The Gates of Memory, стр. 94

But the tactics only worked when both sides brought approximately the same weapons. Hanns could bury an entire ambush in flame or stone with little more than a thought.

The Falari, for all their martial skill, weren’t ready for this new warfare. Regar was. He knew the better use of his troops was defending their most vital asset.

Weylen suggested they increase the number of scouts surrounding the war parties. Brandt suspected the measure was unnecessary, but the other warleaders agreed with it. It made them feel safer to do something, useless as it might be.

The days continued to pass without incident. Brandt found himself spending more time with Alena’s war party than up front. Though he unofficially served as Hanns’ Senki, there was little for him to do. The Falari scouts were better suited to their protection than him, and as Brandt had predicted, their march was uncontested.

It made their journey pleasant, but Brandt feared the conclusion even more. Their enemies would be packed into Faldun and the area surrounding it. After the trouble they’d had last time in the city, he already had nightmares about what awaited them.

At night, he could almost convince himself that life had returned to normal. Alena usually retired early to soulwalk, accompanied by Toren. Brandt knew she was seeking a way to unravel the connection Regar had formed with the gate, but she spoke little about it. Despite the apology and the intervening days, a tension still ran between them when Alena spoke of soulwalking. Though Brandt refused to ask, he still wanted her secret. Astute as she was, she no doubt guessed his thoughts.

His evenings were spent with Ana. The scars remained between them as well, but the healing had begun. They didn’t talk about the gate or the battle that awaited at the end of this journey. Instead they spoke of their future.

The idea of fatherhood excited and terrified him. He looked forward to meeting their child, but he kept his fears unspoken. He was a warrior, with blood on his hands. Did he even have the right to raise an innocent child?

He didn’t have answers, but Ana’s presence reassured him. Together, they would figure parenthood out. Together, they could raise a child better than either of them could alone.

All they had to do was win at Faldun.

Their party grew as they marched. Those who had come to join Weylen in his village caught up to them, swelling their ranks. Numbers were hard to guess, spread out in the mountains as they were, but Brandt suspected thousands of Falari now journeyed toward Faldun.

From early reports, nearly that many waited in Faldun to oppose them.

It didn’t take long for a grim attitude to settle over the warriors. Skirmishes between Falari war parties weren’t uncommon, but a conflict of this scale was unheard of, at least in recent memory.

And then their journey ended late one afternoon. They entered the valley where Faldun waited for them. The valley itself was empty, save for a number of scouts returning to the safety of Faldun’s walls.

Brandt watched the scene with the other warleaders. Beside him, Weylen studied the capital of his people. He nodded, as though convincing himself that an assault on the city was even possible.

Then he turned to the others.

“Prepare your people,” he said. “Soon, we will attack.”