“Good,” she said. “Excited to be out of the house for a few days.”
Ana gave her a questioning look. Alena waved away her concern. “It’s nothing serious. But my mother, in particular, is worried that something will happen to me again. She checks on me about fifty times a day, and if I even want to go to a teahouse, she insists on coming with me.”
From deeper in the room, Brandt laughed. “It’s hard to blame her.”
“I don’t, but I’m glad the emperor himself summoned us today. I’m not sure anything less would have convinced her to let me out of her sight.”
Brandt stood up from the table he’d been sitting at and joined the women. “How’s it been?”
Alena shrugged. “It’s been hard, but good. Years of absence, especially mine, left wounds. They’re healing, but they’ll take time. We all understand that.”
“I’m glad,” Brandt said.
“Speaking of wounds,” Alena said, eager to change the subject, “how are yours?”
Brandt looked himself over. “When the queen healed me, it was complete. I don’t even have the aches I had before.”
Ana rolled her eyes. “He won’t stop talking about it. Not only did he save the empire, he came out of it healthier than before.”
Alena laughed. She hadn’t known the wolfblades for long, but they felt as close as family.
The mood turned somber when Alena broached the question that had brought her here so early. “Are you sure you want this?”
Brandt nodded. “Their loss still eats at me.”
“Very well. You still want both?”
“Yes.”
“Lie down, then. Ana, if you could stand on the other side and hold his hand.” Alena did the same for Brandt’s other free hand.
She closed her eyes and began the soulwalk. In preparation, she’d practiced a bit with her family. Alena wasn’t sure that sharing memories was the best way of catching up with friends and family. What people saw during a soulwalk was unvarnished memory, a soul-baring experience. Everyone preferred to put their own feelings and interpretation on stories they told. Despite the advantages of soulwalking, Alena figured old-fashioned conversation was still best for most relationships.
But Brandt wanted his memory of his friends’ deaths. Alena couldn’t do that, but she could give him hers, and Ana’s. Hopefully then he could rest easier.
The three of them appeared in the soul plane. Alena fashioned it after the physical room they were in, minimizing disorientation. Then she opened the gates of her memory, sharing hers first, then Ana’s. Brandt absorbed it all silently.
When the task was done, she severed the connection and stepped away from the bed. Ana still held onto Brandt’s hand, and together they wept. Alena gave them space, turning to the window. The sun was coming up on a cold autumn morning, but the skies were clear.
Later, Brandt led the women out of Landow and into the mountains. He rode ahead of the others, wanting to be alone with his thoughts.
Alena’s ability had given him something he had been missing for years. Anders I had hinted at it, but the dead emperor’s vision wasn’t the same as a living human’s. The fix wasn’t perfect. Some part of him still recognized the memories weren’t his. But they were better than nothing. He knew how his wolfblades had died.
The knowledge wasn’t easy. He’d been mistaken to send them into that battle. Between the wolfblades and Zane, they’d pushed Kye into a corner, and nothing was more dangerous than a predator without an escape.
Behind him, he heard scraps of conversation between Ana and Alena. The two women got along well, and they spoke at length about Alena’s reunion with her family.
He supposed he should be grateful. They had stopped the Lolani from invading, reunited Alena with her family, and earned the gratitude of the emperor. But the victories felt too costly.
Kyler.
Lola.
Ryder.
Azaleth.
And more. He knew the Etari had lost warriors fighting against the Lolani. They’d achieved a respite, but it didn’t feel like enough.
He pushed the thoughts aside. The sky was mostly clear, and although the air was crisp, it was a gorgeous autumn day. The emperor had summoned them up to the caves where they had found the gate. He slowed down so the women could catch up to him.
As they did, Brandt overheard them talking about Jace and his new responsibilities. As chief aide to Kye, he knew more about the workings of the region than any other person. Apparently, he’d been offered a temporary governorship, but he’d refused, instead helping the emperor’s new appointee.
All conversation stopped when they came in view of the valley leading up to the cave. Now a garrison of soldiers built a wall in the valley, sealing it. Brandt saw no small number of wolfblades among them.
The emperor’s seal got them through the lines without problem, and they made straight for the crack.
Someone with a stone affinity had made the crack wider since they’d last entered. The way was also lit with torches, making the whole complex much more welcoming than it had been the last time they’d visited.
Welcoming or not, the journey still took most of the day. They were told the emperor was in the bottom chamber that held the gate, so they had no choice but to walk all the way down again.
The feeling of descending through the mountain couldn’t have been more different. The caves were now filled with people. The emperor had brought scholars, masons, and soldiers to protect them all. Every corner they turned, they were greeted by friendly faces. They didn’t quite erase the horror of that first descent, but they came close.
Eventually they reached the chamber of the gate. Here, the cave was quiet. Guards stood over the bridges, and it appeared very few were allowed past. Brandt recognized some of the warriors from their visit to the monastery. When they came into the final chamber, the emperor was alone.
They all bowed, but the emperor waved them away. “None of that nonsense, not here. If anyone should be bowing, it should be me. I had
