23
They moved quickly through the side streets, Marya leading them away from the Unclean headquarters and navigating effortlessly through the growing busyness of the city waking for the morning. Lukas walked behind Cephas, who still clutched his arm, though Marya had ripped a strip of fabric from her skirts to use as a makeshift tourniquet. Down every sharp turn of the alleyways, Lukas heard footsteps following behind them—two men, by the sound of it, and soldiers. But every time he tried to glimpse their pursuers, he saw only shadow and the flash of neon lights projected from the holographic displays. Even still, he listened intently, prepared to fight off whoever came after them if they got too close.
Finally, they emerged from the dark, empty alleys and into one the main avenues of th
