The Gates of Memory, стр. 77

Ana laid a hand on Brandt’s shoulder. “Why doesn’t matter. Hopefully we can learn that later. But we know what he’s done. We only need to figure out how to react.”

Reluctantly, Brandt broke away. Ana was right. Action came first. Understanding could come later, if it came at all. Though it would be helpful if he understood Regar’s goals and intentions. How could they stop him if they weren’t sure what he was trying to achieve? It couldn’t just be the death of his father. He’d had the perfect opportunity the night before and hadn’t taken it.

Brandt’s training kicked in. They were in a foreign land, far from the support they were used to enjoying. Ana looked ready to fight, and Brandt already felt sorry for the first enemy who crossed her. He was sore, but also ready. Regar’s guards were a contingent of the palace guard, so Brandt didn’t expect they held any particular loyalty to the prince. But he trusted them less than Ana.

The far more important, and far more uncertain, question, was Hanns.

Brandt kneeled down next to the emperor’s bed. “What are you currently capable of?”

The emperor looked up at him with wavering eyes. “I can feel my connection with the gates once again,” he replied. “I think I could draw on them, but I must admit,” his eyes glazed over for a moment, “I do not think it would be wise to make me the cornerstone of your strategy.” He paused again. “Or any piece you truly depend on.”

Brandt had expected as much, but without the emperor, their task was far more difficult. If it came to a fight, Regar had a gate, and without the emperor, they had none. Those weren’t odds Brandt was comfortable with.

“We need to escape,” he decided.

“We’re nearly in the middle of Faldun,” Ana reminded him, her voice calm. “Even if we escape the capital there are still hundreds of leagues between us and safety, and for all we know every Falari alive will be hunting for us.”

“It’s not the best plan,” Brandt acknowledged, “but I would still rather take those odds over those of fighting Regar.”

Ana glanced at Hanns and considered for moment. “I agree.”

Before Brandt could step outside to give the guards orders, the sharp sound of alarm bells pealed through the air.

Ana and Brandt shared a look. They had both been wolfblades. If anyone alive understood Brandt’s insistence that there were no coincidences, it was Ana. The bells could only mean one thing.

Regar was making his move.

Ana realized the full implications of the bells before Brandt did. He was running to the door when she said, “It’s not all the Falari. At least some are fighting against Regar. There wouldn’t be an alarm otherwise.”

Brandt froze in mid-stride. She was right.

If the Falari were fighting one another it opened up new possibilities, and new challenges.

He considered their options for a few moments, then shook his head. “Escape is still wisest. We don’t even know who our allies would be.”

Ana nodded, then turned to help the emperor prepare for the journey. She helped him dress in traveling clothes and comfortable boots. Brandt informed the guards of their new orders, unleashing a flood of activity. The guards came into the room and began packing. Others went to nearby storerooms where they could find food.

Brandt wished they’d better prepared for this. Even with all the guards hurrying, their departure was delayed. Every moment meant the chaos would spread through the city further. They needed to leave. If he had been wise, he would have foreseen this possibility long ago. He always should have had a plan to leave the city in a hurry.

Brandt pushed the thoughts aside. What was done was done. He threw himself into his tasks while waiting for the others to complete theirs. For a while, at least, he lost himself in the bliss of focused physical exertion. He packed bags and prepared his own gear for the journey ahead.

Lost in his preparations, he barely noticed the knock on the door. Ana called for the door to be opened, revealing a concerned guard on the other side. “There is a Falari here to see you,” the guard said. Before either of them could ask any questions, he added, “It’s Ren.”

Again, Ana understood more quickly than Brandt. The lethargy affecting his mind was fortunately not affecting her. “Send him in.”

A few moments later Ren appeared, his hands well away from his swords. Brandt still tensed and took a step so that he was between Hanns and Ren.

“Regar and many of the mountain tribes are seizing control of the city. Were you aware of this?” Ren asked.

Ren had fought them both before. He knew his skill relative to theirs, but in that moment, Brandt was convinced he would draw his sword anyway if he found out the warriors had betrayed him.

“We were not.”

Ren nodded. “Good, then we need your help to fight them.”

Brandt shook his head. “Regar has control of your gate. Hanns is disoriented. We need to run.”

“We won’t run,” Ren proclaimed. “If we cede control of that gate it means we lose everything.”

“There is no honor in fighting a hopeless battle,” Brandt argued. “Not when your sacrifice is meaningless. Come with us. Regroup. Once Hanns has recovered from whatever Regar did to him we can counter this coup from a position of greater strength.”

“All the strength in the world won’t matter if they take the city,” Ren pointed out.

Brandt supposed he had a point there. He didn’t want to be the commander tasked with capturing Faldun. Easier to tie a rope around a cloud. But that didn’t change his mind.

The two warriors stared at each other, neither budging.

Ren capitulated first. “What if you come with me,” he gestured at Brandt, “and I’ll send several of my scouts to help you get him away from the battle.” He gestured toward Hanns. “He’ll be a