nice try. You wish."

"But really...I want to tell Dad and Mom. I want to tell the Chieftain and the Mountain, too, so we're all the same page, and they....they'll know..."

Siv blushes "They'll try to stop us"

"You tell and this is all a waste. Jaymes took me in to protect me from Bug Guy, right? So that's his job, and trolls have to do their jobs."

"Let's face it, we're gonna get grounded, but it' s worth it if it stops Bug man" Siv says

"IF it stops him, yeah." Sylvi sounds doubtful, and looks back to the Lodge. "They have more experience...."

"I'm okay with getting grounded."

He suddenly adds in, “Gotta take care with that... slugs are keen eyed and sometimes we can see right through illusions, like fuddle and stuff. Might work on the bugs, but if he gets suspicious and looks close enough...” he trails off.

“So, find a real hiding spot is all.”

"I just want him leaving Jaymes and Tove and the lodge alone..."

A frown then, Siv blinks" It works on the bugs."

"Me too...and I want him to leave you alone, too."

"it works on the bugs" She pokes Sylvi "It works on the bugs. We're worried about taking out bugs, what if we, and I mean you, ccan fool them. Have them not see her... or see HIM as the target?"

“Maybe we could confuse ‘em, if the bugs are dumb. They show up, and there’s not one, but three dawn maidens... or whatever he called you?” To Dagmar. “Might be enough for them to call in Boss for support. Don’t the bugs usually show up first?”

"Yeah, it's usually the bugs."

She blinks at Siv...then her eyes get wide. "I...yeah...Yeah! That could work! If they think he's her....Wow...."

“If suddenly they can’t tell which one is you... maybe they’d need smarter help.”

"Or yeah, make us all look like her, that's better than hiding. I have to think if I can do both..." She bites her lip.

"Can anybody else here Fuddle?"

"I ain't big on brainy arts" Diirk says

"Sorry. No magic yet."

A small shake of the head.

"Connor... doesn't he have a thing to hide his ears?"

"WE're not risking Connor" Siv shakes her head

"Just a hat, I think."

"See, again, I know the Chieftain has it...."

"Nor Gerd I...sorry, they are too young" Siv is firm

"I agree, Siv. The kids stay out of it."

((I'd forgotten...hang on...))

"Right... not gonna risk them." She frowns.

Dirk shrugs "Fine."

((Nope))

“Ain’t they at risk already?” He asks pragmatically. “Whose to say a bug won’t chomp on a girl wandering up in the trees or a dog running around that crosses their path? But yeah, kids are too unpredictable, they might just get scared or think it’s a game and wreck the plan.”

"It's gotta be us so it won't be them."

Siv eyes Symon "You're a wee hard of hearing today"

He frowns. “I agreed with you.”

"I mean, if it weren't for the bugs... it... I mean, I bet in a straight up fight, I could take him. I am pretty strong now."

"Sorry sorry" Siv sighs

“What about that boggan girl, or Eden? Or... Jimmy, did we ever figure out who that is? AM had a muffin with his name on it. Maybe reinforcements.”

Sylvi's thinking hard. "I can cast a Fuddle on him so he looks like Dagmar. I can cast Fuddles on us to do the same. But I can't do it all at once...and if I cast it on us, then the bugs just attack all of us instead of him. So I need to cast it on him...but that means he needs to show himself."

"Jimmy is the piskie. He's in our English class."

"Piskies have good tricks, usually."

"Hey, Zane hs chicanery" Dirk says "His dad's like a wizard at it"

She wrinkles her nose.

"Zane! Right!"

“If we confuse the bugs enough that he has to show up, and then sic them back on him? Wicked!” He looks viciously amused by this.

She catches Dagmar's expression. "Yeah, I know, you don't like him, but maybe he could help."