Thaumic Elixir is restricted to Ministry use. Any citizens found with it in their possession will be executed immediately.
That explained the lack of elixir creatures. Not a bad solution. It was clearly working.
Any found wandering after dark will be sentenced to immediate imprisonment.
Extreme. But again, effective.
He tipped his head back to read the largest of the posters.
NOTICE TO ALL WIELDERS
Report weekly to the Ministry of Arcane Compliance. Failure to appear will result in immediate imprisonment.
Groups of over three wielders shall be deemed an insurrection. Offenders will be sentenced to immediate imprisonment.
Magic use of any kind is strictly prohibited. Wielders who disregard this law will be executed publicly.
Felix bristled, anger coming on like a wave. A ban onallmagic. They couldn’t do that!
He reached for the edge of the paper, ready to tear it down, then froze at the last line.
Issued by Ciaran Ashcroft, High Commander of the Ministry of Arcane Compliance.
He went still, reading the line again. And again.
“That’s new,” Marlow said grimly.
Ashcroft had replaced the previous high commander. He was in charge of the entire ministry. That certainly complicated things.
Felix frowned, a thought pulling at him. “Tell me this, Mar,” he started, giving her a tilted look. “Ashcroft sent people to the inn, looking for us. Why?”
She shrugged. “Inns would be the first placeI’dcheck. Stupid mistake on our part.”
“Fair, yeah. But how’d he know we were in Haverglen?”
She hesitated. Barely, but he caught it. “Any of the Watch could’ve told him.”
But the only Watch officer they’d run into was dead. There was only one person who’d clocked them. He, too, should’ve been dead.
Felix turned fully to her now, but she kept her eyes on the poster. “You didn’t kill the driver.”
“I knocked him out.”
“Oh, that’s just fucking grand.” Felix said, fighting to maintain his composure. “The whole thing’s gone sideways, all because you couldn’t stomach doing what I asked. One thing, Mar. I asked for one damned thing.”
Her brow furrowed as she faced him. “You neverstopasking for things, Felix!”
He threw out a hand toward August. “The driver recognized him! What happens when Ashcroft tells the aesran he’s still alive? She’ll rain down both hells on us to get him back, that’s what.” Felix rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Forget finding Gideon. It’ll take too long. We need to get out of this town.”
He stormed back across the street, teeth clenched against the pain in his leg as the leather straps of his prosthetic dug into his raw skin. He didn’t want to think about the welts and blisters he’d have to deal with after this trip.
As he approached, August looked up. “I know where to find the man you’re looking for.”
Felix scoffed. “Do you, now? And how’s that?”
August scowled, his reply spat out like something bitter. “I asked my anchored friends.” An echo of Felix’s words from earlier. “Turns out, there’s only one Gideon in Haverglen worth talking about.” He climbed slowly to his feet. “Come on, then.”
Felix stood dumbfounded as August headed down the street away from them.
