Page 230 of The Bone Season

‘This remedy,’ he said. ‘What is it?’

‘Explaining it to you would take some time. It will mend the injury, but only if I act now.’ Warden glanced up. ‘If you do not wish to lose Paige, you will not stand in my way, Jaxon.’

‘How do—’ Jaxon collected himself, but his eyes remained wide and fixed, his nostrils flared. ‘Very well. If you insist upon frittering our time away, try whatever potion you like.’ He checked his pocket watch. ‘During this century, if you please. Our window of escape is closing.’

Nick patted my cheek. ‘Paige,’ he said in a soft voice, ‘this man says he can help you. We don’t have much time to decide. Do you trust him?’

Trust. A small flower on the edge of my perception, beckoning me into a different world – a different, safer life, before the poppy field.

‘Yes,’ I said.

Pleione was standing behind Warden. He took a vial from her – another gilded vial of amaranth. The scarred ones must have been stockpiling it.

He placed one drop under my nose, and two more on my temples, just as he had with Liss. Tipping up my chin, he helped me take a sip. It tasted sweet, and warmed my throat on its way down. Distantly, I thought of that book of myths, which spoke of a nectar drunk by the gods. A nectar that healed wounds and sickness.

And I wondered if all our stories – tales of deathless gods and giants – might have roots in the Netherworld.

Little by little, the agony subsided, tears of relief washing my cheeks. The tension in my neck unwound. I could sense the amaranth working like drops of water on my poppies, quenching and soothing.

‘Paige.’ Warden sought my gaze. ‘Hearken to me. Come back.’

I blinked several times.

‘I haven’t a clue whathearkenmeans,’ I informed him. ‘But I’m back.’

His eyes glowed.

‘Paige.’ Nick bundled me straight into his arms. He was shaking. ‘You’re okay.’

‘I don’t understand.’ I clutched his back. ‘Nick, you can’t be here. Your job—’

‘Dani got us on to the train. I’ll explain in London.’ He got me to my feet, to the stairs. The Rephs followed. ‘Hurry. We don’t have long.’

The Guildhall was in disarray. Radmilo Arežina had been shot in the chest, and now bled on the floor. One of the Greek officials was already dead, her eyes open and dull, observed by her own spirit.

We had agreed that none of the emissaries should be harmed, allowing them to return to London with doubts about the Rephs. Either someone had gone rogue, or the Vigiles had been hitting their own. I couldn’t blame anyone for losing it. These people were the architects of voyants’ misery, sending us to our deaths by the thousand.

Most of the Rephs had vanished. The Vigiles were helping the surviving emissaries out of the main doors, taking potshots at the rest of us. I could already see their plan. Once their employers were safely out, they would lock us in and burn this building to the ground.

Scion could not allow us to escape. If we did, we would be loose cannons, armed with the knowledge of the truth behind the anchor. We would all be witnesses – but not the kind they wanted to be left alive.

On the lower floor, Danica and Nadine were returning fire, using the pillars for cover, both in the same woollen masks and boiler suits as Nick. We had precious few weapons in the gang, but everything we did have, they must have brought with them.

Seeing us, Nadine detached a small grenade from her belt. It was a modern one, which meant it had been expensive. She pulled the pin, switching on its red warning light, and hurled it towards the doors.

The Vigiles fell back, shouting to one another. The explosion blew the doors off their hinges, giving us enough cover to sprint across the hall. One amaurotic used the opportunity to flee, only to be gunned down on Magdalen Walk.

‘Paige.’ Nadine wrenched me behind a pillar. ‘Are you all right now?’

‘I can reach the train.’ I gripped her shoulder. ‘Thanks for coming.’

‘You are not welcome. We expected a jailbreak, not … whatever this is.’ She reloaded her pistol. ‘What the hell is going on here, Paige?’

‘Long story. Warden, where do we go?’

Nadine did a double take when she saw Warden, her eyes widening.

‘The way out is through the trap room,’ Warden said. ‘Paige, you should avoid using your gift. The amaranth will take some time to heal you.’

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