The Capital City Gates. Afternoon.
The capital rose before them like a living thing.
Walls of gray stone, towers that scraped the sky, gates of iron and oak that had stood for centuries. The streets were crowded—merchants shouting, children running, soldiers patrolling. The smell of bread and smoke and sweat hung in the air.
Grog stared at it. He had seen cities before—border towns, trading posts, the village where he had found the rings. Nothing like this.
Lira rode beside him, her hand on her bow, her eyes scanning the crowd. "It's huge."
Grog nodded. "It is."
Ken rode behind them, silent, his hood pulled low. He had been quiet since the road, since the monster attacks, since they had decided to travel together. He watched the crowd with the same intensity as Lira—searching for threats, cataloging exits, measuring distances.
They had encountered more monsters after the first attack.
Three more in the last two days. A pack of small, fast creatures that moved like spiders. A lone wolf-thing with too many teeth. A winged beast that had circled them for an hour before disappearing into the clouds.
They had killed them all.
Grog had taken their mana stones and stored them in one of the rings—the one that had been empty. The corpses went into another ring, preserved in the magic space, waiting for the mages to study.
The researchers would need them. The guild would need them. And Grog would use them to bargain.
---
The gates loomed ahead.
Guards in royal colors stood at attention, their spears raised, their faces blank. One of them stepped forward.
"State your business."
Grog met his eyes. "We're here to see the Prince. Edward."
The guard's eyes narrowed. "The Prince?"
Grog reached into his pack. Pulled out a letter—Mirena's letter, sealed with the mages' sigil.
The guard took it. Read it. His face changed.
"Pass."
They rode through the gates.
---
The palace was at the heart of the city.
Walls of white stone, towers of gold, gardens of green. Servants hurried through the corridors, nobles strolled through the halls, soldiers stood at every door.
Mirena was waiting for them at the gates.
She looked different—more confident, more focused. Her staff was repaired, its crystal bright, its wood smooth. Her robes were new, dark blue, embroidered with the mages' sigil.
"You made it," she said.
Grog dismounted. "We made it."
Mirena looked at the spare horses. "The monsters?"
"Dealt with." Grog touched the rings at his belt. "I have the corpses. And the mana stones."
Mirena's eyes widened. "How many?"
"Four. After the first one." Lira dismounted beside him. "They're getting bolder. Hunting in packs. We killed them, but—"
"But there will be more." Mirena nodded. "I know."
---
She led them inside.
The corridors were long, the ceilings high, the floors polished stone. Grog felt out of place—his boots too loud, his clothes too rough, his sword too visible. Servants stared. Nobles whispered.
Lira walked beside him, her hand on her bow, her eyes on the crowd. "They're looking at us."
Grog nodded. "They are."
"Are they afraid?"
"Curious." Ken spoke from behind them. "They've heard stories. They don't know if we're heroes or monsters."
Lira glanced at him. "Which are we?"
Ken met her eyes. "Both."
---
Edward was waiting in the great hall.
He stood at the far end, his back straight, his hands clasped behind him. He looked older than he had at the palace—thinner, paler, more tired. But his eyes were sharp.
"Grog." He nodded. "Lira. Ken."
Grog stopped before him. "Edward."
Edward's gaze moved to Grog's belt, to the rings there. "Mirena told me about the monsters. About the attacks."
Grog nodded. "There will be more."
"I know." Edward was quiet for a moment. "The King wants to meet you. Tomorrow. Be ready."
Grog's jaw tightened. "The King?"
"He's heard about you. About the portal. About Aldric." Edward paused. "He wants to know if you're a threat."
Grog met his eyes. "I'm not."
Edward nodded slowly. "I know. But you'll need to convince him."
---
Edward dismissed the servants. Led them to a smaller room—a study, with maps on the walls and books on the shelves.
He sat behind the desk. Gestured for them to sit.
"How was the journey?"
Grog sat. "Long."
"Safe?"
Lira shook her head. "We were attacked. Four times."
Edward's face tightened. "Creatures?"
"Yes." Lira leaned back. "They're spreading. Hunting in packs. Getting bolder."
Edward was quiet for a moment. "William?"
Grog met his eyes. "He stayed."
Edward's jaw tightened. "He stayed."
"He's training the volunteers. Protecting the border." Grog paused. "He said he'll join us later."
Edward was silent for a long moment. Then he nodded slowly.
"Good."
---
Mirena spoke. "The monsters you killed—the mages will want them. For research."
Grog touched the rings at his belt. "I have the corpses. And the mana stones."
Mirena's eyes lit up. "We can use them. Study them. Learn how the creatures produce mana, how their bodies work—"
"I'll give them to you."
Mirena blinked. "You will?"
Grog met her eyes. "On one condition."
Mirena's face went still. "What condition?"
Grog leaned forward. "You help me find a way to get where Aldric went."
The room was silent.
Mirena stared at him. "Grog—"
"I don't care about the guild. I don't care about the research. I don't care about the kingdom." His voice was low, steady. "I want to find him. And you're going to help me."
Mirena was quiet for a long moment.
"The portal research is slow. Dangerous. We don't even know if it's possible."
Grog didn't move. "I don't care."
Mirena met his eyes. "You're asking me to risk everything. The mages' trust. The King's support. The guild's future."
Grog nodded. "I am."
Mirena was silent. Then she nodded slowly.
"I'll help you."
---
The meeting ended.
Mirena left to prepare the mages for the arrival of the monster corpses. Edward returned to his duties. Ken disappeared into the shadows.
Lira stood with Grog in the corridor.
"You're giving her the stones," she said.
Grog nodded. "I am."
"And the corpses?"
"Tools. Resources. Leverage." Grog met her eyes. "She needs them for her research. I need her to find Aldric."
Lira was quiet for a moment. "You don't trust her."
Grog shook his head. "I trust her. But I know how the world works. People need incentives."
Lira almost smiled. Almost. "You're learning."
Grog looked at the rings on his belt. The corpses were in one, the stones in another. The other rings were warm, still holding something from the infection, still waiting.
"I'm trying," he said.