And that was assuming they would even attack a group that Kye had joined.
“No,” he replied. “I’m afraid we’re on our own here.”
He saw her eyes widen at that, fear dancing in her gaze. He wouldn’t have blamed her if she turned and ran. Instead, she gulped and nodded.
A brave girl.
Brandt studied the gathering of warriors he now commanded. He knew Ana’s abilities nearly as well as he understood his own. He had some guess as to Azaleth’s, but Alena’s were a mystery. Commanding them with such limited knowledge begged for foolish mistakes.
They couldn’t die today. Not if they listened to him. He would make sure of it.
“I wish I knew what they were arguing about,” Brandt muttered to himself.
“The Lolani want directions to the gate, but Kye is refusing to tell them. He insists on taking them personally,” Alena answered.
Brandt glanced over at her. “You can hear them?”
She nodded. “Bits and pieces.”
“Anything else?”
She shook her head and nodded toward the invaders. “Kye just won the argument.”
The Lolani became a hive of activity, forming into a line with Kye at the lead. They set off to the north, toward higher elevations.
Brandt turned to Azaleth. “Can you track them?”
The young man nodded. Once the Lolani were safely out of sight, Azaleth advanced to where they had met with Kye, making a careful study of the ground. He gestured with Etari hand signs, which Alena interpreted. “He says to follow.”
“Remind him to stay out of sight,” Brandt ordered.
Alena gave him an incredulous look. “He knows.”
Brandt almost argued but bit his tongue. Azaleth’s youth and confidence worried him, reminded him too much of his younger self.
Then Azaleth was off, leading them on the trail the Lolani had left. Brandt didn’t like letting the Lolani have such a lead, but he didn’t know their destination. He had no choice but to follow and wait for an opportunity to attack. He hoped it wouldn’t come too late.
Their pursuit led them out of the woods and foothills surrounding Landow and climbed into the mountains. They hiked higher and higher, skirting around mountain lakes and fields of scree. Unfortunately, Brandt had no eye for the natural beauty that surrounded them. His only eye was for the Lolani. He kept asking Azaleth where he thought the invaders had gone, watching the terrain for places where he could rush ahead and set an ambush.
After a long, frustrating afternoon of hiking, Azaleth called them to a stop. The sun had already set behind the mountains, and while plenty of daylight remained, night was approaching. Brandt creeped forward to where Azaleth lay prone against the rocks. He pointed to the opening of a narrow valley ahead. Two Lolani were stationed there, keeping an eye on the surrounding area.
Brandt suspected the valley housed their final destination. The Lolani guarded the entrance.
He looked for any way to ambush them, finding nothing he liked. Only Azaleth’s caution approaching a small ridge had saved the group from discovery. The Lolani had a clear view for hundreds of paces. Brandt could attempt to surprise them a hundred times and fail every time.
There had to be a way.
He noticed movement beside him as Ana and Alena joined them. Together they took in the situation.
After a few moments, Alena spoke. “They’re too confident.”
Brandt turned to her, his expression inviting her to explain further.
“When I met them. They hold this land and all within it with contempt. They underestimate us.”
“How does that help us?”
“Send Azaleth. They won’t be expecting an Etari, and he isn’t dressed like one. They’ll let him get close enough, and he can kill them.”
Brandt gave her a skeptical look. “They aren’t easy to kill.”
“We know.”
He didn’t like it. He’d heard plenty of stories about Etari skill, but Brandt wasn’t about to risk the future of the empire on one foreigner he’d never seen fight before. This risk was his. “I’ll go,” he proclaimed.
He ignored the protestations of the group. This was his task, and he was somewhat confident he could kill both Lolani. He stood up, solving the problem for good.
The Lolani noticed him right away, turning toward him the same way a man might study an insect that had made its way indoors. Alena’s intuition was correct.
A heartbeat later, he heard the sound of footsteps behind him. He turned to see Azaleth there, a grin on his face. “Alena made me.”
Brandt cursed, but there was nothing for it now. Both of them had been seen. The Etari had used Brandt’s own strategy against him.
“Do you have a plan?” Azaleth asked.
“Get close and kill them.”
“I should be able to surprise one and kill him before they understand what’s happening. If I’m lucky, I can kill both, but it would help if I was within a hundred paces.”
Brandt glanced over, unable to hide his disbelief. “You’re sure of a kill within a hundred paces?”
“Yes. Unless they figure out what I am before I attack.”
Brandt’s confidence wasn’t as high as the young man’s, but they were committed now. He listened for the song of fire as he thumbed his sword loose of its sheath. If Azaleth attacked, Brandt would be right beside him.
Alena’s assessment of their confidence held. If the Lolani had the ability to call for the others, they made no use of it.
When they were within a hundred paces, Azaleth fished around the pouch that hung from his belt. He glanced at Brandt, who nodded.
Brandt didn’t see Azaleth’s attack. He thought he saw something small hovering in the air next to the young man, but then he blinked and it was gone. He glanced over toward the Lolani in time to see one of the warriors collapse.
Brandt turned back to Azaleth, his mind searching for an explanation of what
