—Bluejackets’ saying Melba ducked and twisted out of the man’s grip using the thief’s escape move Maddox had taught her. But the man was determined. His hand locked around her arm, jerking her back when she tried to scarper. She caught a glimpse of a tall gray-haired monk with cold, piercing blue eyes; then her three Flower Jinns dived at his face and he raised an arm to protect himself. While his attention was diverted, Melba wriggled out of his grip and dashed toward the chapel. “Wait, girl,” he shouted. Ignoring the old codger, she crashed open the door and belted through the silent chapel, her suede boots slapping on the mosaic tiles. By the time she reached the street, her flutterbys had caught up with her. Instinct took over and she headed for the nearest drain into the flood defense system. She slid aside the metal grating over the hole, jumped down into the dark pipe, and reached up to replace the cover. The flood defense network was designed like a huge wheel with the hub under the Royal Palace and six spokes radiating out across the island to the sea.
