The Palace. Evening.
The courtyard was crowded when they arrived.
Soldiers, servants, members of the Duke's household—all of them had gathered, drawn by the news of the patrols' return. Torches flickered along the walls, casting long shadows across the stones. The horses were tired, their heads low, their breath misting in the cold air.
William was the first through the gates.
His face was pale, his arm bandaged, his clothes stained with blood. Behind him, his soldiers rode in silence—two horses carried wounded men, their bodies slumped, their faces drawn. The others walked beside them, their weapons sheathed, their eyes on the ground.
The Duke stood at the top of the steps, his hands clasped behind his back, his face unreadable. Edward stood beside him, his arms crossed, his jaw tight.
William dismounted. Walked to his uncle.
"We killed three," he said. "One escaped."
The Duke nodded slowly. "Your casualties?"
"Two dead. Three wounded." William's voice was steady, but his hands were not. "The volunteers—they came. They helped."
The Duke looked at the volunteers, who were dismounting at the edge of the courtyard. Mei was helping Tomas from his horse, her hand on his arm. The others stood apart, their faces pale, their eyes wide.
"They're not soldiers," the Duke said.
William met his eyes. "They are now."
---
Lira's group arrived an hour later.
They rode through the gates in silence, their horses tired, their faces grim. Mirena had her staff in her hand, the stone pulsing in her pocket. Gwen had her hand on her sword, her eyes on the shadows.
The Duke met them at the steps.
"What did you find?"
Lira dismounted. "The portal was there. Recently. Hours, not days." She paused. "And there was a creature."
The Duke's jaw tightened. "Did you kill it?"
Lira shook her head. "It spoke to us."
The courtyard went quiet.
"It told us to run," Mirena said. "It said something was coming."
Edward stepped forward. "Something? What something?"
Mirena shook her head. "It didn't say. It just ran."
The Duke looked at Lira. "And the footprints?"
Lira met his eyes. "Someone else was there. In the clearing. Watching. They got there before us."
The Duke was quiet for a moment. "Someone from the palace?"
Lira shook her head. "I don't think so."
---
Aldric was in the infirmary.
He had been there since they returned, helping the healers, checking on the wounded. His leg was throbbing, his arm was shaking, but he didn't stop. He couldn't.
Gwen found him there.
"You should rest," she said.
He shook his head. "I can't."
She moved to stand beside him. "The volunteers—they did well."
Aldric looked at her. "They did."
"Tomas stood his ground. Mei took point. The others—" She stopped.
"What?"
"They were scared. But they didn't run."
Aldric was quiet for a moment. "That's more than most."
Gwen nodded. "That's what I told them."
---
Grog arrived as the sun was setting.
He led a horse with a wounded stranger—a young man, pale, his clothes torn, his body bandaged. The courtyard was quieter now, the crowds dispersed, the torches burning low.
The Duke came to meet him.
"Who is this?"
Grog dismounted. "His name is Ken. He's been hunting the creatures. Alone."
The Duke looked at the young man. At his wounds, his weapons, his face.
"He's one of the volunteers?"
Grog shook his head. "He's something else."
---
They carried Ken to the infirmary.
Mirena examined his wounds—deep gashes across his chest, his arms, his side. The same kind of wounds the creatures left behind. The same kind Grog had carried.
"These are fresh," she said. "Recent. Hours, not days."
Grog nodded. "He killed the creature in the cave. The one I found."
Mirena looked at him. "Alone?"
"Yes."
She was quiet for a moment. "He's lucky to be alive."
Grog looked at Ken's face. Pale, still, peaceful. "He's not lucky. He's good."
---
Ken woke as the healers were finishing.
His eyes opened slowly, blinking against the light. He looked at the ceiling, the walls, the people around him. His hand moved to his belt. His knife was gone.
"Easy," Mirena said. "You're safe."
Ken looked at her. At her staff, her robes, her face. "Where am I?"
"The palace. Duke Renshaw's palace."
Ken's jaw tightened. "The Duke?"
"Not here. Not now." Mirena moved to stand beside him. "You need to rest."
Ken shook his head. "I need my weapons."
Grog moved to the foot of the bed. "They're safe. You'll get them back."
Ken looked at him. At his face, his hands, his sword. "You're the one who found me."
Grog nodded. "I'm the one who found you."
Ken was quiet for a moment. "Why?"
Grog met his eyes. "Because you were still alive."
---
That night, the Duke gathered them in his study.
The room was crowded—Grog, Lira, Aldric, Mirena, William, Edward. The maps were spread across the table, the marks fresh, the sightings new.
The Duke sat behind his desk. "We have three patrols. Three sets of information. And a stranger in our infirmary who won't tell us who he is or where he came from."
Grog spoke. "His name is Ken. He's been hunting the creatures. Alone. He knows more than we do."
The Duke looked at him. "Does he know where the portal is?"
Grog shook his head. "He's been tracking it. Same as us. It keeps moving."
The Duke was quiet for a moment. "Then we keep tracking it."