Before the Beginning for whatever fic you choose!! :)
I suppose it’ll have to be FWW, because none of the others can really go further back than they already do or will, when they’re finished...
“The Clave has a warrant out for your arrest.”
Magnus frowns over at Catarina as she strides into his apothecary, carrying a fire message. She deposits it on the table beside the row of herbs he’d been meticulously chopping, and Magnus peers down at it with growing concern.
And, oh, he really does. The Clave has been more than happy to consort with him for decades, but they’re cracking down, now. Rather than turning their attention to the rapidly rising fascist in their midst, they’re choosing to weed out problematic Downworlder in an attempt at a strong show of leadership.
Valentine Morgenstern wants to purge every drop of demonic blood from the realm, but the High Warlock of Brooklyn sheltering the odd supposed criminal and using magic illegally, to no harm, is the more important issue.
“You should lay low for a while,” Catarina says, looking a little anxious.
Magnus snorts. “They’re not going to do anything to the High Warlock of Brooklyn. They must know that they’d have a mutiny on their hands if they harmed me. I don’t particularly care if they drag me in for questioning.”
“They’re serious this time,” Catarina tells him. “The High Warlock of Edinburgh was arrested last week—”
“To be fair, he’s been selling Seelie drugs to mundanes. That’s dangerous.”
“So is summoning demons! Magnus, please just—” She cuts herself off and shakes her head at him. She looks more worried than Magnus thinks the situation warrants. “Until this blows over, please be careful.”
“If it makes you feel better, I’ll delegate,” Magnus says. He reaches out to pat her hand, and she exhales slowly. “Everything will be fine, Catarina. You’ll see. They’ll be begging me to help them fix their Circle problem in a month or two.”
She cracks a smile at that. History tells Magnus that he’s more than likely to be correct. The Clave always comes knocking on his door asking for help, in the end.
But for Catarina’s peace of mind, he’ll divert some of his jobs to Ragnor. Just until that time comes.
Then, obviously, the Circle rises, Ragnor is murdered by Maryse, and the Clave well and truly ends its allegiance with Magnus. And then FWW happens! And we all know that that’s just fluff and rainbows!
