The Gates of Memory

by Ryan Kirk

  In a moment they were in the ruins of the town. Thanks to Sheren’s re-creation, Alena saw both the extent of the ruin and the affection with which Sheren looked upon the broken city. Decay wore at every building, but the woman felt safe here. This was home.

  Alena saw glimpses of faces, ghostly images that came and went as Sheren mentally introduced her friends.

  The Falari soulwalker wasn’t showing her everything. Alena felt the absence, the deliberate withholding of information. If she desired, she could force the woman to reveal what she hid. Now that they were in contact, Alena could feel how much her own power surpassed that of the Falari.

  But she held that action in reserve. If the need arose, a mental assault was possible, but Alena didn’t believe the woman withheld the information out of malice. The wall around the information seemed more the result of nervousness or fear.

  A moment later, they returned. Alena came out of the soulwalk, now certain of her actions. “We should follow her.”

  Jace wasn’t so easily convinced. “Are you sure?”

  “Mostly. I am convinced that she doesn’t mean us harm.”

  “Good enough for me,” Toren said.

  Jace still hesitated. Alena didn’t push him. It was difficult to choose between his desire to protect her and his trust of his sister’s wisdom. She also knew how much he wanted to avoid conflict right now. Finally, he sheathed his sword. Alena knew he wouldn’t relax, but she was grateful she didn’t have to argue with him.

  She stepped in front of Jace and approached Sheren. “What is it that you’re hiding?”

  Alena imagined Jace behind her, tensing up again. But he wouldn’t go back on his decision now, which was why she had waited to ask Sheren the question.

  Sheren grimaced, hesitated, then stared at the ground. “You should know one thing about the town before you arrive.”

  She kicked at the ground, seeming much younger than her age.

  Then she took a deep breath and looked up at them.

  “It’s haunted by ghosts.”

  33

  Brandt expected to wait in the antechamber until a decision was reached, but Ren laughed when he heard the idea. “The elders have the knowledge they seek. Now their debate will begin in earnest. You are welcome to wait, if you wish, but it is not expected, and starvation is a very real possibility.”

  “Just how long will it take?” Brandt asked.

  “As long as is needed. For a decision of this importance, I expect we will not hear from the elders until tomorrow at the earliest.”

  Brandt grimaced. That was a long time to sit with the knowledge of his mistake, a long time to worry that his lies had doomed their endeavor.

  They followed Ren up the passages that led them back to their rooms. Brandt felt Ana’s stare burrowing into the back of his head the entire way. A fight was brewing, and Ana only waited until they had four walls surrounding them to contain her fury.

  Ren must have sensed something of Ana’s mood, because he left them at the door to their quarters and retreated as though before a wave of advancing enemies. The swordsman was wise.

  Less than a heartbeat passed between Brandt shutting the door and Ana turning on him. Her command came out low, as though worried that if she let any more emotion out she would explode. “Explain.”

  Brandt had known the question was coming, and he’d spent much of the walk back to their room working out his own confused feelings. “I believed I was telling the truth.”

  The explanation didn’t satisfy her. She kept pacing, her stare locked on his face.

  “The elders asked if I would accept the gate if they offered it to me. I said no. And I thought that was the truth. I don’t want to interfere with Hanns and his plans.”

  “And yet Ren says that you lied.”

  Brandt collapsed into one of the chairs in the room, unwilling to meet Ana’s stare. “I know.”

  Silence greeted his answer.

  “I didn’t think that I wanted the gate. I know how important it is to Hanns, and to the empire. If Hanns needs the gate to stop the queen, it has to go to him.”

  Ana caught the tone in his voice. After their years together, what could he hide from her? “But?”

  “But I do think about what having that power would be like. Did you know that Kyla said that if we met on equal footing, I might be stronger than the emperor?”

  Ana’s pacing stopped. “And you think that if you were offered control of a gate, you might be able to do more than him, don’t you?”

  The idea sounded harsh when she said it. But the words were true. “It’s occurred to me.”

  “Brandt!”

  The confession halfway made, he stood back up. If he couldn’t convince Ana, who would believe him? “It’s something to consider, Ana! I like Hanns, and I believe he has the best intentions for the empire, but what if trusting him with these gates is a mistake? What if I could do more? We need to at least ask, right?”

  “The emperor is in control of two gates, and he’s spent his lifetime training in their use. Do you truly believe you could do more with one against the queen?”

  “I don’t know! But I can’t say ‘no’ for sure, either.”

  Ana continued pacing, but she no longer stared at him. Brandt felt the need to keep explaining. “I’m not going to attempt to control the gate. Yes, I do wonder if we’re taking the right action, but I also believe that Hanns does have the greatest opportunity to defeat the queen.”

  Ana groaned. “It’s not about the gate, Brandt. Honestly, I don’t much care who controls it right now.”

  “What—?” Brandt was too confused to even figure out how to finish the question.

  “It’s about you.”

  She stopped pacing and stood across from him. “First you wanted Alena to teach you how to soulwalk so you could use the deaths of others to advance your own power. Now you’re thinking about what you could do with the abilities of a gate behind you. Don’t you see?” When she saw the confusion on his face, she spelled it out for him. “Your desire to grow stronger is turning into a dangerous obsession.”

