They were both too light in his arms, like nothing at all, their chests rising as spasmodically as butterfly wing-beats in between thin cries. He clutched them close and was fool enough to look up.

The hundreds of eyes coming crashing down towards him looked like a city at night hurtling nonsensically through the black air. He gave a soundless cry, wraiths gulping down his terror with hissing delight. Shamash was shivering and thrashing. He snatched the children closer and and made himself step backwards with no idea where to go but elsewhere. Take miles in his stride. Cut his losses and run.