Summary

Felix jumps in and out of consciousness. The damage that Malkar's spell did to Felix's brain is overpowering. Felix's magic is gone. Felix is aware that they are escaping Melusine. Malkar plans to go to the Bastion, the political enemy of Mélusine. The fear that Felix has of Malkar takes over, and he is obedient to everything Malkar tells him to do.

The city of Melusine is in an uproar. Mildmay is woken by his landlady, who breaks the news that the Virtu has been broken. Mildmay goes down to the Arcane, the seedy underground of Melusine, to get news of what has happened. Mildmay is well connected. He lives in the Midwinter district of Melusine, where there are three separate entrances to the Arcane. He chooses the safest, a trapdoor in a bar. He has a connection, Elvire. Elvire is the madam...