The Guild Hall. Night. Grog's Study.
The room was small, cluttered, lit by a single lantern. Maps covered the walls. Reports covered the desk. Grog sat behind it, his hands flat on the wood, his eyes on the door.
Mirena sat across from him, her staff across her knees, the artifact on the table between them. It was dark, smooth, pulsing faintly—still recharging, still waiting.
"Alistair is studying it," Mirena said. "He thinks it will be ready in five days. Maybe less."
Grog nodded. "The strangers?"
"Ben is still in his cell. Tina is awake. She's not talking." Mirena paused. "Davin is still unconscious. The healers say he'll wake soon."
Grog leaned back. "We need to know more. About Vorlag. About the vessels. About why they're here."
Mirena was quiet for a moment. "There's something I've been meaning to tell you. About the rings. About the research."
Grog waited.
"The mages have been studying the spatial magic. The way the rings fold space. The way the artifact folds worlds." She met his eyes. "There's a pattern. A connection between people and the magic they wield."
Grog frowned. "What kind of connection?"
"The boy—Davin—his teleportation isn't magic. Not the kind we know. It's something else. Something born into him." Mirena's voice was quiet. "The mages call it a blessing. Some beings are born with one. A gift from their world. Something that makes them stand out. Makes them special."
Grog absorbed this. "Different worlds, different blessings?"
"Yes." Mirena nodded. "Vorlag seeks out those with blessings. He takes over their bodies. He conquers their worlds."
Grog's jaw tightened. "And if they resist?"
"Then he sends the hunters. They kill the vessel. They absorb their strength. The hunters become stronger." Mirena paused. "That's why they're hunting Ben and the others. That's why they're hunting Aldric."
Grog was silent for a long moment.
"Aldric had a blessing," he said. "The voice. The connection to Vorlag."
Mirena nodded slowly. "He was a true vessel. Rare. Powerful. Vorlag wanted him more than any other."
"But Aldric refused. He closed the portal."
"Yes." Mirena met his eyes. "And now Vorlag wants him back."
---
Grog stood. Walked to the window. Looked out at the dark city.
"The strangers. They rejected Vorlag too."
"They did." Mirena rose, moved to stand beside him. "They were supposed to be vessels. They became strong enough to resist. Strong enough to escape."
Grog turned. "How?"
Mirena shook her head. "I don't know. Ben wouldn't say. Tina won't talk. Davin is unconscious."
"Then we need to ask the right questions."
---
They went to the cells.
Ben was awake, sitting on his cot, his back against the wall. His wrists were still bound, his ankles still tied. He looked up when they entered.
"More questions?"
Grog pulled up a stool. Sat across from him.
"Tell me about the blessings."
Ben's eyes flickered. "You know about blessings?"
"Mirena told me."
Ben was silent for a moment. "Different worlds, different blessings. Some are born with them. Some are chosen. Some are made."
"How do you get one?"
Ben shook his head. "You don't. It's not something you earn. It's something you are." He paused. "Vorlag picks from among the blessed. He takes their bodies. He conquers their worlds."
Grog leaned forward. "And the ones who resist?"
"They run. They hide. They die." Ben's voice was flat. "The hunters always find them. Eventually."
"Not always." Grog met his eyes. "You're still alive."
Ben was quiet for a moment. "So are you."
---
Tina was in the next cell.
She sat on her cot, her arms wrapped around her knees, her face pale. Her staff was gone—confiscated, stored in Mirena's study. Her eyes were red. She had been crying.
Grog stood outside her door.
"Why did you come to our world?"
Tina looked up. "We didn't choose to. The artifact brought us here."
"Where were you trying to go?"
"A safe house. A world we know. A place where Vorlag doesn't have a presence."
Grog frowned. "Does such a place exist?"
Tina shook her head. "We don't know. We're looking."
---
Davin woke at midnight.
His eyes fluttered. His hand twitched. He sat up, looked around, saw the healers, the cots, the guards at the door.
"Where am I?"
Mirena was there. She sat beside his cot, her staff in her hand, her face calm.
"You're in the guild hall. In the capital. You're safe."
Davin's eyes widened. "Ben? Tina?"
"They're alive. They're in cells. They're not hurt."
Davin's hands clenched the blanket. "You're keeping us prisoner."
"We're keeping you contained." Mirena's voice was quiet. "You killed our people."
Davin's face went pale. "They attacked us. We thought they were hunters."
"They weren't."
Davin was silent for a moment. "I know. Now."
---
Grog entered the infirmary.
Davin looked up. His face was young, scared, defiant.
"You're the one who hit me."
Grog nodded. "You're the one who teleported."
Davin's jaw tightened. "It's my blessing."
Grog sat on the edge of the cot. "Tell me about it."
Davin was quiet for a moment. "I was born with it. I can go anywhere I can see. Anywhere I've been. It costs me. The farther I go, the more it costs."
Grog nodded slowly. "And Vorlag wanted you."
"He wanted all of us." Davin's voice was bitter. "He wanted our blessings. Our bodies. Our worlds."
"But you refused."
Davin met his eyes. "We ran."
---
Grog left the infirmary.
Mirena followed him into the corridor.
"Blessings," he said. "Vorlag wants them. The hunters take them."
Mirena nodded. "The strangers have them. Davin's teleportation. Tina's lightning. Ben's... something. I don't know what yet."
Grog was quiet for a moment.
"Aldric had a blessing too. The connection to Vorlag. The ability to resist him."
Mirena met his eyes. "He was a true vessel. Rare. Powerful."
Grog looked at the door to Ben's cell. "And he's still alive."
Mirena was silent.
"We're going to find him," Grog said. "And we're going to bring him back."