#rivervale_lodge

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Symon is not sure why he has been called to the lodge, but here he is...

Eden looks..nervous

The text that Symon received from Kerri is the same as the one that Eden received: Please come to our place for a discussion.

Kerri greets them both with a grin. "Sorry to sound so ominous. The Chieftain is out in the boathouse...it's a good, shady, cool, and mostly private space to meet, we figured. She's expecting you."

"Oh god I swear it was only once we weren't even IN the hull ...." She says

He gives Eden a side-eye glance. Nodding to Kerri, and heading over that way.

"Uhm.. right. Boathouse" She moves on

"Come back here after, if you like, for a bit of a snack."

It's a HOT day in NJ, but as promised the boathouse is a cool, dark space after the sunny glare outside. It's dry, but it seems to hold the echo of ocean breezes in its walls. Brekke is aboard the Kestrel, coiling heavy ropes.

"You're a maniac, noah" Eden says

She looks down. "Hm. Boat needs tending, even when not at sea. Come aboard, please."

There's a rope ladder to the deck they can manage.

Symon quite easily makes it up, fingers clinging to the side of the boat.

A swallow and gulp, then Eden joins

"Please, be comfortable." There are coils of rope that would make good seats, or barrels, or railings...whichever, she waits for them to settle and regards them seriously for a moment before saying, "I have a task that would benefit from your skills, both of you. It is dangerous."

He gives a dubious look over at Eden, and back at Brekke. "What sort of task?"

Eden says "uhm... wait this isnt' about .. " She stops herself "Danger. right. yay?"

"Sneaking into an Ailil stronghold to spy on him?" He guesses.

A brow at Eden for a moment, then to Symon, "Infiltration and reconnaissance."

He looks smug for a moment at having guessed.

"I've just now started dating"

"No. At least...not the Ailil."

And then perplexed.

"Ah, Ailil's well that ends well" Eden says

"I need to know you will keep this information secret. I trust you will. There is a location not far from here where mortals and some fae are being held captive in a trafficking operation. We intend to raid the location to get them out, but it is a factory. We do not know exactly where they are within. We need those who can sneak to get in and find out, and report back."

Eden frowns "is this a 'koreans are sneaky thing?'" she ask Brekke after looking over at her fellow Korean American then back

A blink. "This is a 'sluagh are sneaky and snakes are able to get into small places' thing."

"Oh, snakes." He nods, giving Eden an appraising look. "Do you get pretty small?"

"I don't suppose you have any venom?" Hopeful.

"I need to know where the captives are. I need to know how many captors are there. I need to know where their weapons and ammunition are stored, if possible. And I need to know how many fae are there, whether captive or captor."

A frown as he thinks for a minute. "How big of an operation is this? How many people do you expect on guard... and is this the only location? Like, if it's a bigger op, even if there was a chance to sneak folk out, you may not want to because it would blow your cover for a bigger bust?"

"Not even sarcasm" She says to him, then nods to Brekke "I.. suppose my rhino form could be of help"

Brekke considers the questions seriously. "I do not have any reliable information about numbers, but I am guessing fifteen to twenty captors, perhaps eight on active guard at any time. And...this is known to be part of a much larger operation. Our actions would be part of a larger effort. Thus the need for secrecy...we must not alert others." Symon may note she's treating him as...as an adult. A professional, even.

"These people..the ones caugt, they're weaklings who were asking for it aren't they?" Despite her words, Eden looks troubled "Helpless and we're all they've got so it serves them right?" Lies.. and truths

"...what if one of the captives is in immediate danger? Fae. Right of rescue. Would you want us to take the risk of blowing your op?"

"These people, to the best of my knowledge, are innocents who have been fooled into trusting the wrong people, or in some cases outright kidnapped from their homes," she answers Eden.

Symon's question gets a furrowed brow. "That...is difficult. I would prefer you bring back information only, if possible. But as you say...Right of Rescue, if needed. If you find a fae, perhaps sustain him or her with glamour, but it may be helpful to have one of our own within when the raid begins."

"I would need to ask you to use your best judgment."

She looks at both of them. "You both seem to be willing. Correct?"

He hesitates before asking then next question, but gives Eden a frank look. "Can I count on you to not see this as some sort of... joke? And I'm sorry if that's offensive. But I need to know you can be serious if it's as dangerous as Chief says."

Eden wrinkles her nose at him "Why would I be offended at the notion I'm gonna yuck it up with slaves for a punchline?"

He frowns back at her. "You might as well ask if I was going to abandon you there in the first hint of trouble. I'd expect it of me."

And to the chief, "It's not really a question of willing, is it? It's the Escheat. If it was just mortals... I dunno. Maybe that makes me an asshole. But when fae are involved, it's like... if you want to expect to be rescued when your OWN ass is on the line, you gotta put your money where your mouth is."

Eden says "Fine... instead of joking I'll desert you so you'll respect me and you can make with the funny nose and stick it out." A look at the Chief "I'm going to demand a squire ship for us both and two 'atta wilders' but I'm in"

"I do not know for certain that there are fae there, Symon. It is a possibility. And you will notice that Eden did not actually ask that of you. I would not have asked both of you if I did not believe you both capable of the work." To Eden, a raised brow. "I will recognize work well done, yes."

"Can I ask for the opposite? I don't like being hauled up on stage and folk staring at me. If it's all the same, I want to stay in the shadows. I don't care how typical that sounds. I don't want folk knowing I was part of it. Let me stay discrete, and that means that maybe I don't get noticed. And not being noticed means I might actually be helpful for the NEXT thing that comes up."

Eden rolls her eyes at something. She seems more confident lately

Brekke nods to Symon. "Agreed."

"When, and where? ...and if possible, don't mention it to Anne Marie. I don't want her worrying if she doesn't have to. At least not until we're back." Or not, he doesn't add.