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returned, but the captain reported that they had found only an icy, desolate landscape, unsuitable for habitation.
    “My guess is that these Vangars captured the first vessel. They likely tortured the crew for information about us.”
    I thought about that for a moment and then realized that my grandmother hadn’t heard about King Ryshan yet. “The Vangars invaded Avenston this morning,” I said. “They murdered the entire royal family and overran the capitol. Last I saw, dozens of dragon ships were moving north towards Riverfork and Anora.”
    “Then we are doomed,” she said flatly. “We cannot fight this enemy.”
    I stared at her, and then at the faces around me. “What about the prisoners?” I said. “Can we rescue them before the airship takes off?”
    “No,” one of the older men said. I recognized him as one of the queen’s advisors. His name was Lydian. “We must see to the safety of the queen first. We have to abandon the isle and make for the Borderlands. We must go into the mountains, from where our ancestors came.”
    I looked around at the refugees’ faces, trying to gauge their strengths. Most of the Tal’mar were young and strong. Between us, we may have had a chance at rescuing the others on the dragon ship. Still, to do so would be to risk the life of the queen and I could see that that would not be acceptable.
    “A few of us could take the queen across the straits,” I said hopefully, “while the rest stage a rescue…”
    “Nonsense,” Lydian snorted. “We’d lose half our men in the fight and be lucky if the rest didn’t end up in chains.”
    I looked around and saw heads nodding in agreement. None of them wanted to fight. I couldn’t blame them and I didn’t have the strength left to argue with them. Lydian took my silence as agreement.
    Another young Tal’mar appeared in the branches. “The path to the beach is clear,” he said. “They have no guards on the bridge. We must move quickly!”
    “It is time,” Lydian announced. “Everyone to the bridge!”
    My grandmother touched my hand. “It is for the best,” she said. “This is not the time to fight. Tonight, we must survive.”
    She moved into the branches, still agile and elegant for all her years, accompanied by Lydian and then followed by the rest. As they were leaving, the elf who had guided me there saw me waiting and beckoned to me. “Come,” he called back to me. “We must hurry.”
    “I can’t,” I said. “I have a friend in the city.”
    “Your friend is lost,” Lydian said in the distance. “Come with us now, or you will be lost as well.” With that, he turned away, not caring whether I followed or not.
    “Won’t you come?” the elf said. “Your friend has almost certainly been taken captive. You should not put yourself in this danger.”
    “No,” I said. “I must go back for him.”
    He stared at me with a sad expression. “I would help you,” he said, “but my duty lies with the queen.”
    “I understand. Go ahead. I’ll catch up with you later, if I can.”
    He placed a hand on my shoulder. “I am Tam Windwalker, champion archer of the queen’s guard.”
    I returned the customary gesture. “I am Bresha Salamenta de Tinkerman. I am called Breeze.”
    “I know who you are,” he said with a smile. “May your ancestors guide you, Breeze Tinkerman.”
     In a flash, he was gone. I was alone among the branches.
     
     

 
     
     
    Chapter 5
     
     
    Finding my way back into the city was more of a challenge than I had expected. While following Tam through the trees, I had hardly noticed the path we had taken, or how far we had gone. I soon realized that we had covered a distance of many miles. In retracing our steps, I had to be much more cautious, especially as I got close to the city. I couldn’t risk a misstep or a loud noise that might alert the enemies to my presence.
    It was an hour later when I finally reached the area where I’d left Robie. I had just entered the alley