They alter their formation, scanning the crowd.

"Once you are a wizard, we will not be able to keep you by force, and so we will not train any student who is not willing to serve. You are in Absalom, the city at the center of the world. Walk out that gate and find a job, or beg for passage back home at the docks. Remember me in your prayers to Milani, or not; it will make no difference to me, as we will have forgotten you."

"Absalom is a city of wizards, and there are other schools that could teach you, for a tuition out of the reach of most, and you would leave here with nothing but your clothes and your wits."

"Before you is a choice: cast your manumission papers into the fire and stay, or take them and go. You will be offered it again, whenever you pass through one of the gates of wizardry."

The guards have placed a large brazier near the gate, and one of the wizards sets it alight from the air. The first is one they chose ahead of time, who casts his paper into the fire without a moment's consideration, and is given an Arcane Mark on his face in the place where wizards often mark their slaves, and he walks to the back of the courtyard to watch the rest. Other guards distribute papers to the slaves, and one by one they approach the brazier.