Page 234 of The Bone Season

‘Go, Paige,’ Warden said. ‘Do not linger.’

I only hesitated for a moment. If Gomeisa threw me, I would not get back up, unlike Terebell and Pleione. A human was no match for that power.

Warden gave me a nod. For as long as I could feel the golden cord, he would be able to find me. At last, I let Nick pull me away, towards the stage.

Halfway there, a hand wrapped around my ankle, almost tripping me. I looked down to see a young Scion emissary, bleeding from a deep gash in his neck, which he was trying to stem with a handkerchief.

‘You,’ he rasped. ‘You’re the dreamwalker.’ His eyes were bloodshot. ‘Listen … to me.’

‘Paige, come on,’ Nick said, but the man refused to let go. I didn’t recognise him. Someone of low rank. A clerk or administrator in the Archon, not the sort of person to appear on ScionEye.

‘Bone Seasons,’ the emissary rattled. ‘This goes deeper than you know. Some of you … eat your own.’ His cough spattered the floor with blood. ‘Find … Rackham. He is the one … who hunts. Find him.’

With those words, he slumped to the floor. I exchanged a shaken look with Nick.

Zeke had come back to cover us. I shoved the words and the name from my head. As we made a break for our exit, Zeke threw a flashing canister behind us. Thick white smoke billowed from inside, and the four Rephs vanished into it. So did all that remained of Liss Rymore.

Through the darkness of the trap, where the fifth Reph was recovering from his fall. Into the hidden opening. Along a corridor, then into a small room. Nick guided us with his torch until we burst into the night, taking a few steps down to Fish Street.

In the morning, I would grieve for Liss. For now, I had to save the others. She would have wanted that. All of us had been her family.

The city reeked of smoke. The sky was dirty red, the streets hazy. The residences might be made of stone, but their contents were flammable, and Julian and the others must have set plenty of bonfires.

Every bell was ringing, the old siren droning out from the Broad. I had never heard so much sound in this city. The bells were the amaurotics’ signal that all the buildings had been opened. Every prisoner could flee.

Warden had been right to warn me. As I tried to extend my perception to locate Julian or Michael, I could feel that my dreamscape was too fragile to withstand the pressure. I was going to have to rely on just five of my senses.

Nick looked at the unfamiliar city, exchanging a silent look with Zeke. ‘Jax led us,’ he told me. ‘What’s the fastest way to Port Meadow?’

‘I need my gun first.’

We had emerged at the back of the Guildhall. I led them a short way to Bear Lane, where I retrieved my air pistol, loaded a windflower dart, and laced on my boots. Finally, I grabbed my backpack, which Michael had filled with provisions, including a flare gun. Nick wrapped his coat over my dress before I put the backpack on.

‘Eliza,’ I said to them, hitching up its straps a little. ‘Where is she?’

‘She stayed in London.’

We ran on to Fish Street. I had memorised every possible route to Port Meadow. Now the Guildhall was fully evacuated, the Scion emissaries were fleeing, trailing Vigiles. My instincts told me to take the safest way, but speed was of the essence. Nick and Zeke followed me without question, on to the cobbles of Cornmarket.

The Rephs had their hands full with the fires. This was the only home they had, and it was burning. As we emerged at the end of the Broad, a scream reached my ears, and I saw Nell, restrained by two familiar Rephs.

‘Your first pitiful rebellion failed, and so will this,’ Merope said, pulling her towards the nearest building. ‘Do you think you threaten us, 9?’

‘Get your hands off me!’ Nell was kicking and twisting for all she was worth. ‘You are never feeding on me again. I’d rather die than—’

Her screams were cut short when Merope clapped a hand over her mouth. I wavered, then broke away from Nick and Zeke and sprinted towards Nell.

‘Paige,’ Nick bellowed.

I steadied my aim and shot Merope. The dart struck her arm, and I knew the needle would be piercing its cap, driving the mixture into her body.

Merope had not been expecting a human to deal any real damage. She plucked the dart out, but the windflower was in her blood. When she felt it, her tawny eyes flickered. Like Kraz, she let out a discordant sound and fell as if her bones had melted.

I grinned in triumph. While I loaded another dart, Nell hurled a spool at a surprised Aludra, who grabbed her by the wrist.

Cursing in Swedish, Nick covered Nell with a few rounds from his old rifle, hitting Aludra until she let go. Nell lunged away from her, almost falling.

‘Paige,’ she called, ‘did Liss make it?’

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