“I’ll explain everything on the way.”
Rune swiped the gun out of his hand and tucked it down her bodice. How there was room for it in there, he had no idea. Next, she pulled out a dove gray cloak and threw it over her shoulders, concealing the bright white wedding dress. After drawing the hood over her head to hide her rose-gold hair, she started to run.
“Come on!”
A high-pitched whistle sounded. One used by the Caelisian police to signify an imminent arrest.
There was no time to think. Gideon grabbed the suitcases—hoisting one under each arm—and ran after Rune.
Perhaps it was the suitcases weighing him down, but Rune was surprisingly swift, even in a cumbersome gown. It took him a minute to catch up with her as they wove through the backalleys and away from the shopping district. Heading toward the water.
Almost as if she’d mapped out and memorized this route beforehand.
“Pick up the pace!” she called. “Or we’ll be late!”
“If you hadn’t made me your pack mule,” Gideon panted, his grip on the suitcases tightening, “I’d be—”
Wait.
“Late for what?”
A sudden shot rang out. They both ducked. Gideon glanced behind them, sighting a soldier two streets back who was taking aim again. With both arms full, he couldn’t draw his gun. He was about to drop the suitcases when a shot rang out. Loud and very close to his head.
He ducked out of the way, but the heat of the blast was warm on his face. When he looked up, he saw Rune aiming her revolver at the officers behind them.
Grabbing her gun, he pushed it down, aiming it at the ground.
“You nearly shot me,” he hissed.
“Sorry.”Her tone suggested she was sorrier she’d missed him.
More shots rang out behind them, followed by threatening shouts. This time, they both ducked behind a refuse bin.
“We need to find a crowded street,” he said, listening to the bullets bounce off metal and brick.
They could more easily lose their pursuers in a crowd.
Rune nodded her agreement. “This way.”
She led them further toward the water. Fire burned in Gideon’s biceps as he tried not to drop Rune’s luggage while also trying to keep pace with her.
Soon the alley opened into the harbor front, where theentertainment district drew locals and tourists alike. On the busy sidewalk, passing art galleries and cafés, Rune slowed, blending in with the crowd. Gideon set down the luggage to give his arms a reprieve, then lifted each bag by its handles.
Now he and Rune looked like any other tourists newly arrived in the city and searching for their hotel.
“Where are we going?” he asked, scanning the crowd. Looking for uniforms.
“TheArcadia.”
Gideon knew it by reputation: the only passenger ship that barred witch hunters and their hounds from boarding.
“I bought us passage. It departs at one o’clock.”
Gideon spluttered. “One o’clock?”
That wasright now.
“Otherwise, we’ll have to wait until it returns next week. The entire Caelisian police force—not to mention Cressida—will be looking for us by nightfall. We can’t afford to wait that long.”
