Ever heard of the rule of three? he shouts as we run.

No!

If you save somebody’s life three times, their life belongs to you. You saved my life today, that makes once. Save it twice more an I’m al yers.

I’l jest hafta make sure that don’t happen, I says.

We shoot out onto open ground an there they are. Emmi, Maev, Ash an a bunch more Free Hawks waitin fer us with horses. They’ve cut out a big section of the tal palisade fence big enough fer us to git through. A back gate, jest like Maev said.

Jack grabs both my arms. Turns me to face him. It’l happen if it’s meant to happen, he says. It’s al writ en in the stars. It’s al fate.

I don’t believe in the stars, I says. Not no more.

We’l see about that. G’bye Angel. Before I know what he’s up to, he pul s me to him, gives me a quick hard kiss an then he’s o an runnin back the way we jest come.

I hold my hand to my tinglin lips an stare after him.

Saba! Emmi runs to me an I sweep her up. She throws her skinny lit le girl arms around my neck.

You al right? I says. She nods. Buries her face in my neck an squeezes so tight she jest about chokes me.

Where’s Nero? I says.

I dunno, she says. I ain’t seen him fer ages.

Saba! yel s Ash. C’mon! We’re out a here!

They’re al climbin onto their horses. Maev’s holdin the bridle of a ne chestnut stal ion with a broad chest. His name’s Hermes, she says to me. He’s fast.

I swing myself onto his back. Then I lean down an pul Emmi up to sit in front of me.

I see you found yer friend al right, says Maev. She hands me a pistol crossbow an a quiver. Leather armbands. Gives me a sly lit le smile.

Yeah, I says. I feel my face ushin hot. I busy myself strappin on the armbands an slippin the bow over my head. Sorry, I says, I didn’t mean fer it to take so long. Listen Maev, thanks fer—

You can thank me later, she says, cut in in. Let’s git out a this hel hole first. Heeya! She heels her horse in the flanks. Heeya!

You can thank me later, she says, cut in in. Let’s git out a this hel hole first. Heeya! She heels her horse in the flanks. Heeya!

Hold tight, Em, I says.

We stream through the gap in the palisade at a gal op an head north. Maev rides on my right side. Somebody pul s up on my left. It’s Epona. She shoots me a grin, her eyes sparkin.

Glad to see you made it, I says.

Likewise, she says. That was a nasty moment. Who’d of thought they’d change the gauntlet run?

Once we’re wel away from Hopetown, we pul up the horses an look back. Streams of people pour out a the burnin town through the Gate. They’re al headed south. Nobody’s comin this way, nobody’s fol owin us. The sky’s fil ed with great clouds of gray smoke.

The Hawks break into cheers an pound each other on the back.

We did it, I says. I reach over an grab Maev’s hand. You got us al out. I got a tel you, I didn’t think you could do it.

I know you didn’t, she says. But yer git in out alive warn’t nuthin to do with me in the end. She tilts her head back an looks above us. You need to thank that crow of yers, she says.

Nero swoops down over our heads, cawin an cal in out in his hoarse voice.

I wil , I says. I wave a arm at him.

He does one last swoop down then soars up high. He likes a good view.

I ain’t never seen a creature like that before, she says. He’s so smart, he’s—

More like a person than a bird? I says.

Yeah, she says. That’s it.

Whatever you do, I says, don’t tel him that. I’l never hear the end of it.

We head due north, in the direction of the mountains that cut across the plain. They look to be a good five or six leagues of .

Is that the Black Mountains? I says to Maev.

That’s jest the beginnin of ’em, she says. Foothil s, I guess you’d cal ’em.

My brother’s in a place cal ed Freedom Fields, I says. Deep in the Black Mountains. D’you know it?

She shakes her head. Never heard of it, she says.

My heart sinks.

Come with us, she says. To our summer camp at Darktrees. It’s half a day’s ride from here. Once we git there, you can rest up. We’l git you kit ed out, help you make plans to find yer brother.

I ain’t got time to rest, I says. I got a git there before midsummer.

She looks at me. That’s less than two weeks from now, she says.

I know, I says. I’d be glad of some clothes an food if you got any to spare.

I think we can help with that, says Maev.

An I’d like to leave Emmi with yuz, I says. Emmi looks up at me. She’s bin ridin in front of me the whole time, not sayin a word. She looks away quick.

Jest til I git back with Lugh, I says. I got no idea what’s at Freedom Fields or what I’m gonna hafta do to git there. I need Emmi to be safe.

We’l take care of her, says Maev. Whaddya say, Emmi?

Okay, she says.

Ash gal ops past. Hey Maev! she shouts, jerkin her head back towards Hopetown. We got company! She rides on ahead to catch up with th’other Free Hawks.

Maev an me turn to look over our shoulders.

Holy hel on earth, says Maev. What’s that?

A cloud of dust’s comin at us from Hopetown way. It’s movin fast.

That ain’t no horse, says Maev. Not travelin that fast. Let’s git the lead out.

In the pit of my stummick, I know what’s inside that cloud of dust. The wind’s picked up. Perfect conditions fer a landboat.

Hang on, Em! Heeya! I yel . Heeya! I dig my heels into Hermes’ sides. A quiver of excitement ripples through him. It’s like he’s jest bin waitin fer me to give the word. He stretches his neck out. Then he shoots o like a arrow from a bow, his hooves thunderin on the dry ground.

I look behind. The dust cloud’s gainin on us.

Whatever it is, it’s movin too fast! shouts Maev. We got no chance of outrunnin it!

Up ahead, Ash has catched up with th’other Free Hawks. Told ’em what’s goin on. They al turn in a wide arc an start racin back to join us.I look back agin. The dustcloud’s even closer. Now I can see what’s makin it. An it’s jest like I thought. It’s the Desert Swan. With this erce wind behind it, the sails is bil owin.

Maev whistles. Friends of yers? she says.

No, I says. Not friends. Not at al .

Emmi looks up at me with big eyes. It’s the Pinches, she says.

They’re after me, I says to Maev.

Right, she says.

The Hawks thunder up.

Keep Saba an Emmi in the middle! yel s Maev. They move to surround us, takin up positions to the front, the sides an the rear. Nero ies jest overhead. We’re stil headin fer the mountains, with the horses at ful stretch. Epona’s ridin right beside us.

Don’t be frightened, Em, I says. I ain’t gonna let ’em hurt you.

I ain’t afeared of them! she says. From her quavery lit le voice, I can tel she’s terrified. I give her a squeeze.

They’l hafta git through me first, Epona cal s over, with a smile. I don’t take kindly to people who try to do that.

Jest then, the Free Hawks at the back of the pack start yel in. We look back. The landboat’s comin at us, ful speed.

Jest then, the Free Hawks at the back of the pack start yel in. We look back. The landboat’s comin at us, ful speed.