The Mirror King (The Orphan Queen, #2)(129)

I took Tobiah’s hand and hauled him toward the edge of the building, where Melanie and James waited on the ground. “Down we go!”

We rappelled as quickly as possible. People ran from the park, others killed wraith beasts, and some attempted to make arrests. The brilliant light of wraith silhouetted my friends below, making my eyes water. I blinked away tears and looked for a place to land among the crush of people and screaming wraith.

Melanie took me by the ribs to steady me. “What happened?” She stepped back to give me room, elbowing others aside. “I thought Chrysalis had control.”

“He did.” I stashed my grapple and line and wiped my stinging eyes. “Now he doesn’t. Maybe because of the mirrors; it’s hard to say. Regardless, we need to go to the castle immediately.”

“Right.” Melanie shoved me close to Tobiah so James could watch both of us, and she began rounding up soldiers with knives painted on them. “Protect the queen!” Her voice carried over the din. “Protect the king!”

A small chorus took up the call. “Protect the queen! Protect the king!” The words spread and people circled us, creating a human barrier. Melanie and James led the group out of the lowcity.

We plowed through the confused disorder of people struggling to escape the park, but it was too slow. We’d never make it to the castle if we were forced to walk like this.

I leaned toward Tobiah. “Can you make more mirrors?”

He gave a swift nod, and a heartbeat later, a giant mirror appeared on a factory wall ahead of us, reflecting the blinding light of the park.

Tobiah staggered with the effort; I lunged to support him as more mirrors came into existence.

James glanced back.

“I’ve got him!” I matched my steps with Tobiah’s, directing him and taking as much of his weight as possible while he closed his eyes and called a hundred mirrors into being. A thousand, maybe; the wraith wasn’t contained in the park anymore, and if he wanted to stop it all, every wall in the lowcity needed mirrors.

But the wraith did stop. It trembled in its own reflection, buzzing angrily.

Tobiah’s breath rasped by my ear.

“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.