When they reached the gate, they encountered their first problem. In Alena’s experience, passing through the gate was rarely difficult. The empire hadn’t been at war in generations, and with safe passage almost guaranteed throughout the empire, there was little reason to guard the gates.
Either something had happened or traditions had changed since she had lived here. Many guards watched the gates, and everyone coming in or out endured severe scrutiny. Alena could enter without problem, but Azaleth was another matter. They retreated a ways to decide their strategy.
He could pull out his red cloak and pretend to be a trader passing through. But a lone Etari was incredibly uncommon. Azaleth would invite more questions and suspicion than they wanted.
Alena directed them to a small food stall outside the gates. They found seats and replenished their stomachs while she decided what to do. As she did, she studied the gates and the walls. If necessary, they could try to find a way over the top at night, as she had so long before. But the walls looked more heavily guarded than in the past.
Her watchful eye revealed several details as they ate. Most of the guards on the wall seemed bored. Even though there were many of them, most weren’t paying close attention to their duties. Some talked freely, only sparing the occasional glance at the land surrounding them. Others stared off into the distance, slack expressions painted on their faces.
The guards at the gate suffered from similar maladies. Their examinations were thorough, enough so Alena was certain she couldn’t bring Azaleth through without arousing suspicion. But the guards performed their duties without enthusiasm.
It all felt to her as though the guard had been increased, but wasn’t given any specific reason to care.
Only one pair of guards seemed an exception to the rule. One man and one woman stood over the gates, their expressions serious. They exchanged occasional words, but they watched the road with sharp, unrelenting gazes.
She squinted, trying to make out their features. The man, at least, appeared familiar to her. But where had she seen him before? She hadn’t known many city guards when she lived here. She spent most of her time trying to avoid their attention.
The guard shifted his weight, and something about the way the sunlight hit his face triggered her memory.
Sergeant Brandt.
But it couldn’t be. The last time she saw him, he had wandered away. And he had been a wolfblade, not a member of the city guard.
She rubbed at her eyes and looked again. Perhaps she was only seeing what she wished to.
But the more she looked, the more convinced she was. The man standing guard over the gate was Brandt, the same man she had worked with so many years ago.
Alena couldn’t even begin to guess how he had ended up as a guard for Landow, but the only way she would find out was by asking him. Perhaps he was their way into town.
She turned her full attention to him. While the other guards simply did their duty, Brandt’s full attention was focused on the road and the people entering and leaving. He was looking for someone, or something. He knew more than the guards.
Did he know about the Lolani?
It was another question only he could answer.
She finally ended her study of the wall, unsurprised to see that Azaleth had eaten not just his food, but most of hers as well. She glared at him, but his only response was to smile.
“I need to go into town on my own. Will you remain in the area for the rest of the day?” Now that they were in public, they had switched back to imperial, the language feeling strange on Alena’s tongue.
“Do I have much choice?”
“Not if you want me to come back for you.”
“Then here I’ll remain.”
Alena ate what little Azaleth had left, then walked toward the gate. She endured a few questions, the most interesting of which was the guards asking if she had seen anyone unusual on the road. Landow was searching for someone, but who?
Then she was through, returned to her home without a note of fanfare. She stood on the other side of the gates, nearly wrecked by memories. How many times had she run along these roofs, her youthful rebellion now a shallow and meaningless act?
A dozen desires pulled at her. She should visit her father’s smithy, or the academy. She would even be interested in seeing what happened to Bayt’s shop.
She should go home.
Soon, she would do all those things. But none of them would matter if she didn’t stop the Lolani.
Alena found a place within the walls where she could keep an eye on Brandt and his companion. They held their posts as the afternoon wore on, only surrendering them as evening approached.
Following them felt like a return to her childhood. How often had she wandered these streets on Bayt’s behalf, following strangers to discover what information they hid? Today she kept to the streets, waiting until they were alone to call for him.
“Sergeant Brandt.”
They both turned at the mention of his name. When he saw her, his face was blank. But he and his companion waited for her to reach them.
Alena studied Brandt carefully. His face remained neutral but open. He didn’t recognize her. She stopped about two paces from the pair. “You don’t remember me, do you?”
He frowned, his eyes narrowing. “I don’t.”
“We worked together, many years ago. I was helping you find out what happened to the wolfblades who died here.” Her own voice sounded awkward, but she didn’t know what else to say. She wasn’t sure what had
