Tower of Winter (The Traveler's Gate Chronicles: Collection #1) by Will Wight

the Halliat tribe, had landed on most of the limbs in view. He could count six mounted Halliat-tribe Travelers without even trying, and he knew that more must be on their way.
    But he was still a Valinhall Traveler, and these were Avernus. Maybe Endross or Tartarus could have posed a threat. He had to admit being a little nervous—no battle was certain, no matter how overwhelming it appeared—but he doubted this forest would be where his story ended.
    “We have time,” Denner said calmly. “Tell me.”
    Beneath his arm, Hariman chuckled.
      Keiren glanced nervously up at the trees, and then around at the underbrush, as though looking for an opportunity to flee.
    Denner stayed where he was. He could catch her easily enough if he wanted to, and she knew it.
    “One day the red trees will die, and the Incarnations will be free once again,” Keiren said at last.
    Denner’s heart froze. She shouldn’t have even known enough to say that. He supposed he should stop underestimating the girl who could see the future.
    “The Strigaia tribe has known this for years,” she went on, keeping both eyes on the Halliat Travelers in the trees. “They think that the Incarnations breaking free will mean a world free of Ragnarus’ control, that the world will be restored to its natural order. That’s what we’ve all been raised to believe. My parents believe it. My teacher believes it. I was raised here in this Territory, so all my friends believe it.”
    Hariman made a choking sound.
    Denner probably sounded the same way. “Why would anyone want that?” he said. “Do you have any idea how many people would die?”
    “Do you?” Keiren challenged. “I’ve seen it. And they’re going to escape. I can’t see anything we can do to stop that. But we might be able to do something about the Incarnations after they’ve broken free.”
    “What?” Denner asked. He had seen an Incarnation before, and he had no desire to repeat the experience.
    Keiren shrugged, almost dislodging her brown-and-white owl, who flapped its wings for balance and hooted indignantly. “I don’t know yet. I’ll figure something out. For now, I have to get away.”
    A deep male voice called down from the trees. “Outsider,” he said. “We are taking the Strigaia girl. Do not resist and we will allow you to leave.”
    Seemingly on instinct, Keiren took a step backwards, her face twisting in fear. “What are you going to do, Denner?” she asked, keeping her eyes locked on the Halliat eagles.
    There was only one decision he could make, really. Even then, it burned him to go back on his word, but there was nothing else he could do.
    Denner summoned Diava.
    The Dragon’s Fang shimmered like a heat haze as it materialized, its weight comforting in his hand.
    “I can find you a home in Damasca,” Denner said. “I’m friends with an Overlord, after all.”
    Keiren gave him a relieved smile. “Thank you,” she said, “but I can’t. Everyone I know is here. I can’t leave them just because they want me to. When they succeed, they’ll suffer under the Incarnations just as much as anyone. I have to help them, even if they kill me for it.”
    Her determined resolve made her look much older. She had clearly made up her mind.
    “What a surprise,” Hariman said, “Strigaia Travelers being foolish and short-sighted even though they can see the future.”
    “I think you made that joke already,” Denner said.
    “Who’s joking?”
    “Last chance, outsider,” the Halliat Traveler roared from overhead. One of the giant eagles shrieked, and Denner winced at the sound. “Walk away! We’re taking the owl girl with us.”
    Denner used Diava to gesture into a bush big enough to hide an entire house. “Get in there and hide until the fight’s over,” he said. “If you see a chance, run.”
    Keiren crawled under the bush, but she hesitated before she disappeared completely into the leaves. “Do you know a man, about your age, who has white hair? He may