Page 37 of Silver in the Bone

“That’s for me to know,” I shot back, sliding the coin into a secure pocket in my workbag. I looped the strap across my body and reached for my backpack. “Your favor’s been repaid, so scram.”

Emrys gripped my arm as I stood. “What did the note mean?”

I wrenched myself free. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

He took a step toward me, his expression hardening.

Behind him, a small figure peered around the edge of a crumbling wall. She wore an oversized black velvet blazer covered in pins and a rainbow crochet scarf wrapped around the lower part of her face. But I recognized her all the same—the dark brown skin, the braids twisted into two buns on top of her head, those massive sunglasses—even if I couldn’t believe it.

“Hey!” I shouted, pushing past Emrys.

The girl from the tarot shop bolted as I ran toward her, but by the time I reached the spot where I’d seen her, she had vanished. There was no one on either bridge. It was as if she’d jumped into the sea or slipped into some unseen crevice in the cliff. I made a wide circle, searching, but only found a few small footprints.

“What was that about?” Emrys asked.

“I thought I saw ...” My feet slid to a stop as I came to face the bridges again.

Even at that distance, I knew him. It was the all-too-confident walk and that head of long black hair. Septimus was now leading a handful of other men across the modern bridge. Other Hollowers, I assumed, some from our own guild.

“Seriously?” I grumbled, backing up. “See you later, Trust Fund.”

I’d have to take one of the winding trails out of the ruins and hope I didn’t bump into any of Septimus’s other henchmen along the way.

I started to go, only to stop again as Septimus waved to someone back on the mainland, motioning in the direction of the village.

More Hollowers appeared near the official entrance to the ruins. A tall, dark figure struggled to break free from the grip two of the bulkier men had on him. One waved back in acknowledgment of Septimus’s apparent order.

Cabell. My chest constricted painfully. I pivoted back away from the bridge, starting toward the path that would wind down to the wooden bridge below. If I could make it across without anyone seeing me and get to the village ...

The rattling of another pack trailed after me.

“Where are you going?” Emrys demanded.

“To help Cabell,” I snapped.

“There’s too many of them,” he protested. “You’ll never get him away.”

“Watch me.”

He lengthened his stride to catch up to me, keeping pace at my side.

“What are you doing?” I asked.

“You think I’m going to let you out of my sight when you hold all the answers?” he said, shaking his head. “Not a chance, Bird.”

The village was just waking up to the first of a fleet of tourist buses when Septimus and the others turned off the main street and made their way to an old barn at the town’s edge.

I followed close behind, ignoring Emrys the best I could as we approached the rickety building and crouched beneath one of its cracked windows.

The glass was clouded with dust, but I could still make out a few things: crates of cider and beer marked for the Excalibur Pub, excess traffic cones and road signage, and what appeared to be several sets of armor and the back half of a horse costume. The earthy smell of hay and the animals that had once occupied the stalls permeated the walls, a fading reminder of a past life in which Nash, Cabell, and I had slept in whatever shelter we’d been able to find.

I couldn’t make out what they were saying as Septimus pushed Cabell into one of the stalls and a Hollower I didn’t recognize bound his hands with a zip tie.

I rolled my eyes and a moment later saw Cabell do the same. As if Nash hadn’t taught us how to break a zip tie and pick the lock on handcuffs, given his vast experience with both.

For several minutes, neither of us moved or spoke. I ignored the knowing hum that came from beside me.

“What now?” Emrys whispered. “Don’t tell me you’ve already run out of ideas for this daring rescue.”

---