He needed all the information he could get prior to the war council. It took longer than usual to reach the firmament. He was distracted by his worry for Isabel. After finally clearing his mind and acknowledging each stray thought, he was able to reach the place of empty-mindedness that led to the firmament. He floated there, trying to absorb the mood of the world in the midst of such strife. People were afraid, many were suffering terribly. Their emotional distress was reflected in the infinitely complex music of the firmament. He brought his awareness into focus over his head. With a thought, he shot high into the sky until he was floating many thousands of feet over the Seven Isles. He located the Isle of Fellenden and focused on a point over the Gate. The world rushed past as his awareness flitted thousands of miles in a blink. Two heavily armed legions were encamped around the Gate. Alexander made a mental note of their strength and rose higher into the sky. From his vantage point, he could see the swath of destruction carved into the countryside by the passage of such an enormous army.
