The Passage to Mythrin 2-Book Bundle by Patricia Bow Page B

along an alley between houses. Amelia veered with her like a bird in a flock of two. The built-up spaces between the streets didn’t even slow them down. They sprang from a low roof onto snow, burst into and out of a thicket of trees...
    And there it ended. Ahead of them lay a plain of silver stretching towards the sky. Beyond the field was nothing but stars.
We can’t go any farther
, Amelia thought.
We’ve run to the edge of the world
.
    She stumbled and stopped. While she was bent over, hands on knees, panting, the magic drained away. A bent black feather fell from her headband and stuck point-down in the snow.
    She straightened up. They stood on an ice-rutted sidewalk lined with trees. Streetlights glimmered through bare branches. Behind them stood a row of small houses, mostly dark. Seemed like everybody really was downtown.
    The silver plain across the street was just a park, white snow rising to a long, low hilltop. They’d run to the edge of Dunstone, not the world.
    â€œMara, what” — Amelia gulped for air — “what hap-happened back there? In the mall? Was that something you did?”
    Mara didn’t answer. Amelia looked where she was looking, along the street to their right. Someone waswalking towards them. The figure appeared in a pool of streetlight, crossed it, and faded into the dark.
    â€œGo home.” Mara took her by the shoulders and pushed her away.
    â€œIt’s him, isn’t it? The Assassin. Right, let’s go!”
    â€œYou go. I stay.”
    Amelia spun around. The walker was passing through another pool of light, closer. The light reflected off eyes like broken ice. Two more steps, and he was invisible in the dark.
    â€œMara, you can’t stay! Come on!” She grabbed Mara’s arm and pulled. It was like pulling a tree: there was some give, but it got you nowhere.
    For half a moment Amelia thought,
I should get away. She’s crazy. She’s dangerous.
Then:
No! She’s in danger. I can’t leave her.
    â€œMara! There’s still time if we run!”
    â€œDid you think I ran for fear? I ran to bring him here, away from people.”
    â€œBut he’ll kill you!”
    â€œWe will see.” Mara folded her arms and smiled, showing teeth. She had lost her shawl somewhere and her red lizard coat glittered in the streetlight. “Maybe I can make him talk to me instead. He knows things I must know.”
    â€œBut you can’t do this by yourself! I can help. I — I can fight!” Amelia looked around for a branch, a brokenpiece of fence, anything. Ten seconds and he’d be here —
    Amelia
. The name echoed back and forth through her mind.
Brave Amelia. This fight is not for you.
    Her mind was full of glare. She shut her eyes.
    When she opened them again the street was deserted, except for herself. Her right hand was in her pocket, closed tight around the ruby ring. Its warmth beat like a heart against her fingers.
    Â§
    Simon found Ammy on Hill Street on the north edge of town, staring across the street at Founders Park. She whirled and backed away as he trudged near, then let out a huge sigh of relief.
    â€œHow did you find me?”
    â€œCeleste’s shawl, to start.” He held up the wad of silk. “The chestnut man picked it up and hung it on his cart. He told me which way you guys went. After that I just kept asking people if they’d seen two crazy girls run by.” He looked past her, then around. “Where’s Mara?”
    â€œI don’t know. I’m afraid she’s going to get killed.”
    â€œThat guy who was chasing you —”
    â€œThat was the Assassin.”
    â€œThe what?”
    She explained. Long before she finished he was shaking his head.
    â€œThis is Dunstone. We don’t get hit men here.”
    â€œWe got Mara.”
    â€œThat’s true.” He thought of the geckos and the espresso eagle. “And nothing’s been really