The portal to the Shattered Throne tower wasn't hiding.
It stood right in the middle of a dead forest. It was a massive arch of broken white stone, sticking out of the dirt like the ribs of a buried giant. Pale grey light shimmered inside the arch. The ground around it was completely bare—no grass, no weeds, no life at all. The Court's corruption had burned through here a long time ago, leaving nothing behind but an empty scar.
Nathan stood in front of the arch with his team. The TCA had given them a full briefing, extra supplies, and enough health potions to last for weeks. The other heavy-hitter teams—Silver Drake, Red Dragon, Golden Hawk, and Goldcrest—stayed behind this time. The Shattered Throne was a diplomatic mission. Sending too many Climbers would look like an invasion. Nathan's party was walking in alone.
