The Source of Fire
by Pete Alex Harris
The young explorer Jens Anders takes along his long-suffering childhood friend, Alun and a mysterious translator, Aena, half way across the world to find a wonder, so he can make a name for himself by presenting it to the genius Empress Celandine.
He does find a wonder, and takes it, but a terror follows behind.
The Source of Fire is the sequel to The Silk Mind.