Luckily, he only has one tin cup in hand that sloshes over his canvas apron as steaming droplets splash my chest and sleeves. “Hey!”

“Sorry!” I don’t stop running.

Not so far behind us, I can make out flashes of deep blue pushing forward through the gathering crowd.

“They’re catching up,” I gasp, catching Isolde’s hand in mine. I try willing my legs to go faster. Olani would have left us in the dust by now if not for the burden of Raze stumbling along slung half over her shoulder.

“This way!” Without hesitation, Isolde leaps over someone’s fence and slips into the narrow space between two houses, pulling me along behind her. Olani curses behind us, slowing down to step over the fence.

We come out on the other side of the houses on another street and take off in a random direction, trying to get lost in the maze of small, humble buildings. Maybe, if we lead them far enough away, we can circle back around to the horses.

It isn’t a plan, exactly, but it’s all we can do. Especially at an hour when we should still be snuggled up in bed.

The town is coming alive quickly, though. The sun is almost fully overhead, the sky barely streaked with pink. People bustle all around attending to their own business, either making far too much effort not to stare at us or far too little.

Eventually, we turn a corner and find ourselves in the town square. It’s full of people chattering and calling out to each other in the early light. At first, I don’t see what all the fuss is about.

And then—

I stop short, almost tripping over my own feet.

“Look!” I shout, not thinking. I’m too excited to think, too overwhelmed with delight and disbelief.

Isolde grabs for my hand to keep towing me along, but then she sees, and she freezes, too.

Past the gathering throng of townspeople, a familiar emerald-green paint job shimmers in the pink early-morning sun.

The Destiny is here. Finally, our luck is turning around. I could laugh out loud.

Raze stops, bending in half with his hands braced on his knees as he struggles to catch his breath. “Need...to keep going.” He looks a little green now, and it isn’t just because of the light bouncing off the wagon’s shiny paint.

Before I can reply, or foolishly run forward, the Destiny’s door bangs open. I suddenly notice two men, separate from the crowd, who had been leaning against her side and trying to scratch gilt from the adornments, as they startle with a laugh.

Isolde grips my wrist in one frigid hand and wrenches me to the side. She catches Olani with her other hand, and we all do our best to make ourselves invisible in the crowd, hoping everyone will ignore that we’re out of breath and sweating.

“Cursed cat!”

A man’s voice is muffled as he emerges from the wagon, disheveled. He tugs his tunic back into place, smoothing wrinkles.