The Gates of Memory, стр. 86
They had gotten lucky, and they all knew it. After the failed ambush, Jace was the only one who kept a clear head. He had been the one to make sure they didn’t leave a trail, including the blood that Toren lost.
They didn’t speak, and Alena felt the anger radiating off of Jace. Her brother was upset at himself, but he didn’t realize that. Instead, he glared at Alena. Though he said nothing, she understood the direction of his thoughts. He blamed her for not using her abilities to stop them. He wouldn’t understand how doing so affected her. Frustrated, she stood up and walked away from the camp, finding comfort away from her brother’s angry glares.
Toren came to her. He didn’t say anything, but let his presence be enough. Alena appreciated him more than ever at that moment.
“He’s mad at me, and maybe he should be,” Alena admitted. “I could’ve done it. I felt their fears and I could have done it. But then I thought of Jace and I couldn’t. But if I had, maybe you wouldn’t be hurt and maybe he wouldn’t be upset.” She knew she was rambling, but she couldn’t seem to stop the words from tumbling from her.
Toren reached out and grabbed her hand, the first time he had done so.
He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t have to.
Alena stepped closer to him and leaned her head against his chest, feeling the strong beat of his heart.
She closed her eyes and relaxed. They were alive and they were together.
The rest they could figure out.
45
When Brandt finally met up with Alena he wasn’t sure which of them was in worse condition. Weylen’s war party’s escape had been contested up until two days ago, when the last of their pursuit had mysteriously faded away. Ren believed it had something to do with the nature of the war party’s alliances, but from the tone in his voice he sounded anything but certain.
Regardless, their war party had held to a demanding pace even without pursuit. With their home under threat, they wouldn’t rest until their families were safe. So when they met with Alena, he was exhausted beyond reason. And she looked about the same.
Alena’s face felt like the first friendly one he had seen in some time. He and Ana hadn’t spoken much since their fight several nights ago, and neither of them had apologized yet. Their ongoing fight irritated him, and he meant to end it once they’d both had a good night’s rest.
Alena embraced him, but not too tightly. He saw her wince as they broke apart. “We set an ambush several days back,” she explained. “It didn’t go so well.”
“You’re all okay?”
“Except for our pride.”
A brief period of introductions followed as the assembled parties got to know one another. They swapped tales back and forth, catching everyone up on the most recent developments.
Brandt liked Alena’s little war party. Jace he already knew and respected, and Toren had a silent strength about him that Brandt appreciated. Sheren was perhaps the outlier, but when Brandt heard what she had done for the group he elected to withhold his judgment. After the introductions were complete, talk turned to the situation in the village. The work that Alena and Jace had done proved invaluable as they considered their next steps. Ren sent a few scouts to confirm the information, but Jace’s detailed report would save both time and lives.
Hanns joined the circle as the warleaders discussed the options for attack. The unfortunate news was that no matter what, the fight was going to be bloody. The invaders had brought a substantial force and if Alena’s belief that reinforcements were coming was accurate, Weylen and his war party would be in for a rough fight.
Hans interrupted the discussion. “I’ll do it.”
His statement caused all the warleaders to look at him as one, disbelief in every stare.
Brandt reminded himself that the Falari didn’t truly comprehend the powers the emperor could summon. A few of them had seen Regar’s display back in Faldun, but without developed affinities of their own, they didn’t understand. Perhaps, in the intervening time, they had come to believe it had been a deception of some sort. The mind would always search for a comfortable explanation when confronted by the unknown.
Brandt knew Hanns could take the town if his connection to the gates was strong, but one question needed to be asked. “Are you in a condition to do so?”
Hanns’ answer was brief, reminding Brandt that as much as the emperor welcomed criticism in private, he didn’t accept it in front of others.
“Yes. And I need to test myself. Doing so here can save valuable lives.”
Hanns had been walking most of the day the last few days. Considering their pace, the terrain, and the emperor’s age, that alone encouraged Brandt.
Brandt and Hanns argued with the warleaders together. It was only when they proposed a compromise that their strategy was accepted. Hanns would attack first, coming up the main road to the village. Weylen and the others would position themselves carefully around the valley. If Hanns’ attack failed, they would launch their own strike from several directions at once.
They decided to attack early the next morning. They each tried to grab what rest they could. Brandt considered speaking with Ana, but the timing didn’t feel right. He elected to wait until after the battle.
In the morning, Hanns led the attack, followed by Brandt, Ana, and his guards. Alena and her war party had chosen to remain behind, content to watch and nurse their wounds. They were among the reserve Weylen could call on. Hanns’ fellow imperials all stood behind the emperor, though. When he unleashed the gates, they didn’t want to be between him and his enemies.
The imperials made no effort to find cover. Brandt itched to at least hide behind a tree,