“I told my mother to wait for me by the tree for a reason. I could circle the city to get to the pier and try to escape by the river. But then I’d have to go past the walls—and after that, pass another guard post near the boats. And what could I even do with a boat? What do I know about big boats and how to steer them… about the Pearl itself? If I had connections with the Mirror Carp, I could try. But with whom besides the Wolves and the named brothers have I been acquainted in the city? There are no others like that.
Right now I have only one way—to flee from the city along the road that leads north, and then into neighboring lands. But… try to outrun the riding lizards? Nonsense. Even if help for the guards at the gate doesn’t come in time, there’s no doubt it will eventually be sent after our trail. How far can I run before the bridge?
And then there will be another fight—and another dead guard…”