The Gates of Memory

by Ryan Kirk

  Sheren interrupted before Alena could answer. “You’re traveling to Faldun?”

  “We are,” Alena said.

  “If you help me, I will show you a faster route. It will cut days off your travel.”

  Alena gave Jace a satisfied look. He shook his head. “It’s still dangerous.”

  “So is an unescorted trip to Faldun,” Sheren argued. “The war parties are more active than they have been in some time. You’re safe here, but as you get closer to Faldun, the more Falari you’ll run into. I can help you avoid most of them, and can help you negotiate with other war parties.”

  Sheren didn’t completely convince Jace, but she made their reasons for remaining compelling enough to justify Alena’s decision.

  After the meal, Sheren, Alena, and Toren soulwalked together. Alena tried to dissuade Toren, but he eagerly sought any opportunity to learn more. In that, he reminded her of herself. She was loath to admit it, but she appreciated his presence. He, at least, was familiar, and she trusted him.

  They appeared in the village, richly detailed thanks to Sheren’s memories.

  It didn’t take them long to spot their first ghost. The village, nearly abandoned in the physical world, teemed with life in this one. Alena watched, enraptured. Here, the ghosts appeared as real and as solid as Toren. But at the same time, something was missing. Some worked endlessly at tasks, digging in gardens or nursing children. Others wandered, their eyes fixed on distant horizons.

  “Why so many?” Toren asked.

  “They used to live here, and many of them died in an attack. Ghosts are nothing more than souls that don’t find the gate. Why they didn’t, I’m not sure.” Sheren’s frustration expressed itself in every one of her words.

  “Why do you want to help them?” Alena asked.

  “They deserve better than this,” Sheren said. “Death is natural. But they haven’t completed the journey.”

  Out of curiosity, Alena reached out and touched a ghost, her hand resting on his shoulder. She fell deeper into the soulwalk, finding herself in a familiar and terrifying place.

  An endless void.

  Alena forced herself to breathe evenly. She searched for the threads tying her to the worlds she knew. It took time, but she felt the faint thread of her bond with Jace. She pulled on it and returned to the village, surrounded by ghosts.

  Another ghost stepped by her and she flinched, not wanting to return to that void. Sheren was right. The ghosts needed to find the gate.

  “What of the creature?” she asked.

  “I don’t sense it. You’ll know when it nears. It warps the world around it.”

  “Then let’s get these ghosts to the gate.”

  “How?” Sheren asked.

  “I’m not sure. But I’m going to try something. When you see it, don’t get too close,” Alena warned. “It pulls at you.”

  She closed her eyes, imagining the gate, from the details of its construction to the way it made her feel. And then she imagined it standing in the main square of the village.

  Sheren’s sharp intake of breath was evidence enough she had succeeded.

  She opened her eyes to see the gate standing there. Already, ghosts had turned toward it, some of them breaking patterns of action they had been trapped in for lifetimes. Alena saw the desire in their eyes.

  Toren, too, succumbed to its pull. Of the three of them, he was closest. Alena jogged to him and pulled him away. As she did, his eyes cleared and he shook his head, nodding a silent thanks.

  From somewhere far away, something roared, shaking the trees.

  “That’s the creature,” Sheren said.

  “You two make sure the ghosts pass through,” Alena said. “I’ll hold the creature off.”

  “Alena, don’t!” Sheren warned. “The creature is too powerful. Help us usher the ghosts, and when the creature gets close, we’ll come out of the soulwalk. It’s the only way to be safe. Trust me, I’ve tried.”

  Toren chuckled. “She’s not going to listen.”

  Alena didn’t. She turned toward the sound of the monster, then dashed forward. In this world she could become as light as her imagination would allow, and she skipped across the ground faster than any martial arts master.

  The sounds of cracking trees made the beast easy to find.

  But beast wasn’t the right word.

  It was a creature of smoky shadow, its shape amorphous. As Alena watched, the shadow gained substance, becoming a translucent giant spider with spiked legs. Alena raised an eyebrow. She didn’t care much for spiders, and she certainly didn’t care for spiders that were twice her size.

