“Because my character is a reflection of Regar’s?”
Both his friends nodded.
The idea didn’t sit well with him. “He could have just asked.”
“There are times when speaking isn’t nearly enough,” Leana said. “The only way to truly know a person is to fight them.”
Brandt nodded. That, at least, was a philosophy he’d espoused for many years.
Strangely, at that moment he felt more at home here than he did in the empire. He was fond of his fellow monks and admired their dedication to their development, but they were a small part of the larger empire. Most citizens never fought for anything. They never risked their lives or livelihood for anything.
Brandt heard the echoes of Regar’s arguments in his own thoughts. For the first time, he understood. Perhaps Falar had something to teach them.
“So Merek and his clan have joined us? It’s that simple?” Brandt was still confused on that point.
Ren laughed. “It’s never simple, Brandt. Merek leads a mountain tribe. They are more nomadic and keep closer to the old ways than we do. Regar’s arrival couldn’t have come at a more challenging time for our people. We are split between the old ways and the desire for change. Merek has kept his own thoughts and intentions well-hidden over the years.”
Leana jumped in. “He hasn’t been willing to commit to either cause. He sees strengths and faults in both approaches. But the matter must be decided.”
“What matter?” Brandt asked.
The two warriors glanced at each other, as though wondering if the other would speak first. Eventually, Ren answered. “Whether we should seek peace with the empire or invade it.”
26
Although Alena understood the importance of haste, she couldn’t leave Etar without exploring the gate one last time. Answers hid within the object, knowledge that had been buried for generations.
When Alena asked for permission, Dunne’s uncertainty was evident. Certainly the elders worried Alena might not obey their commands regarding control of the gate.
And Alena was tempted.
Command of a gate opened up possibilities of tremendous power. Hanns’ desire was one she understood. She could help in the fight against the queen and she could pull enough power to ensure the Etari gatestones never failed in her lifetime. Controlling the gate solved several of her problems.
On her own, the temptation might have been too great. But she wouldn’t disobey the Etari elders. She owed them too much.
Dunne, at least, trusted her enough to connect again with the gate. The elder reluctantly gave Alena permission to explore the gate one more time. Alena swore she wouldn’t disappoint Dunne.
She and Toren woke early the next morning. Accompanied by Jace, they made their way to the center tent. A now-familiar twisting sensation in Alena’s stomach told her the gate had just failed. This close, she didn’t even have to use her gatestone to know.
After perhaps a dozen heartbeats, the sensation faded. Alena connected with her gatestone to confirm. The gate had resumed working.
That, at least, was one worry off her shoulders. In her time here, the gate didn’t fail often. At most, maybe once or twice a day. She and Toren would be safe to explore for a while.
The process of connecting with the gate was almost familiar to her now. She didn’t hurry, despite her eagerness.
She escorted Toren to a safe place, as usual, taking the form of the plains beyond the sea. His growing comfort with the gate helped. Soon, maybe, she would take him deeper, if more opportunities came. But for now he anchored her. His curiosity and desire to go deeper were apparent, but he accepted his role without complaint.
After he wished her luck, Alena dropped deeper into the limitless power of the gate. Again, energy threatened to rip her limb from limb. She still fought the instinct to control. Muscle by muscle she relaxed her body, and in time, the feeling of being filled beyond bursting passed.
The vast web of interdependency formed around her. She floated within it, giving her mind time to come to terms with the flood of information pouring into her. Her reactions seemed a bit faster than before. Perhaps it was illusion, or perhaps her mind was learning to navigate this space. She hoped for the latter.
The representation of the gate stood before her, bright yet insubstantial. She drifted closer, studying it.
The temptation to dive deeper still nearly overpowered her. But she waited and observed.
The gate shifted in front of her as her mind wrestled with concepts beyond her understanding. At times she saw the diamond structure of the gate. At other times she thought she noticed something underneath, a latticework of indescribable complexity.
Alena drifted closer, careful not to interact directly with it. The latticework resolved as she focused, countless tiny threads woven and knotted in a pattern that remained just outside her understanding.
Ever so slowly, she ran her eyes up and down the lattice. It was a soulwork, but more. It seemed to include threads of the other elements as well. The barrier at the border looked like a child’s craft in comparison. If this was the work of those who came before, what else had they been capable of, and why had they disappeared?
Abruptly, the pattern changed. She squinted, unsure of what had shifted. Carefully she ran her eyes back and the pattern returned to familiarity.
Alena focused on the change. The pattern of the gate remained, but threads had been woven on top.
She frowned. The new threads were intricate, but not of the same quality of the gate itself. With a start, she realized they’d been added later.
“I’m impressed.”
The voice came from behind her, and Alena lost all focus. The latticework disappeared, replaced by the diamond exterior of the gate. Alena spun around, but in this space it turned into more of a slow twirl. She saw nothing.
“Relax. Focus on me here.”
This time, it sounded like the voice came from in front of her. Alena focused on where she believed the voice had come from.
Just as the latticework resolved itself before her attention, a figure slowly began
