Return of the Fae by Lynn Cahoon

real question and one she hadn’t found the answer to in the Academy’s manuals. At least not yet.
    “So Prudence, have you seen Robert?” Ty asked the statue directly.
    “You mean the old man who used to be a hunter?” Prudence hedged, even Parris could feel the air change.
    “You know who I mean. He’s not old.” Ty pressed.
    “Maybe. What if I have?”
    Parris felt the niggle again. Prudence searched for what Parris knew about the missing wizard, trying to find a way using the information to her advantage. Apparently Ty had blocked the statue’s attempts to read his mind.
    “Tell me what you know and I’ll call The Council and tell them you helped me.” Ty put his cards on the metaphorical table. “That’s all I can do. The Council can shorten your sentence.” Ty hesitated for effect then added, “Or lengthen it.”
    “Fine, you don’t have to be pissy.” If the statue could have lifted her arm with the sigh, Parris thought this would have been an Oscar winning performance.
    “Well?” Ty pressed again.
    “He comes around noon, looking for food. He said he’s sleeping around the angels.” Prudence whined. “You’ll talk to The Council? Tell them I helped you?”
    “If I find Robert, yes. If you’re leading me on a wild goose chase, they’ll know that too.” Ty stood. “Last chance, anything else you need to say?”
    “He’s pretending to be homeless. That’s all I know. I don’t know why he’s hiding from someone.” Prudence paused, seeming to consider her next words.
    “And what?”
    “Ty, he’s scared. I’ve never seen him scared before. Not of anything.”
    Ty held out his hand helping Parris off the bench. “Thanks Pru, we’ll stop back before we leave Cincinnati.”
    “I’d like that.” Prudence hesitated. “It can get kind of lonely here.”
    As they walked out of Fountain Square, Ty’s arm circled Parris’ waist. They walked a few blocks through the throng before Ty turned her away and down a side street. “There’s an amazing barbeque place a few blocks this way. Ready for dinner?”
    “Sure.” Parris had been lost in thought about Prudence locked in stone, for a crime which didn’t seem like such a big deal. Maybe she didn’t understand everything yet, but she knew one thing now, politics weren’t only a big deal in the human world. They ran rampant in The Council’s world too.
    Fear gripped her as she thought about her grandmother’s risk in hiding her. The Council’s memory seemed long. What punishment would be waiting for Grans after they didn’t need Parris’ cooperation anymore?
    She needed an ace up her sleeve protecting herself and her grandmother.
    Right now, she didn’t have a clue.

 
    Chapter 7
     
    Notice we haven’t discussed spells, magical herbs or casting runes. All these are the tools of a witch, what the fakes call identity, not essence. First you learn your essence, your power. Then we’ll teach you the practices of being a witch. What is your power? Your essence? –The Academy of Witchcraft Manual, Volume 3 page 612
     
    Ty focused on the coleslaw on his plate. One bite at a time, focus. Focus. Think of Robert. His vision waivered and he saw a statue. This statue was pure stone, no essence hidden inside like Prudence in the fountain square. Just stone. As he watched, the statue’s eyes opened and it said one word. “Angels.”
    “Ty? Are you okay?” Parris’ voice called him back from his vision. He blinked and the stone woman disappeared. Her word still echoing in his head. Angels. What the heck did that mean? He blinked several times.
    “I’m fine, just trying to focus in on Robert. Now I know he’s still here, since Prudence has seen him, I should be able to contact him, let him know we’re here.” Ty took a long drink of draft beer. The restaurant doubled as a small brewery, featuring several micro brews on tap. The amber tasted particularly nice.
    “But you’re not able to find him.” Parris finished his