  A leg kicked out at her. Alena imagined an unbreakable bubble around her. When the leg struck, Alena’s head swam with visions of darkness. But her shield held.

  The creature roared and jabbed at her with its fangs, but again her shield repelled the attack.

  The shadows reared back and became amorphous once again, flowing between the trees that surrounded the village. For lack of a better description, it seemed to be thinking. Then it shifted again, shrinking down to the size of a man.

  The shadow dissipated like morning fog, revealing Azaleth, eyes black as night.

  Alena’s stomach clenched.

  Show her a spider, but don’t reflect Azaleth’s memory back at her.

  Azaleth sprinted at her, Etari blade flashing in the moonlight. It sparked off her bubble. He deformed for a moment, turning again into shadow before he reformed, standing above her on the bubble. He glared down at her between his feet, then took off toward the village.

  Alena sprinted after him, her own pace impossibly quick, pine trees flashing around her. She passed Azaleth and drew her knife, forged by her father. She dropped her shield and drove the blade into his heart.

  It felt like she was killing him all over again.

  It wasn’t Azaleth. She had to remember that. The shadow opened its mouth in a wordless scream, and Alena drove a second knife, a duplicate of the first, from her left hand into his jaw, forcing it open. She gave herself limitless strength and pulled the blades in opposite directions.

  The shadow ripped apart, causing it to bleed away from her. It remained a dark cloud, lacking form. But she wasn’t sure she’d hurt it.

  The two opponents studied each other. No doubt the shadow sought a way past her, and she searched her knowledge for a way to kill it. Stabbing it apparently wasn’t enough.

  It moved again, splitting in two and attempting to pass her on both sides.

  Alena channeled her affinity through the gatestone at her navel, wanting the extra power. Through will alone, she forced the two halves to stop. She imagined them locked in place, condensing into perfect spheres of darkness. They fought against her, the sphere bulging and rippling, as though dozens of trapped creatures pushed against the skin of the sphere, trying to break free.

  Strength of will decided the contest.

  Alena won, and the spheres quieted. She didn’t dare release her hold on them, though.

  She used the quiet moments to study them. Unlike the ghosts, this shadow had threads tying it to the real world.

  Alena examined those threads, a sense of deja vu coming over her. They were familiar, their handiwork too similar to be coincidence.

  The queen.

  Impulsively, Alena took her knife and severed the threads, cutting through them with ease.

  The shadow’s struggle against her containment redoubled, but Alena gritted her teeth and held it in place.

  Cut off from its source, the shadows faded, roaring in anger. Alena watched them fade, only releasing her grip when she was sure the shadow was gone.

  Why was the Lolani queen interested in devouring ghosts?

  Her mind was too tired to even begin to guess. That was a mystery for another day.

  She stumbled back into the village, glad to see Toren and Sheren were almost done escorting the ghosts. Both kept a safe distance from the gate itself.

  Just as she reached them, t
he world shook, an earthquake stronger than any reality could offer. Had the world been physical, the mountains themselves would have crumbled. Here, Alena and the others fell, but no other harm was done.

  “What was that?” Toren asked.

  Alena shook her head. She had no idea. It felt enormous, like the whole domain of the soul had shifted.

  Toren ran to Alena. “Was it our gate?”

  She hadn’t even thought of the gate. “Hold on.”

  Zolene had implied that distance didn’t matter, so Alena fought her disbelief to connect with the Etari gate. The search took what felt like ages, but she found it. The Etari gate still worked. Her curiosity sparked, though, she turned her attention to the other gates. After finding the Etari gate, the others were easier to find. She studied the two imperial gates, finding them also in order. Then she followed the threads to the gate in Falar, wanting to check that one before venturing anywhere near the queen’s gate.

  She found the problem, and she backed away before she could be noticed.

  “It’s not the Etari gate,” Alena reassured Toren. She looked to Sheren. “It’s the Falari gate.”

