She frowned. Now that he mentioned it, the air did seem different. Lighter, maybe. She looked around and saw smiles on the faces of her traveling companions. Were they just excited to be home, or did they experience the same sense of change that Alena felt?
Alena had no answers, but she also found that for once in her life, she had no questions, either. Her shoulders relaxed and she slumped deeper into the seat in the cart. Perhaps it was the air, but she knew why she was relaxed. For the first time in weeks, she was safe.
Two days passed without incident. Alena noted that there were no small farmhouses dotting the landscape, the way they did in the empire. Wild grass was far more common than wheat, and more animals seemed to roam the plains than back home. Otherwise, the journey was as monotonous as ever.
Until one of the Etari came and whispered into Sooni’s ear.
Sooni raised her hand, making yet more signs. The caravan increased its speed.
Sooni waited until Alena’s cart passed, then pulled her horse up beside them. “Someone broke the border, not long ago. We’re being pursued by a large group.”
The leader of the clan stared at Alena, the message clear. Kye was prepared to wage war for the information Alena knew.
35
Brandt woke up with a splitting headache. The world seemed brighter than it should, light stabbing at his eyes as though it had a vendetta.
He closed his eyes and breathed deeply, focusing on the familiar sensation of breath moving down his throat and into his lungs. He was alive. The pain left no doubt of that. His last memories had been of the lightning striking the building, the incredible energies at play.
What had happened?
When he opened his eyes again, he saw that he was in his own room within the monastery. A tall cup of water sat near his bedside, which he eagerly sipped from.
The headache didn’t fade, but his vision returned to normal. He sat up, slowly, searching for the signals his body provided. Besides the drum pounding in his head, he felt fine. His limbs were a little stiff, but it felt more like the stiffness of a long sleep than the body trying to protect itself from injury.
He stood up, pleased to learn that he didn’t feel dizzy or otherwise unwell. He dressed in a fresh pair of monastic robes and slipped out into the day. The storm had passed, but it had left plenty of evidence of its passing. Several of the monastery’s buildings had sustained visible damage, from shattered walls to blackened stone. In all his life, Brandt had never seen anything like it.
He walked into the courtyard, surveying the damage. Most of the stone had been cleared, but the destruction hadn’t been repaired yet.
One of the other monks approached him. She gestured toward the main hall of the monastery. “The abbot requested we send you to her as soon as you awoke.”
Brandt nodded, taking one last look around. This wasn’t natural. He knew well the power of storms, but this was too focused, too intense.
“Is the emperor alive?” he asked.
The monk nodded. “And well. He will probably also want to see you when he learns you are awake.”
Brandt wasn’t sure what to make of that, but he wasn’t able to think too deeply about anything at the moment. He walked to the abbot’s study, knocking softly on her door and entering when invited.
Kyla looked haggard, as though she hadn’t slept in days.
“How do you feel?” she asked, ignoring the customary formalities.
“Well enough. I have a pounding headache.”
“Have one of the healers take another look at you after this.”
“I will. How long have I slept?”
“Not long, actually. It’s the morning after.”
That surprised him. Kyla must have made clearing the debris a priority if it was completed after a single morning. “What happened?”
“I could guess, but I’m not sure. The emperor knows more, but he isn’t saying. He’s been in meditation all morning.”
He frowned, confused by that.
Kyla noticed. “I don’t know how, exactly, but the line of Anders possesses gifts beyond my understanding. I’d heard rumors before, but this is the first I’ve seen of it. I hope to find out more soon.”
Brandt heard the edge in her voice. “What’s wrong?”
“Three monks died last night.”
The news struck Brandt like a hammer fist to the chest. “How?”
“One was hit on the head with a falling rock. Two others were struck by lightning as they raced across the courtyard. It’s the worst disaster the monasteries have ever experienced.”
Brandt didn’t know what to say. Words were empty.
He was saved by another knock on the door. Kyla welcomed the visitor, then stood abruptly when she saw who it was. Brandt turned to find the emperor standing there, and he stood up as well. Anders VI was accompanied by two guards, one of whom started when she found Kyla accompanied by another. But a flash of recognition soon followed, and the guard relaxed, even going so far as to offer Brandt a slight bow.
The emperor stepped inside and Brandt bowed deeply. He’d never been so close to the emperor in his life. Few in the empire had.
“This is the wolfblade who assisted my guards?”
Face to the floor, Brandt couldn’t see Kyla’s reaction.
“Sit down, then, and join us.”
Brandt froze for a moment. The offer broke every rule of etiquette drilled into him from the first day he entered the military. But even a polite suggestion from the emperor couldn’t be refused. Brandt came out of his bow, surprised to see the wry grin on the emperor’s face.
“How are you, soldier?”
Brandt stuttered. The emperor himself was speaking to him. “Fine, your imperial majesty.”
The emperor laughed. “In here, you can call me Hanns. There is no need for formality between us, in this moment.”
The emperor turned and focused on Kyla,
