Ana didn’t care. Her eyes were focused entirely on him. “Do you really believe that the fate of the empire rests on your shoulders?”
Brandt hesitated.
She nodded, as though his silence answered her question well enough. “You’re a student of war, Brandt. How often does a single warrior change the outcome of a battle?”
“All the time.” The answer sounded weak, even to him.
“Nonsense. We may pick out stories of individuals, but a battle never relies on just one person. You know this. The empire won’t rise or fall based on your own strength.”
“But if I’m stronger I can better protect the people I love—”
“No.” She stepped closer to him. “Don’t use me as justification for something you want. I’ve fought for myself my entire life.”
Brandt flinched back, surprised by Ana’s vehemence. They’d spent the better part of a decade training together, seeking more strength together. She’d always sought to improve, just like him. He thought she’d be excited to learn of Alena’s breakthrough.
Ana took one step closer, bringing them together. She held his hands. “Will you promise me you won’t learn that technique?”
Brandt wanted to promise. He saw the depth of Ana’s conviction. And he hated to hurt her. But he didn’t agree, and he refused to lie. “I will think on what you’ve said.”
It was the best he could offer.
Ana held his gaze for another moment. He wasn’t sure exactly what she was searching for, but she didn’t find it. She stepped away from him, and together they drifted back toward the rest of the column.
Brandt searched for something he could say that would make her feel better. But every option was a lie. So he gave her space.
When they returned to the column, he excused himself. Ana’s emotions rolled off her, making Brandt uncomfortable. He wandered toward the front of the line, seeking Regar and Ren. It wasn’t just a technique for surpassing the cost that Alena had discussed. Her concerns about the gates needed to be raised to Regar.
When he reached the pair of leaders they were discussing various paths through the mountains. Brandt listened with interest. From the sound of it, paths crisscrossed Falar in every direction. What the land lacked in paved roads it more than made up for with options. Ren listed three or four different paths. Some were longer, others involved more altitude changes, and two ran through territory of unfriendly warleaders. No path came without challenges.
Regar glanced over at Brandt. “Do you have an opinion?”
Brandt shook his head. “This isn’t my land. I trust Ren to guide us by the path he seems best.”
Regar agreed. “Then it’s settled. We place the choosing of our path in your hands, Ren.”
The swordsman didn’t seem disappointed in the result. He excused himself to walk ahead, to pass new instructions onto the scouts.
Once they were relatively alone, Brandt told Regar about his conversation. Regar listened intently.
“You say this woman has the ability to work with the gates?”
“She does. Outside Landow she saved my life. And she was instrumental in our last fight against the queen.”
Regar looked discomfited by the knowledge. When he saw that Brandt noticed, he explained. “The gates are incredibly powerful. My father’s training has drilled that into me. It makes me uncomfortable to know someone is playing with one.”
“She’s not playing, and she, more than most, understands how dangerous they are.”
“Does she? If she truly did she wouldn’t be anywhere near a gate. Even my father only approaches his when absolutely necessary.”
Brandt conceded that point. “Is she right to worry?”
Regar shrugged. “I don’t know. For all my training, your friend apparently has more direct experience than me.”
Brandt thought he caught a hint of jealousy in the prince’s voice. “Is there a way to make your father aware?”
“It sounds like she’s already tried.”
“It might have more weight, coming from you.”
Regar shook his head. “Perhaps, but I have no way of reaching out to my father. We do not share this bond you and Alena do. It sounds as though we should explore it. The use of communication over distance would revolutionize warfare.”
Brandt had thought the same. But it required soulwalkers, an affinity most imperial citizens didn’t even know existed. No doubt, they could be found and trained, but it would take precious time.
They rode together for a while, Regar lost in his own thoughts. One seemed to worry him most of all, though. Eventually he turned to Brandt to ask his question. “Your friend, Alena, is she trustworthy? She dabbles with forces even my father fears.”
Brandt considered the question. Alena had been thrust onto this path as a thief. She was clever and skilled. But her past still troubled him at times.
“I do. She’s young, but I would put my life in her hands.”
Regar nodded. “I’m glad to hear that.”
But his voice lacked conviction.
Brandt put it aside. He was surprised Hanns hadn’t mentioned Alena at some point to Regar, but he couldn’t presume to know the emperor’s mind.
Not long after, Ren came running up to them in a hurry. He looked concerned.
“I apologize, Regar, but it appears your journey to the elders will be more eventful than I’d expected.”
“How so?”
“Our scouts report a war party in our path.”
“Hostile?” the prince asked.
“I don’t know. Their warleader doesn’t proclaim his beliefs as loudly as most do.”
“They’re on the path?”
“They are. Our scouts haven’t seen any enemies waiting in ambush, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a trap. We can either ride toward them or we can take another path.”
“How large is their party?”
“Visible? About the size of ours.”
Regar nodded. Behind them, the entire column had come to a halt. Regar stood in silence, considering his options. “Lead me to them.”
Ren kept his facial expressions neutral, but he seemed pleased. It seemed the prince was winning over their