  “What happened?” she asked.

  “Someone took control of it.”

  “Who?”

  Alena shook her head. She noticed the presence connected to the gate but didn’t recognize it. “I don’t know.”

  37

  Hanns lived, but his breath was weak and uneven. Regar kneeled next to the emperor, concern written in every line of his face. “When I came through, I was also disoriented and felt ill, but not like this.”

  “Did the queen attack the gate?” Brandt asked.

  Regar looked confused for a moment, then nodded. “Yes. Perhaps that was it. He passed through as the gate was under attack. When I came through, I felt better after some rest.” The prince looked up at the elders. “Is there someplace we can take him where he can sleep?”

  A runner was dispatched to seek aid and prepare quarters near those of the other imperials, and Brandt and Regar picked up the emperor between them and carried him out of the maze. Not long after, another runner returned with a thick sheet attached to two stout poles. He unfurled the stretcher and they laid Hanns out on it. Regar and Brandt each picked up one end and the march continued.

  While the journey into the cave had been long, the journey out felt endless. The paths all sloped up, making Brandt’s legs burn with effort. A few times the Falari guards offered to share the burden, but each time Brandt refused. Hanns was his emperor. In time, they stopped asking.

  The stars twinkled overhead when they left the tunnels. Eventually they settled the emperor on a bed and Ana covered him up. The process unsettled Brandt. He knew Hanns better than many, but even though no formality existed between them, Hanns was still his emperor. Seeing him this vulnerable, an old man resting in a bed, made Brandt’s chest tighten.

  Regar addressed both Brandt and Ana. “Do you two feel safe protecting him with the assistance of my guards? I must speak with the elders.”

  Brandt nodded. He could only imagine the questions that would be circulating among the elders tonight. Hopefully Regar could quell any unease. Otherwise Hanns might have suffered through this journey for no good reason.

  Regar left, leaving Brandt and Ana alone with Hanns. Brandt checked on the emperor one more time before taking a seat in the corner of the room. Ana sat down next to him.

  He fought the exhaustion that suddenly overwhelmed him. His body ached in a dozen places, reminding him once again that even being close to the gates could be dangerous.

  “Do they make you feel small?” Ana asked, her voice soft.

  “Hmm?”

  “The gates.”

  Brandt rubbed his upper arm, where he’d landed when the power from the gate had tossed him about like a child’s toy. “They do.”

  “Do you really believe you can harness that power?” She paused, focused on her intertwined hands. “Do you think you should?”

  She didn’t sound like she was trying to win the argument. She was genuinely curious. “I don’t know,” he said slowly. “I only think of what is necessary. ‘Should’ doesn’t come in much.”

  “That scares me,” Ana said.

  Brandt worried she would resume their fight, but she left their discussion at that.

  He didn’t deserve Ana. She possessed a nearly supernatural sense to know exactly how hard to push him. Tonight, her words had their desired effect.

  Was he in the wrong?

  He didn’t know. He knew he would fight for Ana, but beyond that, all he had was questions.

  Now that he was still, he felt a tug, the feeling he’d come to learn was Alena reaching out to him. How long had she been waiting?

  Brandt’s eyes traveled over the room. Ana looked as exhausted as he felt. They were probably safe, but leaving wasn’t a risk he wanted to take at that moment. He let Alena’s summons go unanswered.

  In time, the sensation faded. Brandt allowed himself to close his eyes then. He wouldn’t sleep, but even resting his eyes felt wonderful. “You should sleep,” Ana said. “Then we’ll switch.”

  “Deal.” Brandt relaxed his body. If his years as a soldier and wolfblade had taught him anything, it was the ability to sleep anywhere. Within moments of releasing the tension, he was asleep.

  He woke to the sun shining through the window. Brandt blinked rapidly, surprised Ana let him sleep so long. A glance her way revealed the reason, though.

  She was asleep, too.

