The Palace Infirmary. Morning.
Ken was awake when they came for him.
He had been awake for hours—lying in the dark, listening to the sounds of the palace, cataloging the doors, the windows, the guards. His wounds were bandaged, his body was weak, but his mind was sharp. He knew where he was. He knew who had brought him. He didn't know why.
The door opened.
The Duke entered first, his hands clasped behind his back, his face unreadable. Edward followed, his arms crossed, his jaw tight. William came next, his sword at his hip, his eyes on Ken's face. Aldric limped in behind them, his cane in his hand, his leg propped. Lira brought up the rear, her bow across her back, her eyes scanning the room.
Ken didn't move. Didn't speak. Just watched.
The Duke sat in the chair beside the bed. "You're awake."
Ken nodded.
"What's your name?"
"Ken."
"Where are you from?"
Ken was quiet for a moment. "Nowhere."
Edward's jaw tightened. "Everyone is from somewhere."
Ken met his eyes. "I'm not."
---
The Duke asked more questions. Ken answered some. Not many.
How long had he been hunting the creatures? Weeks. Months. He'd lost count.
How many had he killed? He didn't know. He'd stopped counting.
Where had he learned to fight? Nowhere. Everywhere.
How had he found the portal? He'd followed the residue. Same as the mage.
What did he want? To kill the creatures. To close the portal. To go home.
Where was home? He didn't answer.
Edward stepped forward. "You're not being helpful."
Ken looked at him. "I'm not trying to be."
---
William tried next.
He pulled a chair to the edge of the bed, sat down, leaned forward. His face was open, his voice was calm. He looked like he was trying to make a friend.
"I'm William," he said. "I'm a prince. I've been training to fight the creatures. I'm not very good yet."
Ken said nothing.
"I've seen what they can do. I've lost people to them." William paused. "You've been fighting them alone. That's—" He stopped.
"What?"
"Brave. Or stupid. I'm not sure which."
Ken almost smiled. Almost. "Both."
William leaned back. "Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why fight alone?"
Ken was quiet for a long moment. "Because no one else would."
---
Aldric tried.
He stood at the foot of the bed, his cane in his hand, his leg propped. He didn't sit. He didn't lean. He just stood there, watching, waiting.
"You know me," he said.
Ken's eyes flickered. "I've seen you."
"Where?"
"In the hills. In the pass. In the stories." Ken's voice was flat. "You're the hero. The one who killed a hundred Vargr."
Aldric shook his head. "I'm just a soldier."
Ken stared at him. "You're not just anything."
---
Lira didn't try.
She stood by the window, her bow across her back, her eyes on Ken's face. She didn't ask questions. She didn't offer comfort. She just watched.
Ken watched her back.
After a long moment, he spoke. "You're the scout."
Lira nodded. "I'm the scout."
"With the magic bow."
"Yes."
Ken was quiet for a moment. "I've seen you fight."
Lira raised an eyebrow. "Have you?"
"From a distance. In the hills. When you killed the creature." He paused. "You're good."
Lira said nothing.
"You're also scared."
Lira's jaw tightened. "Everyone's scared."
Ken nodded slowly. "That's what I told myself."
---
The door opened. Grog entered.
He moved to the foot of the bed, stood beside Aldric, looked down at Ken. His face was unreadable, his hands were steady, his eyes were calm.
Ken's eyes flickered. Recognition. Fear. Something else.
"You know me," Grog said.
Ken was quiet for a moment. "I've seen you."
"Where?"
"In the mountains. In the pass. In the cave." Ken's voice was quiet. "You fought the creature. The big one. The one that should have killed you."
Grog nodded. "It almost did."
Ken stared at him. "You should be dead."
Grog met his eyes. "I know."
---
The room was silent.
Ken looked at Grog. At Aldric. At Lira. At William. At the Duke. At Edward. At all of them.
"You're trying to save the world," he said.
The Duke nodded. "We're trying."
Ken was quiet for a long moment.
"You're going to fail."
Edward stepped forward. "How do you know?"
Ken met his eyes. "Because I've seen it before."