Ann moved her gaze across the elders as she spoke, her voice strong and clear.
"We've had three separate survivor accounts that mention ritual marks carved and scorched into entryways. We have scouts reporting circles cut into fields and ash mounds that refuse to cool. I'm not interested in arguing semantics about whether you believe what is being said; what I'm asking is, do we treat these attacks as isolated terror tactics, or as evidence of coordinated dark witchcraft re-emerging within our borders?"
There was a moment of silence before Sera spoke first.
"We should treat it as both," she said. "Their actions are intended to provoke terror among the general population, and it also takes some degree of coordination to pull off one attack, never mind several in quick succession . Witchcraft is an rt form, and spellwork is their craft. It doesn't just stumble into patterns of its own accord. Someone is teaching it and recruiting actively to whatever goddess cursed cause they claim."
Kaito nodded in agreement.
"Yes…we've seen this tide before, decades ago. As one uprising was quelled, it was as if another sprang up to take its place. It only came to an end thanks to the swift intervention of Lord Brarthroroz. If it's returning, then someone is still feeding it. Perhaps Ermoaug has not quite had his fill of our lands just yet."
Elder Brom...built like a barrel and usually as cheerful...shifted uncomfortably.
"Or we're letting fear make shadows into monsters. We have enough enemies as it is without summoning more non-existent problems out of the dark just because it feels dramatic."
"Tell that to the people who watched their homes burn from the inside out," Adam said, with a forced calmness that only Ann knew was a precursor to his wolf's anger.
Ann lifted a hand.
"We're not here to posture at each other either. We're here to decide what we do next."
"And what is it you propose that we do, Your Majesty?" Harrow asked as he spread his hands in front of him smoothly, "Should we start knocking on doors looking for witches? Convene the second Spanish Inquisition? Forgive me if I'd prefer not to repeat the… less flattering chapters of history."
Ann met his gaze without blinking.
"I'm proposing that we send quiet feelers out to the known neutral magick users...those who did not side with Ely, those who have spent years hiding because we gave them no safe way to exist in our society with us. We ask what they've heard. We ask what the signs mean. We ask how to counter what's being done. We don't open pits or pyres. We open conversations."
"Conversations with people who bent the world until it broke last time," Maren scoffed.
"Not all of them," Sera cut in gently. "And the ones who did were led by men like Ely, who used grief and pride like tinder. We can't fight what we refuse to understand."
Kaito slid his tablet across the table.
"We maintain a handful of old contacts," he said. "Healers who never swore to covens and Hedge-witches who stuck to weather and wells. There is a daemon-blooded halfling…"
"If you're talking about Lexi," Adam said, jaw tight. His voice softened on the name. "First of all, don't ever call her a halfling where she can hear it or get to hear about it, and secondly, she's currently away on a mission with both Allen and Greyson."
Sera hummed thoughtfully.
"All the more reason to seek others out. The ones who are left know how to survive, and they probably also know where the rumors end and the truth begins."
Harrow's mouth twisted. "And you think they'll come running because we suddenly decided it's convenient to call them neighbors again?"
"No," Ann said. "I think they'll answer because a queen is asking instead of a mob. And because we're not asking them to confess...we're asking them to help save people who will die otherwise."
"Or they'll see a chance to crawl closer to the center of power and demand protections that they haven't earned." Maren snorted.
"Protections like not being set on fire for existing?" Maeve snapped.
Ann didn't repeat that out loud, but her tone sharpened.
"Protections like not being hunted in their own homes by the same butchers burning our border villages," Ann said sharply. "If you would prefer to keep them in the shadows where Ely found them last time, say that plainly. Don't dress it in talk of prudence."
"Neutral alliances only last until someone offers them a better bargain." Brom frowned.
"Then we offer one," Adam shot back. "Their safety for their information. Writs if that's what it takes."
Maren smiled thinly as his gaze ran disdainfully over Adam.
"From the Alpha who'd bleed a man dry for glancing the wrong way at his mate? That's your offer of safety?"
Adam's teeth flashed dangerously as his eyes bored into the Elder.
"Do you want to test how far my word holds? Be my guest."
"Enough."
Ann didn't raise her voice, but the word had the desired effect, and the hall stilled.
"Here is what will happen. Elder Kaito and Elder Sera will use their contacts to send feelers quietly. No summons, no circulars, no public theatre. Safe houses will be designated in advance, preferably in the city and along two border routes, staffed with people who can keep their mouths shut and their hands steady. Any magick user who answers will be given a temporary writ of protection while they assist. Final protections will be contingent on behavior and the value of what they bring."
Harrow's eyebrow climbed in disbelief.
"And if none answer?"
"Then we've lost nothing but time we would have wasted arguing," Ann said.