Amazing, right from the start! The first sentence is quite a doozy, sure to hook anyone in. As for Ruthenia, she's a very interesting character to see in action! The way she outwits the gunner in the beginning and her teacher at the end is enjoyable and amusing to read through. She's super cool! What a lovable scamp. Speaking of lovable scamps, you did a great job in showcasing each of the street boys' personalities in the short time they were there. I can say this about pretty much everyone actually! Even Aleigh, who doesn't even appear, gets a bit of characterization from how the others talk about him.
Also the worldbuilding's really cool so far! I loooooove the masking thing Hyder did! Shapeshifting/image-manipulation powers are some of my favorite! And what a use he's putting it to! By the way, can I say how cool it was to explain their plan through Ruthenia's made-up newsstory? That was hilarious! Even though the gunner at the beginning was antagonizing Ruthenia, I couldn't help but feel a little bad for him when he said the kings wouldn't let him get a job. Sounds like a pretty rigid caste system in place. I might have to re-read the parts about the threads to understand them a little more, but from what I understood, it sounds like a cool method of travel! Interesting that proficiency seems to be determined by religious piety, if I read that part correctly? Either way, I love how Ruthenia's like "No. I'm not praying to that god, he sucks!"
Anyway, great start!!
Comments on Chapter 1: Children of the Street of Eagles and Swans