Serpent & Dove

In Johannes Pan’s patisserie in the East End, Lou and Coco plan to steal the ring with Bas, Lou’s former lover. An adept thief, Bas is also a baron’s cousin and thus familiar with the elite area in which Tremblay lives. Bas wants to know why Lou needs the ring, and she explains that the ring can protect her from a mysterious and dangerous woman (later revealed to be Lou’s murderous mother, Morgane le Blanc). Outside the shop, a crowd prepares to enjoy a parade welcoming the king’s son, Beauregard, home. A ball in his honor will occur the next night. All the aristocracy will attend, including Tremblay, creating a perfect opportunity for the heist.

A commotion occurs as the Chasseurs, arrayed in blue uniforms, stride up the street. They are a holy order of guardsmen who protect Belterra from the occult, especially witches. To that end, they use swords called Balisardas which can cut through magic. Lou notes that Belterra once belonged to the witches who are now seen as villains and persecuted by the Church.

Lou, Coco, and Bas split up after agreeing to meet later in the evening. As Lou leaves the patisserie, a large man (later revealed to be Reid Diggory) blocks her way. He accidentally hits her as she tries to scoot through. She notices that Reid is extraordinarily handsome but then realizes he’s an undercover Chasseur. Lou’s false mustache has come loose, and Reid notes in surprise that Lou is a woman. When she swears, he is taken aback and wonders aloud if she might be a courtesan. He starts questioning her but is distracted when the royal carriage comes into view.

Lou escapes and climbs up to the rooftops. There, she observes King Auguste Lyon and his family. As she contemplates the royals, she suddenly feels a change in the air—magic. Suddenly, people start screaming.

Reid readies himself for strife as his fellow Chasseur, Jean Luc, goes to alert the others. Pandemonium ensues as the parade-goers realize witches are in their midst. In the chaos, Reid nearly tramples an old woman and then helps her up. She blesses him with a peculiar smile. As she disappears, he realizes she was a witch. Three witches stride up the street, blatantly enchanting people with their magic as they go. Reid wonders at their public display since witches usually work in secrecy. Recalling some of the hideous enchantments he has seen witches place on people, he half hopes these victims are simply dead. From the rooftop of the patisserie, he surveys the crowd and observes the old woman creeping up to the carriage.

Swinging down, he manages to tackle her just before she reaches Beauregard.

He digs his blade into the woman’s throat, but she shapeshifts into a beautiful woman who tries to kiss him. He then observes she is pregnant and backs away as she turns into a hag. The witch, later revealed to be Morgane le Blanc, warns the king that the witches will reclaim their homeland. She then disappears in a cloud of smoke.

When the Archbishop and Reid meet for debriefing later, Reid can’t stop berating himself for not killing Morgane. The Archbishop explains to Reid that Morgane is La Dame des Sorcières, the Queen of the Witches, and even the most strong-willed men have succumbed to her seduction. However, he wonders if Reid should take a wife to deal with his sexual feelings. This makes Reid think of Célie Tremblay, who ended their budding romance after her sister’s murder, to his great regret. He assures the Archbishop that he’s through with love.

The men are interrupted by an initiate named Ansel, who delivers a letter from someone he describes as a beautiful redheaded woman. The letter is a tip that a witch will be at Tremblay’s that evening. The Archbishop seems unduly disturbed and throws the woman’s letter into the fire; Reid notices that the seal on it is shaped like a rose. He orders Reid to get the Chasseurs ready but insists they bring any witch they find back alive.