Chapter 9: The Road to the Vault

Dawn came slowly, a grey bleed of light through the shutters. Kai Cheng had not slept—not truly. He had packed and repacked his satchel three times, counting each item: dried meat, a waterskin, bandages, a small pouch of alchemical herbs, the map, and the Heart of the River, which now sat wrapped in oiled cloth against his chest. Each time he touched it, the stone seemed to pulse, warm and insiste...