The weather was cool, making the cafe quite pleasant. Tea had been served with some small cakes. They could just barely see the remnants of the morning chaos from their table.

“Did you intend to bumble like this and leave your handy work behind?” The young woman asked. She pushed wheat blond hair back behind her ear to keep it from getting in her tea as she sipped.

“Technically it wasn’t my handy work, It was Snake’s,” The black haired man chuckled in response.

“Your familiar’s handy work is your own. The Mistress is going to be upset when she finds out that you not only killed three temple men, but you left them where they could be found,” She chided him, setting her cup down to reach for one of the small cakes. The man pushed the plate closer to her.

“You worry too much. The Mistress trusts my Judgement. I’m not a child. If I hadn’t wanted them found they would’ve never been found.”

“I don’t even want to imagine what little ingenious plan you think you have, giving those nasty dogs a bone to chase. If you had left them alone they would’ve moved on to a new state in a few months. You should’ve let them chase their tails,” She said with a huff, catching his eyes with a judgemental stare. For someone who looked so much like a girl she certainly had the attitude of an angry old woman.

“They wouldn’t have left empty-handed,” He reminded her.

“But they wouldn’t have left with a witch,” She said, setting her cup back down with a clank.

“An innocent death isn’t much better. I’ve never believed that it’s right to let someone who knows nothing die in our stead,” He said.

“So you’d give them a witch?” She shot back at him.

“Ideally I’d give them nothing. You needn’t be so defensive. I’m not careless. From what I’ve gathered from other covens it’s been a few decades since they’ve caught an actual witch. People are growing weary of them.”

“So you’re giving them just what they’re looking for? A witch to chase?”

He leaned back in his seat, folding his hands in his lap. “I am. I’m giving them me. The temple is too close to our new baby brothers. They aren’t yet awake enough to walk amongst the ranks of the coven, and they know too little to protect themselves if the accusations turn to them. The Mistress was very clear. We do not turn our backs on those who have chosen to open their eyes. ‘And only then, with the knowledge of the very existence of life will you be able to move through the darkness with absolute certainty.’ Those are your words, are they not?” He asked her. “They’ve chosen to move through the darkness. It’s our job to guide them as best we can. I am not going to put the Mistress, or you, or Anya in any danger. I am taking this risk knowingly out of love for the Mistress and her coven. So please. Don't question where it’s not your right to question.”