The Palace. Morning.
The rider arrived at dawn.
Grog saw him from the window of his room—a lone horseman in royal colors, blue and gold, his cloak thick with dust from the road. The guards at the gate admitted him without question. He dismounted, handed his reins to a stable boy, and walked swiftly toward the Duke's study.
Grog watched him go.
His sword was in his hand. He didn't remember drawing it. The berserker was quiet—not sleeping, just watching. Waiting. The red was there, at the edges of his vision, but it wasn't surging. It was patient.
Grog wasn't.
He dressed. Strapped on his sword. Walked to the Duke's study.
---
The room was crowded when he arrived.
The Duke sat behind his desk, a letter open before him, his face unreadable. Edward stood beside him, his arms crossed, his jaw tight. William stood near the window, his back to the others, his eyes on the courtyard below. Gwen stood beside him, her hand on his arm, steadying him.
Lira was there, her wounded arm pressed against her side, her face pale. Mirena sat in a chair near the fire, the broken pieces of her staff in her lap. Ken stood near the door, his arms crossed, his eyes on the Duke.
The Duke looked up as Grog entered.
"The King has sent his orders," he said. "Edward is to return to the capital immediately. I am to send a full report. The heroes are to be commended—and watched."
Grog's jaw tightened. "Watched?"
The Duke met his eyes. "The King is not sure what to make of you. Heroes who close portals and fight creatures from other worlds—they are not easy to understand." He paused. "He wants to know if you are a threat."
Grog said nothing.
---
Edward turned from the window. "I'm not leaving."
The Duke met his eyes. "You don't have a choice."
Edward's jaw tightened. "Aldric is gone. The portal is closed. The creatures—"
"The creatures are still here." The Duke's voice was firm. "They will need to be culled. The people are afraid. The King needs you at the capital to help manage the response."
Edward stared at him. "I can help here."
"You can help there." The Duke stood. "You are the heir, Edward. The King needs you by his side. Not out here, chasing monsters and mourning heroes."
Edward's face was pale. "He's not a hero. He's just—"
"He's gone." William's voice was quiet. He had turned from the window, his face pale, his eyes red. "He's gone, Edward. And he's not coming back."
Edward stared at his brother. "You don't know that."
William shook his head. "I know."
---
Gwen moved to stand beside Edward. "I'll go with him."
William looked at her. "What?"
"To the capital. I'll go with Edward." Gwen's voice was steady. "He shouldn't be alone."
William's jaw tightened. "You don't have to—"
"I know." Gwen met his eyes. "I want to."
William was quiet for a moment. Then he nodded. "Fine."
Edward looked at Gwen. "Thank you."
She nodded. Said nothing.
---
Lira watched from the corner.
She had been silent since the meeting began, her wounded arm pressed against her side, her face pale. She was thinking about Aldric. About the portal. About the look on Grog's face when he had knelt on the scorched stone.
She was thinking about what came next.
Grog moved to stand beside her. "You're quiet."
She looked at him. "I'm thinking."
"About?"
She was quiet for a moment. "About what comes next."
Grog nodded slowly. "Me too."
---
Mirena spoke. Her voice was quiet, distant, as if she was working through something in her own mind.
"The creatures that are left—they will need to be culled. They will integrate into the ecosystem. They will become part of this world." She paused. "That will take time. Years, maybe. Generations."
The Duke looked at her. "Can they be killed?"
Mirena nodded. "They can. They are dangerous, but they are not invincible. Ordinary weapons can hurt them. Ordinary people can kill them." She paused. "They just need to be taught how."
The Duke absorbed this. "Then we will teach them."
---
Edward moved to stand before Grog.
"I don't blame you," he said.
Grog met his eyes. "You should."
Edward shook his head. "Aldric made his own choice. You couldn't have stopped him." He paused. "No one could have."
Grog was quiet for a moment. "I know."
Edward nodded. "Then find out what happened to him. Find out if he's alive. Find out if we can bring him back."
Grog met his eyes. "I will."
Edward held his gaze for a moment. Then he turned and walked out of the room.
Gwen followed.
---
The room emptied.
The Duke returned to his desk. Lira helped Mirena to her feet. William stood at the window, staring at the courtyard below. Ken stood near the door, his arms crossed, his eyes on Grog.
Grog stood in the center of the room, his hand on his sword, his eyes on the door.
Edward was gone. Gwen was gone. The King's command had been delivered.
"What now?" Lira asked.
Grog was quiet for a moment.
"We train," he said. "We prepare. We get stronger."
Lira nodded. "For what?"
Grog met her eyes. "For whatever comes next."