Alex nodded to Teagan; Chepaney was telling the truth.
“Mr. Hocktochee was wearing this symbol tattooed on his chest,” Teagan passed Chepaney a photo of the feather symbol. “Does this mean anything to you?”
“It looks familiar,” Chepaney nodded. “Is it some kind of identifier?”
“We believe so,” Teagan nodded. “Our research has found that it represents an occult group called Flight.”
“Well, that would be appropriate,” Chepaney huffed. “Not all that original but appropriate.”
“We think that this group in particular has picked up the abilities of the true raven mockers somehow,” I continued.
“Raven mocker mockers?” Chepaney asked.
“Exactly,” I grinned. “You know how to kill them but do you know how to hunt them?”
“I'm afraid not,” Chepaney sighed.
“What about twisting the magic you use to set the trap?” Tiernan asked. “Could you set it to wound instead of kill?”
“What would be the point?” The shaman shrugged. “They take seven days to die, that's wounded in my book. Fatally wounded but wounded nonetheless.”
“That's a rather good point,” Raza's eyes narrowed. “So all we need to do is track one after it's been wounded and we'll have seven days to question it.”
“A dying man is less likely to give up his friends and loved ones,” Teagan observed.
“Getting information out of the unwilling has never been a problem for me,” Raza smiled.
“We must follow the laws,” Teagan shook his head. “We do not employ torture as an interrogation technique.”
“Even when it could mean catching mass murderers?” Raza lifted a dark brow.
I looked at Teagan, my own convictions in the matter floundering. This was dire. We needed to find these people and stop them. And then we needed to find out if there were more groups like them. Perhaps a little force wasn't such a bad thing.
“Even then,” Teagan stood firm for all of us and something inside me breathed a sigh of relief.
“Well done, Councilman,” Raza chuckled. “I applaud your convictions but I was merely testing you. We are fey, remember? We have no need for such deplorable techniques. We can simply render them fairy-struck.”
“Your enchantment may not work on a magic user,” Teagan considered it.
“Pardon me,” Alexis interrupted. “But have you all forgotten about us?”
“Oh!” Teagan chuckled. “I guess we have.”
“Perhaps you will be helpful,” Raza sounded a little surprised. The twins gave him matching scowls.
“Is there anyone in your community who is sick or elderly, someone we could watch over and use to lure out one of these witches, Mr. Chepaney?” I asked.
“There are always the old and dying among us,” Chepaney shrugged. “It will be hard to monitor them all. I usually wait until I'm notified of suspicious behavior.”
“Princess Seren,” Raza sighed. “I appreciate that you were an extinguisher for many years but-”
“I amstillan extinguisher,” I corrected.
“Oh, my sweet lady,” Raza shook his head. “You are so much more than that.”
“Anyway,” I rolled my eyes.
“You are not utilizing all the tools available to you,” Raza's voice went stern. “Stop thinking like a human and think like a fairy... a fairy princess.”
