The Mountains. Morning.
Mirena woke before dawn.
She had not slept—could not sleep. The stone was in her hand, pulsing faintly, warm against her palm. The ring was in her pocket, the one that held the poison, still and quiet. The maps were spread around her, marked with the portal's movements, the thin places, the places where the veil was weak.
The pattern was there. She had seen it before, in the hours before sleep, in the space between waking and dreaming. The portal was not moving randomly. It was returning.
She traced the lines with her finger. The first clearing, where they had killed the creature. The hills, where William's patrol had been attacked. The forest, where the creature had spoken to them. The mountains, where Ken had been hunting alone.
The circle was getting smaller. The center was holding.
She found the place on the map. A canyon, deep in the peaks, marked with an old symbol—a wound. Kevin's order had marked it centuries ago. The place where the veil was thinnest. The place where the door had first opened.
She gathered her maps and went to find Grog.
---
The company gathered at the edge of the camp.
The fire was low, the sun was rising, the peaks were pink and gold. Grog stood apart, his sword in his hand, his eyes on the mountains. Ken sat on a rock, his bow across his knees, his face unreadable. Lira was checking her arrows, her quiver full, her bow strung. William stood beside her, his hand on his sword, his back straight.
Mirena spread her maps across a flat stone.
"The portal isn't moving randomly," she said. "It's returning to its origin point. The first clearing was just a waypoint. The true source is deeper in the mountains." She pointed to the canyon. "Here. Kevin's order called it 'the wound.' It's where the veil is thinnest. Where the door first opened."
Grog looked at the map. The symbol was old, faded, but he recognized it. In the old timeline, it was where the hunters had first appeared. Where the door had first opened. Where everything had begun.
"That's where we need to go," he said.
Mirena nodded. "The portal is being drawn back. It will return to the wound. We can't chase it anymore. We need to get there first."
---
William stepped forward. "How long?"
Mirena shook her head. "Days. Maybe less. The portal is moving faster now."
Ken stood. "Then we leave now."
Grog looked at him. "You're sure?"
Ken met his eyes. "I've been hunting the portal for months. This is where it's going. This is where it ends."
Lira shouldered her bow. "Then let's end it."
---
They broke camp within the hour.
The horses were tired, the riders were tired, but they couldn't wait. The portal was moving. They needed to move with it.
Grog led the way, his sword in his hand, his eyes on the trail ahead. Ken rode beside him, his bow across his back, his eyes on the trees. Lira brought up the rear, her bow in her hand, her eyes on the shadows.
Mirena rode in the center, her staff in her hand, the stone pulsing in her pocket. She was tracking the residue, following the trail the portal left behind.
William rode beside her. "You've been quiet."
Mirena glanced at him. "I've been thinking."
"About?"
She was quiet for a moment. "About what we'll find at the wound. About what's waiting for us."
William nodded slowly. "Me too."
---
They stopped at midday to rest the horses.
The trail was steep, the air thin, the cold biting. Grog stood apart, his eyes on the peaks ahead. Ken sat on a rock, sharpening his knife. Lira scanned the trees, watching for threats.
Mirena spread her maps across a flat stone, studying the route.
"We're close," she said. "Another day. Maybe less."
Grog moved to stand beside her. "The wound. What did Kevin's order say about it?"
Mirena shook her head. "Not much. Just that it was a place of power. A place where the veil was thin. A place they couldn't close."
Grog absorbed this. "They couldn't close it?"
"No. They could only watch it. Wait for it to open." She met his eyes.
---
Ken stood apart from the others, his back against a tree, his eyes on the peaks.
William moved to stand beside him.
"You've been quiet," William said.
Ken didn't look at him. "I've been thinking."
"About?"
Ken was quiet for a moment. "About what I haven't told you."
William waited.
"There's something I should have said. Before we left." Ken's voice was low. "About the people who opened the door."
William's jaw tightened. "What people?"
Ken met his eyes. "Not creatures. Not hunters. Humans. A cult. They worship the void. They believe Vorlag will bring them power." He paused. "They've been operating in secret for decades. I was hunting them before I started hunting the creatures."
William stared at him. "You killed them?"
"Some of them. Others got away." Ken's voice was flat. "They know about the heroes. They've been watching."
William absorbed this. "Why are you telling me this now?"
Ken was quiet for a moment. "Because they're not going to let us close the portal. They're going to try to stop us."
William's hand tightened on his sword. "Then we stop them first."
---
Grog pulled Ken aside as the others prepared to ride.
"You told William about the cult."
Ken nodded. "He deserved to know."
Grog studied him. "You said you were hunting them. Before the creatures."
Ken met his eyes. "I was."
"How did you find them?"
Ken was quiet for a moment. "I was one of them."
Grog went still.
"I was young. Stupid. I didn't know what they were. What they were planning." Ken's voice was steady, but his hands were not. "When I found out, I left. I've been trying to stop them ever since."
Grog was quiet for a long moment. "Why are you telling me this?"
Ken met his eyes. "Because you deserve to know. Before we go to the wound. Before we face what's waiting."
Grog nodded slowly. "Thank you."
Ken looked away. "Don't thank me. Not yet."