The Guild Hall. Evening.
Grog read Mirena's report in silence.
He was sitting at the long table in the great hall, the fire crackling behind him, the adventurers gone for the night. Ken stood by the window, his arms crossed, his face still. Ben sat across from Grog, his sword across his knees.
Mirena sat beside Ben, waiting.
Grog set the report down. "Thirty refined stones per portal."
"Yes."
"Thirty gold coins."
"The stones are valuable. The guild's stores are limited."
Grog looked at the artifact on the table between them. It was dark now, still, waiting. "How many portals can we open?"
Mirena calculated. "We have enough raw cores for a dozen portals. Maybe more, if we stretch the refining."
"A dozen chances to find Aldric."
"A dozen chances to search."
---
Ben leaned forward. "And the destination is random?"
Mirena nodded. "The portal goes where it wants. We can't control it. Not yet."
"Then we could open a portal to anywhere. A world full of hunters. A world already conquered by Vorlag. A world with nothing."
"Yes."
Ben's jaw tightened. "That's not good enough."
Grog held up a hand. "It's what we have."
---
Ken spoke from the window. "The artifact alone—what does it do?"
Mirena turned to him. "The artifact can open a portal for a few seconds. Enough to jump through, but not enough to return."
"Like the strangers used."
"Yes."
Ken was quiet for a moment. "And the ritual blend—the one you just discovered—keeps the portal open for a full day."
"Twenty-four hours. Enough to send a team through. Enough to explore. Enough to come back."
Ken nodded slowly. "Then we use the artifact for quick jumps. Exploration. Reconnaissance." He looked at Grog. "And the ritual blend for when we find him."
Grog met his eyes. "When we find him."
---
Mirena spread her notes across the table.
"The cost is significant. Thirty refined stones per portal. One raw core gives us three refined stones. One raw core costs the guild... the adventurers bring them in, but they're not cheap."
Grog nodded. "The guild has been stockpiling. We have enough."
"For now."
"For now."
Ben moved to the table. "And if we open a portal and it leads to a dead end? A world with no Aldric?"
"Then we close it. And we try again."
"How many times?"
Mirena looked at the artifact. "As many as it takes."
---
Grog stood. Walked to the window.
The city was dark, the streets empty, the stars bright. Somewhere out there, the hunters were watching. Somewhere beyond, Aldric was waiting.
"We need a team," he said.
Mirena nodded. "A small team. Fast. Experienced."
"Ken. Ben. Me." Grog turned. "And you, Mirena. You know the magic better than anyone."
Mirena blinked. "I'm not a fighter."
"You're not going to fight. You're going to guide. You're going to bring us back."
She held his gaze. Then she nodded slowly. "I'll go."
---
Ken spoke. "My clone is already at the border with William."
Grog nodded. "It stays there. We need communication between the capital and the border."
"The clone can't fight, but it can relay information. If we find Aldric, I can send word instantly."
Mirena looked at him. "Can you maintain the clone while you're through the portal?"
Ken was quiet for a moment. "I don't know. The portal is a different kind of magic. The clone might hold, or it might dissipate."
"We'll prepare for either."
Ken nodded. "Then I go with you."
---
Ben stood. "What about Tina and Davin?"
Mirena looked at her notes. "Tina's lightning could be useful. Davin's teleportation could be invaluable for reconnaissance."
Grog shook his head. "They're at the border with William. They're needed there."
Ben's jaw tightened. "Then we go without them."
"We go with what we have."
---
Mirena looked at the artifact. "We need to refine more stones. The stores are adequate, but we should have a reserve for multiple attempts."
Grog turned from the window. "How long?"
"A week. Maybe less, if we focus on refining instead of research."
"A week." Grog looked at the artifact. "Then we open the first portal in a week."
Ben moved to stand beside him. "And if it leads to the wrong world?"
"Then we close it. And we try again."
"And if we find him? If we find Aldric?"
Grog's jaw tightened. "Then we bring him home."
---
That night, Grog sat alone in his room.
The rings were on the table—twelve of them, plain silver, warm and pulsing. He picked one up. Turned it over in his fingers.
A week. Seven days. Then they would start searching.
He thought about Aldric. About the portal closing. About the look on his face when he stepped through.
I'll find you, Grog whispered.
The ring pulsed.
He set it down.
---
Mirena worked through the night.
The refining process was slow, meticulous, exhausting. She fed raw cores into the crystals, watched them crack and purify, collected the refined stones in a leather pouch.
Ten cores became thirty stones.Thirty stones became one portal.
She thought about the cost. About the guild's stores. About the dozen chances they had to find Aldric.
She thought about the hunters. About Vorlag. About the red eyes watching from the forest.
She refined another core.
---
Ben stood at the window of his room, looking out at the city.
Tina was at the border. Davin was at the border. Lira was at the border. He was alone in the guild, waiting.
A week. Then they would open the portal. Then they would search.
He touched his sword. The blade hummed. His blessing stirred.
He would be ready.