“But even that’s good, though, right? When the Gatekeepers realize one of theirs didn’t come back, they’ll send the army,” Dango said. “They’ll send the army through the gate.”

“No,” Kalazan said, “that’s the last thing they’d do.”

Janel tilted her head to Kalazan in acknowledgment. “He’s right. If the Gatekeeper steps through tomorrow to open return portals for the tournament visitors, he’ll either be overcome by smoke or by the demon-possessed dead. Either way, no new portal will be opened afterward. And if he’s smart enough not to step through? No new portal will be opened either. A protocol is followed in such circumstances. There will be no deviation.”

“A protocol?” Someone new asked the question—Gozen, who had been forced to give up his place to Janel in the lists.

“The gate system is Quur’s greatest strength,” Janel explained. “It is also our greatest weakness. If an enemy force gains control of a single Gatestone location, they could move an army to any point in the empire in seconds. Every titled noble in every dominion is trained in invasion protocols, mortal or demonic. This Gatestone will be presumed lost and in enemy hands. At that point, the Quuros army will open a gate—but not here. Never to this location. They’ll try to open a gate to the Gatestone nearest us. If that gate can be opened safely? Only then will an army march back here to discover what has happened to this Gatestone. That will take a week, minimum.”

“A week?” Ninavis gaped. “Every dead body here will be risen as hell spawn in a week!”

“I’m aware.”

“But what can we—”

“There are eight locations the army may use, based on proximity to Mereina,” Janel explained. “The gate they open will be picked at random from those locales, to ensure any enemy forces cannot predict where the army will arrive and lie in ambush. If we plan to meet the army and make sure they understand what’s happened here, we’ll need to split up. Nine groups. Eight of those will travel to the possible gate sites and meet the approaching army before they arrive in Mereina.”

“What happens to the ninth group?” someone asked.

Janel looked at Ninavis. “Not all of us can travel quickly. There are children here, the injured, the ill, and the elderly. Those will need to shelter at a secure location. By tonight, this town won’t be safe for any living being. Since this isn’t my banner, I direct the question back to you: Where can we take refuge?”

The crowd murmured and looked at each other. “The old mill—”

“Oh sure, that will fit two of us, and rotted through besides.”

“What about Coldwater? Ain’t no one there now.”

“Ain’t no Coldwater there now either.”

“What? What happened—?”

“Dedreugh happened.”

Ninavis sighed. “I have a place.”