The Duke's Study. Evening.
The company gathered.
The room was crowded—Grog, Lira, Aldric, Mirena, William, Edward, the Duke. Maps covered the table, marked with sightings, trails, the places where the portal had been. The fire was low, the shadows long, the air heavy.
Ken was not there. He was in the infirmary, under guard, his wounds still healing, his silence still unbroken.
The Duke sat behind his desk. "What do we know?"
Mirena spoke first. "The portal is moving. Every time we get close, it shifts. East, west, north—it's erratic, but there's a pattern. It's drawn to the thin places. The places where the veil is weak."
The Duke nodded. "Can you predict where it will go next?"
Mirena shook her head. "Not yet. But I'm getting closer."
Lira spoke. "The creature in the forest—the one that spoke to us. It warned us. Told us to run." She paused. "I don't know why."
William leaned forward. "Maybe it's not like the others."
"Or maybe it's smarter," Aldric said. "Maybe it wanted us to leave so it could do something else."
The room was quiet.
Grog spoke. "Ken said he's seen it before. The creatures. The portal. The fighting." He looked at the Duke. "He knows more than he's telling."
The Duke met his eyes. "Can we trust him?"
Grog was quiet for a moment. "I don't know."
---
Edward spoke. "He's dangerous."
William looked at his brother. "He's wounded."
"He's dangerous." Edward's voice was firm. "He's been hunting alone. Killing alone. Surviving alone. That kind of person doesn't join. They just... exist."
William shook his head. "He saved Grog."
"Grog saved him."
"Same thing."
Edward stared at his brother. "It's not."
The Duke held up a hand. "Enough."
The room went silent.
"We need him," the Duke said. "Or we don't. Either way, we decide tonight."
---
Lira spoke. "I watched him. In the infirmary. When the others were questioning him." She looked at Grog. "He's scared. Not of us. Of something else."
Grog nodded. "The creatures."
"Maybe." Lira paused. "Or maybe what's coming."
Mirena leaned forward. "The residue in his blood. The same as the portal. He's been through it. Or close to it. He's been marked."
Aldric frowned. "Marked how?"
Mirena shook her head. "I don't know. But it's there. Faint. Fading. But there."
Grog looked at her. "Can you track it?"
Mirena met his eyes. "Maybe. If he lets me."
---
The Duke made his decision.
"Ken stays. Under guard. Until his wounds heal. Until we know more." He looked at Grog. "You'll watch him."
Grog nodded.
"He doesn't trust us," the Duke said. "Maybe he'll trust you."
Grog was quiet for a moment. "Maybe."
The Duke stood. "Then it's settled. We rest tonight. Tomorrow, we plan."
---
That night, Ken sat alone in his room.
The door was locked. The window was barred. A guard stood outside, his footsteps pacing the corridor. Ken sat on the edge of the bed, his hands on his knees, his eyes on the door.
He was not trying to escape.
He was waiting.
The lock clicked. The door opened.
Grog stepped inside.
Ken didn't move. "You're supposed to be watching me."
Grog closed the door behind him. "I am."
Ken stared at him. "From the other side."
Grog sat on the chair by the window. "This is closer."
They sat in silence for a moment.
"You saved my life," Ken said.
Grog nodded. "I did."
"Why?"
Grog was quiet for a moment. "Because you were still alive."
Ken stared at him. "That's not an answer."
"It's the only one I have."
Ken looked away. "I've been alone for a long time."
Grog said nothing.
"I don't know how to do this." Ken's voice was quiet. "Fight with others. Trust. Stay."
Grog watched him. "You don't have to know. You just have to try."
Ken was silent for a long moment.
Then he nodded. "I'll try."