  Worried, Brandt looked to the emperor. He was fine, his breathing stronger and more even than the night before. Brandt released a deep sigh of relief. He was still disappointed in Ana for falling asleep on watch, but no harm had been done.

  Brandt sat in the sun of the new day, letting his thoughts wander as the others slept. The rooms they’d been given were almost halfway up the side of the mountain, and it was quiet this high.

  Hanns was the first to wake. He came to awareness in an instant, sitting up and taking in the room with a glance. He focused on Brandt, who made a calming gesture. “You’re safe. You’re in Faldun.”

  Hanns grimaced, bringing his hands to his head. “What happened?”

  Brandt stood up, then walked over to the emperor’s bed. “We’re not sure. Before you came through the gate, the gate was acting strangely. The energy almost crushed us.”

  Hanns’ eyes narrowed at that. “Describe it.”

  Brandt tried, retelling the experience as he remembered it. “It felt like waves of energy coming from the gate, incredibly powerful.”

  “And it stopped when I came through?”

  “As far as I’m aware, yes. We left the area soon after, though, so if the gate is still acting that way, I wouldn’t know.”

  Hanns closed his eyes. “Give me a moment.”

  Brandt did, then heard the sound of soft footsteps behind him. Ana was awake. “Sorry,” she mouthed. She kept her eyes down and her cheeks were flushed with shame.

  He nodded. She understood the severity of her failure. A wolfblade never falls asleep on watch. There was nothing to be gained by him saying anything further.

  Hanns grunted, focusing the attention in the room on him. He shook his head. “Something is wrong. I don’t feel my connection with the gates the same way that I usually do.”

  He closed his eyes again, wandering through another world. Then he shook his head and opened his eyes. “I can feel the connection, but everything is fuzzy. Something happened when I came through the gate.”

  “Did the queen attack you?” Brandt asked.

  Hanns shook his head again, the confusion plain on his face. “I don’t know. All I remember is stepping through the gate, a tremendous pain, and then seeing you.” The emperor looked up. “Where’s Regar? He might have more answers.”

  “He left last night after ensuring you were safe,” Brandt said. “He sought to ease tensions with the Falari elders after your entrance.”

  “Sum
mon him, please,” Hanns said. “Perhaps my connections will return in time, but I fear the consequences if I don’t have full control over the gates. He might be able to help.”

  Behind them, Ana left to pass the order on to the guards. Brandt helped Hanns to his feet.

  Alena chose that moment to tug on their bond again. Brandt must have made some expression, because Hanns took note. “What’s wrong?”

  “Alena is summoning me.”

  “She might be useful now.”

  Brandt waited until Ana returned, then explained he needed to meet with Alena. She nodded, taking guard while Brandt settled into a seated position in the corner of the room. He closed his eyes and waited for Alena.

  It didn’t take long. No more than a few moments passed before Brandt felt his surroundings shift. Though his eyes were closed, he saw that he was in Alena’s mother’s kitchen. It felt peaceful here, far removed from the struggles that consumed so much of his attention. Alena sat across from him. Even here, she looked much the worse for wear. “What happened to you?” he asked.

  “I fought a shadow creature of the queen’s that was eating ghosts in an abandoned Falari town.”

  Brandt opened his mouth to reply, but found he had no idea how to respond to that. He settled for, “Huh.”

  “Yeah.”

  She didn’t seem inclined to discuss it further.

  “How about you?”

  “I lied to all the Falari elders, argued with Ana, and was nearly killed by the Falari gate.”

  “Huh.”

  “Yeah.”

  “We’re not doing so well, are we?” Alena asked.

  “No, we are not.”

  They sat in silence, letting the scents and atmosphere of the kitchen relax their frayed nerves. Time passed differently here, so Brandt didn’t feel the rush as he might have if they’d met in the physical world.

  Alena spoke first. “When I was fighting the monster last night, something shook the world of souls. I’ve never felt anything like it, and I think it has to do with the Falari gate. I wondered if you knew anything about it.”

  “Last night the gate was trying to kill me, except in the physical world.”