  “I’m only obsessed with beating the queen and protecting the empire.”

  “Truly? Because you never consider alternatives. You only volunteered to train soldiers around Highkeep because you felt guilty you weren’t doing your part. Every effort you’ve taken has focused only on your own strength. Perhaps it started with pure intent, but I’m not so sure anymore.”

  Brandt wasn’t sure how to answer, but Ana didn’t provide him the space to do so. “I accepted it earlier. I’ve not met the queen, but I hear the fear in your voice when you speak of her. I hoped perhaps you would find a way to defeat her. I believed in you.”

  “You don’t anymore?”

  “I want to.”

  The loss of her faith made him feel as though he stood on shifting sands. He’d come to take her presence and her support for granted. Even when they’d argued, he’d trusted that she would aid him. He sat down, shaken.

  He heard her words and grasped their meaning, yet they weren’t true. She didn’t understand the threat the Lolani queen posed. He didn’t like considering some of these options, but they were absolutely necessary if he was going to beat the queen.

  She needed to believe in him.

  Like Ren did.

  He thought back to the short time they had spent together in the chamber of the elders. Ren had watched him lie, yet he still stood behind Brandt and proclaimed his loyalty to the other warrior. Ren told the elders he would be honored to fight by his side.

  Two strong reactions clashed within Brandt. The first was the familiar glow of pride and satisfaction. He’d earned the trust of a warrior of quality. Even with his lies on display, Ren stood by him.

  Which made Ana’s betrayal cut all the deeper. If anyone was supposed to understand him, was supposed to support him through his failures, it was Ana.

  Some small part of him wanted to yell at her, to accuse her of bet
raying him, but he recognized the impulse as immature. She was his wife. They had fought together and lived together for years. Her doubt wasn’t something to criticize, but to prove incorrect. “How do I gain your trust again?”

  She shook her head. “I suppose leaving this all behind is out of the question?”

  He kept his tone light to match hers. “We’re a ways from putting this behind us, I’m afraid.”

  “Then I don’t know. I’ll fight for you, Brandt, but consider everything. We need to defeat the queen, and even if I don’t understand her power the same way you do, I have an idea what it must take for you to fear her as you do. I just don’t want to lose you, not to her, and not to a quest for the strength to defeat her.”

  He nodded, and they left their argument at that. Shortly thereafter, Ana left, claiming the need for a long walk. Brandt let her go alone.

  Ren’s prediction turned out to be accurate. He came to them the next afternoon, and when Ana opened the door for him, he studied them inquisitively.

  “I didn’t hurt him,” Ana said.

  “I’m relieved,” Ren said.

  “And I appreciate what you did for me in that chamber, Ren. I’m sorry I didn’t understand earlier,” Brandt added.

  “I only spoke the truth. Though we may not agree, I think I understand what drives you, and I would fight by your side.”

  Brandt resisted the urge to glare at Ana, strong as it was. “Have the elders decided?”

  “I believe they have. Both you and Regar have been summoned.”

  “May I accompany you?” Ana asked.

  “Of course,” Ren answered.

  Brandt wasn’t sure if Ana wanted to join because she didn’t trust him, or if it was because she wanted to show her support. He supposed that no matter the reason, he was grateful for her company. Their relationship had been tense for the past day, but not unkind.

  Once again they made their journey deep into the heart of the mountain. Brandt was proud that he was able to keep track of the twists and turns, and was now confident he could find his way to the chamber again if he needed to.

  As before, they met Regar in the antechamber. The prince looked to be in good spirits. Brandt wished he felt even a fraction as confident.

  Once Brandt and Ana arrived, the doors opened, preventing any discussion. Brandt and Regar were invited in. Again, Ana remained outside. The two men entered, taking positions upon the circles carved within the center of the room.

  The voices returned, again sounding closer than they should. The elders wasted no time. “We have listened to your request and discussed it, Prince Regar. We find it wanting.”

  Brandt opened his mouth to reply, to argue that his own lies shouldn’t reflect poorly on Regar’s request. But the prince spoke faster, and he sounded as though he’d expected nothing different. “Is there nothing I may do to strengthen my argument?”

  Another voice answered. “It is possible that we grant your father use of our gate. That, at least, hasn’t been decided. But to make such a decision, we must speak directly to him, here in this room. His youngest son isn’t sufficient.”

  “You ask much, given the hostilities between our people.” Regar said.

  “As you ask much from us. The terms of the treaty have held. The emperor would be welcome in these lands.”

  Brandt clamped his jaw shut. The elder didn’t lie. The treaty, written and signed by Anders I and the leaders of the Etari and Falari, had held. The Falari never raided with numbers greater than those stipulated by the treaty. But the lack of outright war wasn’t the same as peace. Every soldiering instinct he possessed shouted at the foolishness of bringing the emperor here. The danger of the journey alone was too much to risk, especially with so much riding on the emperor’s life. But it wasn’t his place to speak.

  “If it is my father’s presence you wish, I can have him here by nightfall.”

