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Melina nodded "Theo Surrounded the place, took Miss Thrush and half our wards here, then set fire to the house I hid on the roof Since then, wights have co for Winnifred and her friends"

"And you killed them?" Emma asked

Melina looked down "That’s what I said, ain’t it?"

She was too proud to admit she’d lied It didn’tfor Miss Wren," Emma said

"That means she’s still free," I said

"Maybe," said Eeon can help us," I said "We need to find Miss Wren, and we think the bird kno"

"I never heard of any Miss Wren," said Melina "I just feed Winnie when she comes into our courtyard We’re friends, she and I Ain’t we, Winnie?"

The bird chirped happily on her shoulder

Eeon "Do you know Miss Wren?" she said, enunciating loudly "Can you help us find her? Miss Wren?"

The pigeon leapt off Melina’s shoulder and flapped across the roos, then flew back

This way, it seeh for me "We need to take the bird with us," I said

"Not without me," said Melina "If Winnie kno to find this yood idea," said Horace "We’re on a dangerous mission, you see--"

Emma cut him off "Give us the bird We’ll coasp and double over

Eht?"

I couldn’t speak Instead I hobbled to the , forcedout toward the cathedral dome, visible over the rooftops just a few blocks away--then down at the street, where horse-draagons rattled past

Yes, there I could feel the from a side street, not far away

Theo," I said "Now"

"Please," Horace begged the girl "We ers, and the dresser that had nearly killed ain "I can’t allow that," she said, narrowing her eyes and flicking them toward the dresser just toand you get Winnie in the bargain Otherwise …"

The dresser pirouetted on one wooden leg, then tipped and crashed onto its side

"Fine then," Eh her teeth "But if you slow us doe take the bird and leave you behind"

Melina grinned, and with a flick of her hand the door banged open