Chapter Two: Capture the Flag?
Auror Wilkins scoffed at once, "How can Muggles hope to be equal to wizards?"
"Enough, Wilkins," Madame Locksley snapped. "You've caused quite enough trouble for one day." Her attention returned to Team One. "You propose a formal competition? Dueling, perhaps?"
"Not dueling," Lance opined. When Greg looked down at him, one brow arched, Lance explained, "Dueling is one-on-one. That's not how your team works." The boy stumbled to a stop. "Well, I don't think that's how it works," he mumbled.
"Ah." Greg shook his head. "Mio nipote is correct, dueling is not how my team operates." Greg considered and added, "Today was a good example of how my team operates in a situation like a manhunt."
Locksley frowned at this, thoughtful. She tapped her fingernails together as she considered.
"Sarge?" Ed spoke up. "What about doing a training exercise? Shows what we can do and no one gets hurt."
"Training exercise?" Madame Locksley inquired. "How does that work?"
As Ed described how a typical training exercise went, the woman began to nod. She reached forward, tugging a sheaf of parchment to her and writing with an old fashioned quill. When Ed finished, she continued to write for several minutes. Team One waited politely, exchanging curious looks with each other.
"My daughter goes to school with several Muggleborns, Sergeant Parker," Madame Locksley announced, setting down her quill. "Are you familiar with the Muggle game of 'Capture the Flag'?"
Greg's brows shot up in surprise. "I am, Madame Locksley. You want to test my team with a game?"
"Suitably modified, of course," Locksley assured the Sergeant. "I propose that we retain the basic idea of 'Capture the Flag' and add to it our, shall we say, unique skills and 'tactics'. You will compete against my best squad of Aurors. Whichever squad captures the flag shall claim victory. You will be free to use all of your," she sneered a bit, "methods and ideas and we shall use ours."
"No Unforgivables," Alanna piped up.
Locksley gave the young girl an offended look. "Certainly not!" She gave Greg a sharp look. "In turn, your team shall not kill my team."
Greg gave her an equally offended look. "It's a training exercise, Madame Locksley. Less-lethal goes without saying."
"No magic before it starts," Lance insisted, glaring at Madame Locksley.
"As you wish," Locksley conceded. Greg frowned, it was clear she was disappointed at the restriction. Locksley cleared her throat and went on, "As it happens, I do know of a location that will serve, Sergeant Parker."
"Alright," Greg replied. "Perhaps you could give me a few more details and my team can decide if it will work for both groups?"
"Of course." Locksley's gaze shifted to Wilkins. "Go call the teams back in and see that the Dark Wizard's body is removed from the Muggle world."
Wilkins bowed. "Yes, Madame Locksley."
"Now, then," Locksley said, her attention returning to Greg, "I do have a map of the area in question, if that will serve."
"It will," Greg assured her. "How large is your elite squad?"
"We currently have eight members of our elite squad. Will that be an issue?"
Greg and Ed exchanged brief looks. "No, Madame Locksley," Greg said with a smile that was a tad feral. "We look forward to it."