“GO!” screamed Wardley.
He brought the flat of his sword down across Morte’s hindquarters. It was enough. Morte reared up and bolted forward. Dinah didn’t even have time to see what happened to Wardley because suddenly they were plunging through the stable. Morte rushed straight out through the labyrinth of stalls, bursting through door after door. His massive knees hit the doors first, and huge shards of wood shattered out from the pens as Morte trampled everything in his path—doors, troughs, wooden benches, other beasts. Dinah was inundated by a shower of splinters, but could do nothing more than cling desperately to his mane. His breath was so loud it hurt her ears as he burst through wall after wall, pen after pen. Chaos reigned. Wood exploded all around her as horses and men screamed. She could sense Morte’s wild desperation to get out of the stable, his drive to be free.
Heart Cards flooded the stable now, a sea of red and white, and they watched with a fascinated horror as Morte shot past them in a violent shower of wood and hay. The final rung of the circle was a stone paddock. She pulled back on Morte’s mane, but nothing happened. He charged forward, ever faster, excited by the challenge. Morte easily vaulted the wall and Dinah almost lost her balance, slipping down his neck before she was wrenched upright by his momentum when he hit the ground.
They were outside now, and the bright dawn blinded her vision, which eventually focused on a terrible scene, something out of nightmares. Heart Cards were swarming around them everywhere, swinging their swords in her general direction as she flew past them. A brave Heart Card ran out in front of Morte, putting his hands up to stop him. Dinah motioned him out of the way, but he stood firm, his hands out in front of him.
“Whoa! Whoa!” Her screams were useless. Morte surged ahead, and his huge hooves trampled the man’s head into pulp with a sickening crunch. Dinah’s stomach turned but she couldn’t look away. She heard terrified screams from behind her and glanced back. The two other Hornhooves were running loose amongst the Heart Cards now, their hooves already soaked with blood. Dinah turned her head back around as Morte’s body surged beneath her hips. The iron gates that sealed Wonderland Palace from the outside were growing closer with every second, and Morte showed no sign of slowing. People were shouting behind her, all around her, but one voice rose above the chaos—her father’s booming tone.
“KILL HER! KILL HER!” She felt fear twist deep inside. Cards of every type were now trying to stop them. A Club Card flung a pot of burning oil toward them from a watchtower, but Morte was moving too fast and it barely splashed the end of his tail. They were flying through the market now, passing dozens of carts and tables covered in fruit and tarts.
A filthy little girl stood beside her mother, selling bread. She pointed at Dinah as they flew past, tugging on her mother’s skirt. “Look Mama, the Princess!” she said, before falling to her knees.
Dinah’s hood had fallen off long ago, and her loose black hair whipped around her face as she clung to Morte. Dinah felt her bag slipping from her shoulder. Praying that she would keep her balance, she reached around and wrapped the bag’s cords over her back. Wardley’s sword bounced across her shoulder blades. Morte gave a deep huff of satisfaction, a pleased rumble. The animal’s nostrils and mouth heaved with steam, but Dinah got the distinct feeling that Morte was just beginning. His speed grew, his hooves barely brushing the ground. They were moving so fast Dinah could barely make out the faces of the people she passed.