Page 2 of Hexes and Hiccups
Daisy’s ears perked up. “A petrifying potion? Can’t say I’ve seen one in action.”
“Though it is dark magic,” Iskra continued, “we aren’t entirely concerned about Riven's current state.”
“Why not?”
Serelith crossed her arms over the table as the blue jay walked over her limbs nonchalantly. “It looks like he has been simply put to sleep, if that makes sense. He isn’t experiencing pain, isn’t even aware of what’s happening, luckily. And he’s not in any danger of becoming dehydrated or anything of the sort. Which means we don’t have to do anything reckless to turn him back.”
Daisy tried to hide her shocked expression. Though she hadn’t dealt with a petrifying potion in her recent years, just off the top of her head, Daisy could imagine the sorts of ingredients needed for a cure. The potion had to be strong to render a dragon into such a state, which meant brewing the solution would take longer than other potions. Daisy pressed her lips together, however, and let the thoughts simmer within her head.There was something more pressing to deal with if the Council was not concerned with reverting the potion.
“We need to know who could do such a thing,” Serelith continued. “And what the reasoning was behind it. I believe it is safe to assume that the attacker might strike again in the coming days.”
Tessa, much to Daisy’s surprise, leaned forward to speak. “Wouldn’t Riven know who attacked him? If we managed to secure the cure, then –”
“Don’t worry,” Zirelle interjected, her voice brusque, though that was normally how she sounded. “We’ll be spending our time trying to free him.”
“Which is why we need the Coven Inquisitors to uncover the meaning behind it,” Iskra finished. Beneath the table, Iskra retrieved the torn note that had been pulled out from Riven’s hands. Daisy recognized it instantly. Resting the page flat against the table, Iskra pointed towards the borders of the note. “Do you see these edges? There is a golden border along the page, which gives us some idea where it came from.”
Daisy glanced at the ornate border of the page. “How can you know where it came from by just the border?”
Silence passed over the table as the Council Elders faced Serelith, whose face was beginning to turn a delicate shade of pink. The bird hopped up the witch’s arm before nestling against her neck in a comforting fashion. Serelith scratched the top of the blue jay’s head, avoiding meeting anyone’s gaze.
“Well,” she murmured in a small voice, “I saw… well, I wasshownby Riven a book that has a golden border on all the pages.”
“I didn’t realize you and Riven were friends,” Daisy commented.
Tessa huffed. “I didn’t realize Rivenhadfriends.”
“Well, you see,” Serelith started, “I wouldn’t have called it friends, but… Oh, why does it matter?”
Zirelle leaned across the table, a mischievous smirk on her lips. “Let’s call it what it was: a date.”
“Hey!” Serelith whined, her face growing redder. “I told you: no teasing!”
Iskra, who sat between the bickering pair with a surprisingly calm expression, let out a sigh. “On a more important note,” she said, “Serelith explained to us that the book contained gossip about practically everyone in Willowbrook.”
“You’re kidding,” Daisy blurted. “He had a book like that?”
Serelith grew more embarrassed. “Not the best thing to see on a first date, mind you.”
“Anyways,” Iskra continued, “we haven’t the foggiest idea who could’ve taken the book from the dragon, or why they would in the first place. We can only assume that the book is at the center of Riven’s predicament, which means finding the book a top priority. You find the book, you find the culprit.”
Before Daisy could say anything, Iskra leaned forward more, her eyes holding onto Tessa.
“Let me make something clear.” Iskra breathed deeply, as if preparing herself. “As the protectors of Willowbrook and the magic within it, we need to be cautious and pursue every avenue available. We cannot rule out Tessa as a suspect without further evidence.”
Daisy’s mouth opened, the argument ready to tumble out of her.
“We know you two are a team,” Iskra quickly added. “And we will respect that.” Though there was still some hesitation in her face, Iskra slid the page across the table, till it was directly in front of them. “You both understand that, don’t you?”
Tessa spoke before Daisy had the chance. “Of course,” she said. “Of course we understand.”
Taking the slip of paper, Daisy let her fingers run over the lettering and the golden border. Luckily, since it had been torn from a book, Daisy could brew a potion to locate the rest of it. Even so, as she held onto the paper, a ripple of unease crawled up her spine, pulling a shiver out of her. Something about the situation felt off, even more so than it inherently was. Perhaps it was the Council’s hesitation, or the way they watched Tessa, as if she had already been found as the culprit. Determination flared in Daisy’s chest. If there was one thing she could do, it was find the true witch or warlock behind turning Riven to stone.
“We will find the book,” Daisy said, the sincerity evident in her voice. “And therealperson behind all of this.”
Daisy turned to give Tessa a confident smile, but faltered, met by her friend’s radiating unease. Though she was still training to be a professional empath, her abilities did not cease to grow stronger with each passing day. No matter how much she tried to hide her growing fear, Daisy could recognize it as easily as happiness. Beneath the table, Daisy reached for her friend’s hand and gave her a tight, reassuring squeeze. Tessa squeezed back, though it wasn’t as strong as she hoped for it to be.
The uneasy feeling returned, and Daisy forced herself to look towards the Council once more.
