Page 137 of The Unseen Hour

I turned my head wildly as a few more people grew brave enough to approach.

I whispered a silent apology, then I stamped a foot down on the baker’s shoe. The woman howled, and I elbowed her in the gut. The vicar and I went tumbling as she released us. A few more townspeople moved to grab me, but the tree hoppers had followed me into the church, and now they swooped down on my would-be assailants with beaks and claws.

“Cursed ghosts!” one woman screamed.

“She’s possessed!” added another.

“She’s bewitched the birds!”

The vicar’s hold loosened as he tried to gain his footing. I twisted, breaking his hold.

Before the others could reach me, I tugged the door open and ran into the night, with the birds overhead.

CHAPTER 55

Screaming voices, and then the sound of the door slamming shut, told me I was safe. No one had come after me once I was outside the church.

It appeared no one wanted to risk their lives, not even for the rewards rescuing a Hipnosi might bring. Particularly if that Hipnosi had gone stark, raving mad, in the eyes of the locals. I didn’t blame them in the slightest. I knew how I must have looked. After this night, there would be all sorts of rumors about the Hipnosi daughter who’d returned during the most cursed time of the year, besmirching a church and fighting the good-hearted townspeople with her possessed birds.

I laughed, looking up at the still-dark sky. Orion and I needn’t have worried about what my reception would be. My reputation was already in tatters, and I’d only been back a few minutes.

I didn’t care in the slightest.

I ran through the streets, screaming for him.

“Orion! Orion!”

I didn’t see him, of course. I still had some distance to go to reach the cemetery, but I also didn’t see any Shades. I didn’t feel any, either. The fog that filled the streets during the Unseen Hour was dissipating—another sign that we had been successful.

Ahead of me, the gates to the town were open wide. I had no idea whether the watch had fled or the Shades had sung them out before I’d succeeded.

I reached the town wall, running so fast I practically sprinted past the stables where the city watch kept their mounts.

A familiar whinny brought me to a stop.

“Pellix,” I breathed. It was impossible, but there was the grullo stallion, in the end stall.

Pellix snorted, stomping a foot like he always did when he was trying to get my attention and go out for a ride.

Had the watch found him and kept him after I’d disappeared? Did my family not know where he was? Or had they given Pellix to the watch, in hopes his speed would aid in looking for me? Or, even worse, could they not bear the sight of him after I disappeared?

Whatever the reason was, luck was on my side.

“Pellix, I have missed you,” I whispered as I approached the stallion. He pushed his head forward, and I stroked his face.

“I’m so sorry. I promise you a real apology later, but I need you now. Are you ready for a ride?”

Pellix whinnied, stomping his hoof decisively.

I unlatched the gate holding him in. Pellix went still as I stood at his side, and with a grunt I heaved myself up. My chest rested against his back. Another grunt, and another strained heave, and I swung my leg up and over.

“I promise you I will give you endless treats and adventures after this. Orion and I won’t leave you.”

I had no reins to rely on, and instead I fisted my hands in Pellix’s mane, trying not to pull. I leaned forward.

“We have to make it to the ruins. He has to be there.”

I gave a gentle nudge with my heels, and that was all the stallion needed. Pellix was off like a shot, running across the cobblestones and through the gates. I looked overhead and saw the tree hoppers soaring above us and keeping pace.