I wiped rain off my face and smiled. They would pursue us: Celane, her associates. Their hunt had scarcely begun, I knew that. But by the time they caught up, it would be too late to stop me.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-FOUR

The handler at the Cat stables was surprisingly cooperative.

“Right away,” she said, nodding vigorously.

I had demanded the use of two Cats. The young Oblate had heard the emergency muster, she knew there was a crisis—if I was here at a time like this, it could only be with the approval of the highest authorities in the Sisterhood. After all, the gates were locked. Anyone leaving the city would need express permission and a very good reason. I name-dropped liberally.

She lapped up every word with wide-eyed alarm, then hurried to organise my request.

“Why two Cats, though?” she asked, as she brought the saddled animals to the door of the shelter.

“I’m meeting a superior in Halowith; she’ll need one too,” I said. “Unfortunately, I can’t tell you more than that.”

“Understood.” She offered me a leg up.

“Thank you so much for your help,” I said with sincerity. I found myself thinking of the dead Acolyte outside the Martyrium, and couldn’t help adding, “There’s a lot happening in the city. Keep yourself safe, keep your head down.”

“Yes, Acolyte.”

She walked the Cats out into the rain. They were not impressed by the weather. My animal, a short-haired female with a black coat, skipped from paw to paw. Her brother yapped. The handler smacked his rump, and he settled into a sulk.

“May the Star shine on you,” she called, over the hissing rain.

“And on you.”

I met Millie and Finn a few hundred feet down the road. We were all soaked; the downpour continued to flood the Fields and path, gushing over the baked soil. An end, finally, to the drought. Lariel hung across Finn’s shoulders, her short hair stuck to her forehead. I didn’t know what we were going to do when she woke up. I hadn’t really planned for that.

The Cats growled when they smelled Finn.

“Easy,” I said, digging my heels into the female’s ribs. Millie grabbed the male’s harness and made soothing noises. The animals knew the scent of a Haunt.

“I’ll take Lariel,” I said. “You two ride together.”

Finn slowly edged around the Cat’s huge jaws. The fur at the scruff of the animal’s neck stood on end, and his head swung around suspiciously. Finn patted him. Confused and already miserable, the Cat shivered and mewed plaintively.

“You sure?” he asked. “I could ride with her.”

“You take care of the bolts. I can bind her if necessary.”

Finn set Lariel down and hoisted himself into the saddle before offering a hand to Millie. She swung up in front of him. They paced a few feet forward, and I used my lace to lift up Lariel.