“How long can you keep those?”
“Until we don’t need them anymore. Or until the wraith breaks free.” His tone was grim, determined. It was hard enough to believe he’d remained standing after creating the bridge this afternoon; that he was still functioning through two manifestations of mirrors . . .
I tightened my grip on him. “That’s good. We’ll make it.”
With the wraith contained, the crowd moved faster through the lowcity and the line of factories, but it wasn’t enough. Tobiah couldn’t hold these mirrors for long. We had to do something.
Ahead, a clatter of hooves and voices rang out. “Mel!”
I scanned the crowd to find Oscar riding in with a squad of black-knifed soldiers.
The perimeter of guards paused and broke open. Oscar leapt off his horse, Sergeant Ferris close behind as they spoke to James and Melanie.
I aimed Tobiah toward the nearest horse, a familiar chestnut. “Ferguson!”
“That’s not his name,” Tobiah groaned. “Like all military horses, he was given a name before you decided to steal him.”
“He’s Ferguson to me. Now climb on.” I steadied Tobiah as he tested his weight on the stirrup, then lifted himself onto the saddle. I pulled myself up after him, awkwardly swinging my leg over Ferguson’s neck.
Tobiah looped his arms around my waist, pulling me close.
From atop Ferguson, I had a better view of the mirrors that shot wraith light everywhere, illuminating panic and terror. Rivers of people poured north.
“Melanie!” I directed Ferguson toward her. “We’re running. He can’t hold these mirrors long, and I need to get to Radiants’ Walk.”
“Go!” she called. “I’m right behind you.”
“Hang on, Tobiah.” I kicked Ferguson into movement, shouting at the people ahead. “Watch out! Make way!”
Ferguson seemed reluctant to trample anyone, but he nosed people out of the way, snorting and nipping when they wouldn’t let him through. Soon, more riders joined us: Melanie, James, Ferris, Oscar, and a handful of Queen’s Guard.
At last, we broke through the worst of the crowd and all our mounts slipped into a gallop. I hunched low over Ferguson’s neck.
The thrum of hooves and drone of voices filled my ears as we made straight for the castle, its towers and ramparts rising over the city like hope.
Behind us, glass shattered as the wraith broke free. Tobiah screamed, raw and wrecked as he pressed his forehead against my spine. His whole body shuddered, and his fingers dug into my sides hard enough to bruise.
I pressed my heels against Ferguson and urged him onward. He knew this. We’d done this before. He pushed ahead of the other horses, grunting and snorting as the inferno of wraith gained on us.
Blinding and boiling, the wraith grew brilliant with shining mist and stink.
“Mirrors, Tobiah!” I hated to force his magic, but we’d never make it if he didn’t do this.
Tobiah leaned over me, his arms tight around my waist. His breath came hard and ragged, but he didn’t let go.
Ahead, a handful of new mirrors glimmered to life on shop walls. Tobiah gasped with the effort, but the force of wraith behind us paused. One of the guards riding alongside us cheered, but James shushed him.
“It’s not stopped,” James shouted. “We aren’t safe until the barrier is up.”
We turned onto Castle Street and rode for my home with everything in us. Drumming hooves, Tobiah’s ragged breath, the screams of people fleeing wraith—these sounds filled my head as I kept my eyes on the castle. The overlook was visible from here, a wide, flat surface lit with dozens of gas lamps.
Closer. We were closer.
The street ahead was clear. I urged Ferguson faster and faster.
The crack and shatter of glass blasted again over the pounding and the blood rushing through my head. Tobiah groaned and his hands slipped around my middle. His weight pulled away from me.
I reached around and pressed my hand on his back, trying to keep him from slipping off. But as Ferguson picked up another burst of speed, Tobiah slid backward.
James rode up alongside us and heaved his cousin back into place. “We’re almost there! Just hold on a little longer.”
Thin tendrils of wraith slipped up behind us, nipping.
One of the horses shrieked and a soldier cried out, but there was no time to look back. Tobiah groaned and shook himself conscious once more, his grip tightening on me when he realized we were still in transit.
“More mirrors?” James kept his hand on Tobiah’s shoulder, a feat while we ran at full speed toward the castle.
Tobiah’s answer was faint. “No.”
There was no other option, then.
As we reached the castle rampart, I reined Ferguson hard, pulling him to a stop at the thick gate, left open for our return.