Page 239 of The Bone Season

At once, I sensed far older dreamscapes.

‘Rephs,’ I barked. ‘Move it!’

Without question, everyone sped up, Michael pulling Ivy along with him. Our boots pounded on the hard earth, but the Rephs were hot on our heels, faster than us. Nadine drew a knife, and we both turned, me pointing the flare gun. It might set fire to their clothes, at least.

‘Warden, keep going,’ I urged him. ‘Get them to the station!’ I looked at Nadine. ‘A knife won’t do much. Use your gun and don’t hold back.’

She switched to her pistol. When the Rephs came near enough to see, I recognised Terebell and Pleione, the former carrying a coughing Jos, and grabbed Nadine by the wrist. Felix was just behind them, as was a tall male Reph, one of the visitors to the city.

‘Jos,’ I said, relieved. Terebell lowered him to the grass. ‘Go on, follow Warden.’ I steered him north. ‘Felix, do you know where Julian is?’

‘No. We got separated near Balliol.’ Felix reeked of smoke, and his black hair was now grey with ashes. ‘He’s not going to make it, Paige.’

‘Just go with Jos.’ I ushered him that way. ‘Terebell, was one of you meant to get Faz and Gail?’

‘I was,’ the newcomer confirmed. ‘They chose to remain at Magdalen.’

‘They can’t,’ I said, shaken. ‘Nashira will think they helped us plot this.’

‘We will do all we can to save any humans who do not reach the train before it leaves,’ Terebell said. ‘I give you my word, 40.’

I would have to trust her. There was no time for me to go back and convince Gail and Fazal, or to search for Julian. If I stayed here, the performers and amaurotics would have nowhere to turn in London.

‘Warden said you wanted to fight for the city,’ I said. ‘Why are you here?’

‘We are not bound for London,’ Pleione said. ‘We came only to bring your friends. Now we intend to launch our attack on the Residence of the Suzerain. Nashira has locked herself inside.’

‘Please,’ I said, ‘if you can, find Julian. He’s the reason we got here.’

‘We shall try.’

Just as quickly as they had come, the Rephs were gone, heading for the sally port. I exchanged a nod with Nadine, and we sprinted after Warden.

Julian wasn’t going to reach the train. It killed me to keep going.

Ahead, Warden had stopped, as had the others. Halfway to his location, I glimpsed a pair of performers from the masque, locked in an argument.

‘You two,’ I called as I passed. ‘Come on. What the hell are you doing?’

‘You’re working with the Rephs,’ the man snapped, his voice embittered. ‘This could be a trap.’

‘You want to risk the minefield instead?’

‘Paige, come on,’ Nadine burst out. ‘If we miss this train, Iwillkill you.’

Leaving the performers to decide, I kept running, hoping they came to their senses.

We passed the frozen pool, the watchtower, the training grounds where Merope had drilled me. Warden waited near a corner of the ethereal fence, beside an iron hatch, much larger than the one Danica had opened. The survivors were huddled around it.

‘The entrance to the station is here,’ Warden said. ‘But we face an unexpected obstacle.’

‘That isn’t what I wanted to hear.’ I caught my breath. ‘Where are the guards?’

‘There were none.’ Warden nodded to the hatch. ‘But there is this.’

When I looked closer, I saw it. A large silver padlock held the hatch shut. A bar of white light glowed down the middle.

‘This is an ethereal padlock, which uses the same hybrid technology as the fences,’ Warden said. ‘Nashira is the only binder in the city. The poltergeist inside the padlock must be hers. No doubt she intended to escort the emissaries here personally.’

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