“Oh, thank God,” Maxie sobbed, and dropped to the road beside Maeve. She put her face to Arran’s. It was wet with tears. She didn’t care who saw it.

“Arran,” she whispered in his ear. “Don’t die.”

Arran’s lips parted and he spoke one word, in the quietest whisper they had ever heard. So deep was the silence, however, that there was no mistaking what he said.

“No.”

Maxie smiled through her tears.

“He’s not going to die. He’s strong. He’s our leader. He’s going to get us to the palace. . . .”

“The palace?” said the girl, and now Jester stepped forward.

“I’m taking them to Buckingham Palace,” he said. “It’s safe there.”

“It’s not safe anywhere,” said the girl. “We know. We’ve been all over.”

“Have you been into the center of town?” asked Jester.

“Well, no . . .”

“Then you haven’t been all over, have you?”

“She’s not coming with us, anyway,” said Maxie, standing up. “Not after what she’s done to Arran.”

“I didn’t mean to.”

“Yeah,” said Blue. “It was an accident. If they want to come with us, then let them. We could use some more fighters. We lost seven kids in the battle.”

“She’s not coming!” Maxie shouted.

“If I say she’s coming, she’s coming,” said Blue.

“Why?” said Maxie. “Because she’s pretty?”

“What’s that got to do with it?” Blue laughed dismissively. “I told you, she’s a mad good fighter. We all need to stick together.”

“Who put you in charge all of a sudden?” Maxie snorted.

“You said just now Arran was the leader,” said Blue calmly, ignoring Maxie’s outburst. “Well, that wasn’t strictly speaking true, was it? We was both leaders. And now he’s hurt bad, so, from here on, I’m in charge.”

Maxie glared at Blue, her eyes defiant. “I’m Arran’s second in command,” she said. “I’ll take his place until he’s better.”

“I’m in charge, girl,” said Blue.

“It doesn’t matter,” said Ollie, stepping between them. “All that matters right now is we try to get Arran better. Then we can argue over who’s in charge. Maeve, is there anything you can do?”

“I don’t know,” said Maeve, shaking her head. “The arrow’s in pretty deep. If we take it out he might bleed worse.”

“Is it in his heart?”

“If it was in his heart he’d be dead already.”

“His lung?”

“Maybe.”

Maeve looked around at the girl who was still kneeling next to her. “What do you think? Do you know about arrows?”

“I think you’re right. If you try to take it out you could make it worse.”

“You can’t leave him like that!” Maxie yelled. “You can’t!”

Ollie nodded at the girl. “You,” he said. “What’s your name?”

“Sophie,” said the girl.