We reached Gate Four at dusk. The arch threw a long shadow across the landing. Two wardens stood by the post with spears down and tight mouths. The wardline along the threshold pulsed steady, but the hair on my arms didn't like it. The air had a thin trace of iron-pine and oil.
"Cold kits only," Liora said. "No aura flares. No speeches. If something moves, make it pick a bad angle. Valcrey, Lantern and tools. Veyron, weight checks. Wardens hold the mouth. Nobody crosses the line unless I say."
"Understood," Cael said.
"Understood," I said.
I took the Bone Lantern from my pouch, set it in my palm, and woke it with a breath. Cold light bloomed without heat. No rune hiss. No spark. I kept it at half.
"Marrow, shade," I whispered. The hound slid into the shadow under the pillar and went statue-still. "Hollow, shade." The bird melted into the arch's dark like ink under water. The leash hummed but stayed clean. No fuzz.
