“That is a story we do know.” Dunne fixed her with a piercing stare. “A soulwalker shattered it.”
Alena’s breath caught in her throat. “Who?”
“A woman named Zolene. An Etari.”
“You had Etari soulwalkers?”
“Her generation was the last, but yes.”
“That’s why you detest us.”
Yes. “Among other reasons.”
“What happened?”
“Zolene was the greatest soulwalker the Etari ever produced. Stories of her abilities are still passed among the elders as a warning. But she was disciplined and Etari to her very heart. She served the people.”
Dunne paused to sip at her own tea. “This was over two hundred years ago, but rumor reached us of a man growing in power, a man to the east bringing one fiefdom after another to their knees.”
“Anders I,” Alena whispered.
“Yes. The other elders thought little of the trouble, for it didn’t concern us. But Zolene alone argued against the prevailing wisdom. She claimed Anders I had awakened a power long dormant. A power that would change everything.”
Some of the mystery began to clear. “He discovered how to use the gates.”
Yes. “At the time, Cardon didn’t exist. This land was considered sacred. We had our stories of the gate, but none attempted to harness its power.”
Alena had some idea where this was going. “And Zolene wished to do so.”
“She did. Through the gate she was the one who placed the working on the border, the one who taught us how to sense disturbances within it. Then one day, without explanation, she ran to the gate and embraced it. The stories say she stood there for three full days. The gate glowed brighter than the sun and burned any who came close. But she remained.
“And on the third day observers reported that the earth and sky tore open. What was left was a shattered gate. Some of Zolene’s pupils realized some small power of the gate could be channeled through the debris. It was their last gift to the people. The elders determined that from that day the practice of soulwalking was too dangerous to practice.”
Alena considered the story. In her own history lessons, teachers said that Anders had never found the Etari land valuable enough to conquer. But Dunne’s stories implied a different truth. Perhaps Zolene had beaten him in a battle between their gates.
“What about Zolene?”
“She was never seen again. Her body wasn’t found, but no one close to that disaster could have survived.”
Every answer unveiled another mystery.
But her course was clear. The Etari relied on their gatestones. If the gate failed, the Etari would struggle to defend themselves against an attack. If the Lolani came again, the Etari would be overrun. “I’d like to continue working with the gate.”
Sooni looked pleased to hear it, but Dunne less so. “Are you certain that’s wise? The gate, even shattered, is not an object to take lightly.”
“I don’t. But if I give up, I fear your gatestones will fail. If I can prevent that, I will.”
Dunne stared at her for several long moments. “Then continue. Speak with me after every attempt, even if little happens. I want to know everything.”
“I will.”
Sooni and Dunne stood up and left together. They weren’t more than a few steps out the door when Jace turned angrily on her. “Why would you do that?”
She held up a hand to stall him. “I’m the only one who can help.”
“But you’re risking your life for the Etari!”
Alena answered his outbursts with quiet certitude. “I know.”
They glared at each other, but Jace broke first. “We should leave. This isn’t our problem.”
Alena stepped closer to him and grabbed his hand. “They are my family, too. Do you understand what that means to me?”
He took a deep, shuddering breath. “I do.”
“Then I need your support. This is hard enough as it is.”
Jace looked up, determination in his gaze. “You want me to anchor you again?”
She could tell how much he feared the idea, but she also knew he would volunteer without a second thought.
She shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
Alena saw relief and wounded pride war on his face.
“Whatever is happening inside that gate is powerful. You got a taste of what I felt today. In time, I think I can defend against it. But you can’t. And if I make a mistake, I will not let our parents lose both their children.”
“Don’t talk like that.”
“I’m being pragmatic.”
Beside them, Toren spoke up. “I’ll do it.”
They stopped in mid-argument, glancing over at the Etari soulwalker. Alena was ashamed to realize she’d forgotten he was there.
Alena weighed her options. Though they hadn’t known each other long, she trusted Toren. He didn’t speak much, but his words were earnest. Having another soulwalker might be a great help. It wasn’t like she knew what she was doing.
Alena stopped Jace from protesting again. “Jace, I know. I do. But your skills and ability are in this world. Will you protect my body when we visit the gate again?”
She’d been expecting him to struggle, but she was surprised how hard he wrestled with the problem. Finally, he acquiesced.
With that settled, Alena turned to Toren. “Get your rest. Tomorrow morning we’re going to attempt the gate again.”
19
After the board game, the Falari provided a meal to the visiting warriors. As Brandt and Ana finished their final scraps, the swordsman who had dueled Regar the day before came to join them. “Regar claims you two are the strongest warriors who joined him on this journey.”
“He is kind to say so,” Ana replied.
“Would you do me the honor of training with me this afternoon?”
Brandt, suspecting a trap, shook his head. “We are honored by your invitation, but no steel is to be drawn in this town.”
Ren didn’t relent. “The prohibition doesn’t apply to practice weapons. If it eases your mind, we can speak to Weylen before.”
On another day Brandt might have resisted longer, but this, at least, was something he could do. They did speak with Regar and Weylen, seated together near the head of the table. Both
