“Lucky I’m not dead then,” Gideon replied. “And lucky Marlow knows how to make a ruckus. Clever girl, that one. I wasn’t sure how I’d track you down, but I heard the gunshot and the Watch and figured chances were it was you. Lark clocked where the shot came from and followed her from there.”
“How’d you get into the city?”
“Told you this is the centre of the resistance. Or it was once. I know all Fallowmoor’s secrets.”
Felix looked at Niall and Lark, then at the dusty tarps covering the corpses of the other two wielders. “This everyone left?”
“No, the rest headed north. These were the only ones crazy enough to come with me. Bound to be resistance members left here in the city, though.”
Minutes fell away in silence before Gideon spoke again.
“What happens now?”
Felix worked his jaw, hating that he wasn’t sure how to answer. This was supposed to be the simple part. Get the aeslingto the tear, force him to close it. But the ministry had halted their plans at every turn.
They were so close. This was almost finished. Once the veil was gone, he could worry about the aesran.
And August.
He frowned at the thought. The plan had been clearly laid out in his head. He knew the steps after closing the tear would be challenging, that he would be up against the crown and the ministry. But it was at least straight-forward.
Close the tear. Kill the aesling. Capture and execute every noble. Seize control of the Watch. Execute the aesran. Take the crown. Once he was in charge, he’d tear down the ministry, starting with Ashcroft.
If anyone stood in his way, he’d kill them.
Simple and clear.
So why was he dreading what came after closing the tear? He’d waited so long for this. And nothing had changed.
Nothinghad changed.
His eyes drifted involuntarily back to August.
“We need to figure out how to get to the tear,” Felix answered. “The ministry and the City Watch are everywhere. The aesran knows her heir’s in the city, so every one of them will be looking for him.”
“We’ve got that figured out,” Gideon said. “You worry about your part.”
Felix scowled. “Figured out?”
“We’ll cause a stir across the city, make sure they stay away while you and the aesling get to the tear.”
“I take it this was Marlow’s idea,” Felix muttered. It was the same reckless stunt she’d pulled yesterday. “What happens when they catch up with you? You can’t fight them.”
“We’ll be long gone by the time they get there.” When he didn’t respond, Gideon added, “You have my word. I won’t let anything happen.”
It was so close to the promise Felix had made to Lottie. Right before he shot August in the chest.
But he didn’t need Gideon’s assurance. Felix knew better than anyone that Marlow could handle herself. She’d saved him more often than the reverse. He knew she’d be alright. She always was.
Even if he wanted to argue, they were running out of options. And time. August wouldn’t make it much longer.
So Felix agreed.
“And after he closes the tear?” Gideon pushed. “What then?”
Felix knew what he was really asking.Can you do it? Will you kill him?
“One problem at a time, old man.”