  Brandt’s eyes went wide and he stared at Regar. That couldn’t be true.

  The elders seemed to think so, as well. The room lit up as the circles underneath each elder flickered intensely. A chorus of voices greeted the announcement.

  Regar stood tall and silent, an immovable pillar of confidence. Brandt suspected he and Hanns, if they hadn’t predicted this exactly, had at least considered it as a possibility. As Regar had confessed earlier, his father was exceedingly clever.

  One voice silenced the others. “How would this be done?”

  “Through the gate.” Regar held up his hand to quell another outburst of defiant exclamations. “The technique doesn’t require me to control the gate. I just need to be in contact with it. Anders VI has learned how to travel from one gate to the next. He can be here not long after I reach the gate.”

  Another commotion. Brandt forced down a smile. Regar had kicked a hornet’s nest and now stood confidently in a maelstrom of angry voices. A moment later they were ushered into the antechamber to await a decision.

  Brandt turned to Regar as the doors closed. “You expected that, didn’t you?”

  Regar’s smiled echoed Brandt’s feelings. “We considered it a distinct possibility.”

  Brandt explained to Ana.

  “It’s true?” Ana asked Regar.

  “Yes. Thanks to the gate outside Landow, we were able to understand how it is done. Olen, my father, and I have all stepped through. It’s not a pleasant experience, but the technique works.”

  Deep under the mountain, Brandt had no good idea of how much time had passed, but it didn’t seem long before the doors opened and Brandt and Regar were invited in again.

  They were barely standing in their circles before an elder spoke. “It is decided. You will bring the emperor here.” The statement was issued with a sense of finality.

  “If I may?” Regar asked.

  “Speak.”

  “I can bring the emperor here tonight, but the effects of travel are disorienting. I will ask that you not summon him here, to this room, until tomorrow morning, or even the day after, if that is acceptable.”

  There was no discussion. The same elder spoke. “It is agreed. Now go. You will be escorted to the gate. Try nothing more than you have said.”

  Regar nodded. “I will bring Anders VI here. You have my word.”

  34

  Sheren led the small party through dense pine forest, their path snaking around densly packed trees. The woods were quiet, with even their footsteps muffled. Alena knew it was just her imagination, but the space certainly felt haunted to her.

  Ghosts were a subject she’d never thought much about. She’d heard countless stories over the years, but none convinced her. If soulwalking had taught her anything, it was that some part of them existed past death. She knew the gates were real and she knew they led someplace else. But what lay beyond them she didn’t know. She supposed if the gate to eternity was real, it stood to follow ghosts probably were as well.

  Still, the rational part of her mind rebelled at the thought. Ghost stories, in her opinion, either served as nothing more than cheap entertainment or an explanation for an unpleasant or unlucky event. No one with any wisdom believed in them.

  Yet Sheren was a talented soulwalker, and she believed.

  Their guide’s lack of further information encouraged Alena’s own curiosity. In her experience, those who believed in ghosts would speak endlessly about ghosts if given half the chance. Sheren didn’t say more, answering the few questions they asked with a simple “wait and see” answer.

  The woods became less dense as they came into the valley where Sheren’s village was located. In time, the trees abruptly ended, the advance of the forest stymied by axes and the need for firewood.

  Alena’s third viewing of the village left her just as disappointed as the first two. Holes of varying sizes had been punched in the walls of homes, but from this closer distance she saw some of the holes had been boarded up. There were people still trying to make a living here, though they hid from sight.

  They came to a wide st
ream, the water rushing quickly. Once, a stone bridge had spanned the stream, but the center had collapsed, leaving only the abutments. A narrow wooden plank had been laid across the remains and Sheren crossed it with the confidence of frequent practice. Jace followed, his own well-trained balance serving him admirably.

  Toren indicated that she should go next.

  Shaking her head, she stepped out onto the crossing. The board bent under her weight and she swore she felt the vibration caused by the river’s current through the board. Two more steps and the board bowed more under her weight, flexing with her steps.

  She did fine until she looked down. The drop itself didn’t scare her, but the rushing water directly beneath her disoriented her sense of balance.

  “Alena,” Jace said.

  She looked up. Jace stood on the other end of the bridge, his hand extended. Focusing on him helped her find her balance. She stepped quickly, grabbing his outstretched hand and allowing him to help her cross the last few paces.

  Toren followed, having none of the trouble she had. A flush of shame rose in her cheeks, and she silently promised that she would practice her martial forms with renewed vigor.

  The edge of the village was less than fifty paces from the bridge. Up close, Alena realized just how vertically the village had been built. Homes appeared to spread up rather than out. She supposed with limited space and plentiful stone, the decision made perfect sense.

  Closer now, the village didn’t just suffer from damage, but from decay. It was more difficult to tell with stone, but the buildings appeared old. Alena wouldn’t have any trouble believing they were older than the empire.

  Storm clouds darkened the sky. Alena watched them for several heartbeats, feeling the change of the air on her exposed arms. Sheren’s offer of shelter appeared well-timed.

  Sheren led them deeper into town. The holes weren’t just in the buildings, but in the streets as well. Alena knelt down to examine one, surprised by its depth.