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A Thief Among the Trees by Sabaa Tahir with Nicole Andelfinger & Sonia Liao, published July 2020 by Archaia, is a young adult fantasy graphic novel by United States author Sabaa Tahir with Nicole Andelfinger & Sonia Liao. The story is attributed to Sabaa Tahir, the script to Nicole Andelfinger, and the art to Sonia Liao. It was published by Archaia (Boom Studios) in July 2020. It is a standalone prequel story in the An Ember in the Ashes series|. The story focuses on Elias Veturius, one of the point-of-view characters in An Ember in the Ashes, and two other members of his team of "Fivers," or fifth-year students at Blackcliff Academy: Helene Aquilla, his best friend in An Ember in the Ashes, and Octavius "Tavi" Fortus, another classmate who wears a beaded band for luck, as they work to obtain vials of poison from Isle South, which is an isle in the South.
Plot Summary
Elias, Helene, and Tavi are assigned a mission from Blackcliff Academy, understanding that if they fail they will die. Sailing toward Isle South, they debate the best way to approach the camp where the poison, extracted from the skin of salamanders, is to be obtained. Ultimately they decide to approach from the North, expecting the landing site to be deserted and to get in and out in one night. This is a mistake, as six Martial soldiers ambush them. Zak and Marcus, competing Blackcliff students, arrive shortly after, taking advantage of the ambush to enter the forest unscathed. Team Elias swims out to sea to escape the ambush and are separated. The following morning, Elias revives on the West Shore.
Before re-uniting with Helene and Tavi, Elias discovers a Martial prison camp and learns that the Martial soldiers on the Island are testing the poison on young Scholar children. The team makes camp for the night and Helene leads them to a supply outpost based on intelligence she received from Rallius, an "Older soldier who has a soft spot for upstarts."
Elias and Tavi have a discussion about the evil of the Martial Empire and the humanity of the Scholar children. Tavi suggests that they help the Scholar children but Elias vetoes the idea, giving priority to the success of their mission. Tavi hypothesizes that the supply for the poison is dwindling, so the Empire is trying to dilute the poison to make it last longer, based on his father's experience as an apothecary diluting various mixtures when supplies are scarce.
Helene rejoins Elias and Tavi, and they are ambushed by fellow classmates Dex, Demetrius, and Faris, who tie them with rope, Elias and Tavi to a tree and Helene to a large boulder. That night, Helene frees herself and her teammates and argues for murdering Dex, Demetrius, and Faris in their sleep, but Elias and Tavi overrule her and they instead negotiate with their classmates to team up to obtain the poison.
Tavi again tries to persuade Elias to help the Scholar children, pointing out that Elias is a leader that the others will follow. Elias again refuses, and the group travels to South End. They attack the camp but Elias, Tavi, and Faris are captured. Titus Sisellius offers Elias two vials of poison and a boat to leave the island if he kills one of his friends, but Elias refuses.
Sisellius tortures Tavi, breaking his band of beads, beating him, and cutting him on his left forearm. Helene, Dex, and Demetrius burst in and the two teams gain the upper hand. Tavi destroys the remaining supply of poison, surreptitiously pocketing six vials. Elias incapacitates Sisellius but Tavi persuades him not to kill him.
The two teams return to the dock and Dex, Demetrius, and Faris leave. Marcus and Zak ambush Elias, Helene, and Tavi, taking one of their vials of poison and leaving in the remaining boat.
Tavi proposes further distilling more poison to make a third vial. Tavi spends the night distilling the poison while Helene spends some time alone and Elias scouts the camp, learning that it is vulnerable to attack. Elias agrees to help Tavi attempt to rescue the Scholar children. Tavi examines the scratch on his left forearm, realizing that he has been poisoned and is dying, but keeps this information to himself.
Sisellius and his forces use dogs to track Elias, Helene, and Tavi. Tavi refuses to run, revealing his condition and announcing his intention to help the Scholar children. Tavi gives Elias the 3 vials of poison and the broken beaded band, asking that Elias tell his father what he did.
The Martial soldiers attack Elias and Helene at the beach, but Elias again defeats Sisellius, again not killing him, and just as Martial reinforcements arrive to overwhelm Elias and Helene, the fires started by Tavi draw the Martial soldiers away, allowing Elias and Helene to escape.
Upon their return to Navium Garrison, learning that the facilities on Isle South are being at least temporarily shut down, Elias and Helene debate whether the Martial Empire is responsible for Tavi's death, or whether they are. Knowing he will be severely punished, Elias returns the broken beaded band to Tavi's father in Montium, outside Navium, telling him that Tavi spent his last moments saving lives. Tavi's father reminds reminds Elias, "don't let them destroy your spirit." They hug, and Elias begins the return journey, saying to himself, "My spirit is the one thing they cannot touch..."
Characters
Elias Veturius -- The future "finest soldier at Blackcliff Military Academy," still growing into his role. His pastimes include saving damsels in distress and betraying his best friend every chance he gets.
Helene Aquilla -- the only female in the same class as Elias at Blackcliff Military Academy and his best friend.
Octavius "Tavi" Fortus -- the third member of the team with Elias and Helene.
Fortus -- Tavi's father, first name not given. An apothecary living in Montium, outside Navium.
Marcus -- an arrogant bully destined to become the next Emperor of the Martial Empire.
Zak or Zacharias -- twin brother of Marcus, who tries to be a moderating influence on his brother.
Dex -- Blackcliff Academy Fiver working with Demetrius and Faris.
Demetrius -- Blackcliff Academy Fiver working with Dex and Faris.
Faris -- Blackcliff Academy Fiver working with Dex and Demetrius. He obtains a blow gun from one of the Martial soldiers on Isle South.
Titus Sisellius -- top Martial soldier on Isle South. His pastimes including poisoning little Scholar kids and blackmailing Blackcliff students into murdering other Blackcliff students.
