Selah refuses to become just another cog in the machine. She sneaks a sapling into Londinium, a hidden splash of green in her gray world. Finally, beauty in the place she practices her dance.

But something else came with the tree. Something that was supposed to stay outside. An ancient battle is rekindled. The dragons watch her closely. Is she the source of the trouble or the solution?

Soon Selah is caught up in a very complicated dance. Dragons rage, the people riot, and the Fake Man himself walks the streets.

The Iron City will fall.

***

Why are you stealing that tree?

I yelped and whipped my head around. It took me a tick to realize I hadn't heard anything with my ears. A dragon lounged in the branches above. It watched me with judgmental eyes.

"I ain't stealing anything."

Liar.

"This tree don't belong to anybody," I snapped. "So I'm taking it someplace it can grow big and strong."

Hm. Go dig up your tree. I will guard you.

"I don't need no guarding."

You smell of trouble. Of green and iron and a smudged story.

I glared, but the dragon didn't seem to care.

Something owns this orchard. Something not human. You steal from it.

My glare turned to a scowl, but the dragon remained unmoved. Finally, I turned and dug up the sapling. I hid it under the apples in my cart. It was more important.

The dragon seemed to grin. May your tree grow strong. Then it uncoiled itself, spread its wings, and flew away.

Stupid dragon.