h the journal and more

d, the sky

. The trees, still and tense, stood like silent sentinels. The air pressed

n near the lake,

iagrams. "Your grandfather understood the gate wasn't a door," he said. "It's a c

at mean for u

inger, "this valley could be a bridge. A weak point betwee

ever's on the other sid

"What if someth

silen

The water was calm again. But in its reflection, I didn't see just

grew warm

pages. My grandfather's wr

he chamber below the second gate. If they open it again-if they wake-i

an arch of black stone with a

gate, blood

blo

as a low vibration shook

ake?" Wi

he sound didn't

from t

bright, spiraling open like a pupil. From its center, a

ga

said, grabbing his pack. "We need

know where i

mir said.

d faintly in red, leading east of the lake-beyond the old g

eled only w

nct