From a distance, the enormous sandstone wall looked like a single unbroken ridge. But as the riders approached, a narrow opening became visible between two leaning slabs.
Water emerged from beneath the stone.
It flowed into a shallow basin, crossed a bed of white pebbles, then disappeared beneath another ledge before continuing toward the main river.
Ren dismounted.
She stood quietly for several moments, looking around.
"I remember this place."
Elias turned.
"You've been here before?"
She nodded.
"My grandmother brought me here when I was little."
Willow Song approached.
"She brought many children here."
Ren looked toward the water.
"She said the river had two faces. One everyone could see, and another hidden beneath the earth."
The elderly healer smiled sadly.
"She wanted you to understand that what is visible is not always the whole truth."
Elias reached into his vest.
He withdrew his father's broken gold watch.
The cracked crystal caught the sunlight.
He opened the back and examined the little engraving.
A mountain.
A winding river.
A small notch near a bend.
Ren approached.
"May I?"
He handed it to her.
She studied the engraving carefully.
Then looked toward the spring.
Her expression changed.
"Elias."
"What?"
She pointed toward the western bank.
"That stone."
A pale, almost triangular rock stood beside the water.
Its surface was marked by a dark vertical crack.
Ren held the watch beside it.
"The little notch isn't a mark on the river."
Elias frowned.
"What is it?"
"A rock."
She pointed again.
"That rock."
Two Feathers slowly approached.
He stopped when he saw where she was pointing.
For a moment, his face lost all color.
Elias noticed.
"That's the place?"
The older warrior nodded.
"Yes."
Ren lowered the watch.
She looked at Elias.
"Your father left you the way back."
Elias stared at the engraving.
For twenty years, he had carried the map to the place where his father died without ever understanding what it showed.
He slowly closed the watch.
Then walked toward the stone.
The hidden packet was buried beneath a narrow shelf of rock several feet above the spring.
Two Feathers located the spot without difficulty.
That alone made Elias's anger return.
He watched the older warrior kneel, brush away loose earth, and uncover a flat stone that had clearly been placed by human hands.
Beneath it lay a small iron container wrapped in remnants of oilcloth.
The metal had rusted.
But the lid remained tightly sealed.
Two Feathers lifted it carefully.
Then stood.
For a moment, he seemed unable to hand it over.
Elias extended his palm.
"Give it to me."
The older man obeyed.
The container felt surprisingly heavy.
Elias examined the seal.
Then looked toward Iron Elk.
"I want everyone here to see what comes out."
The chief nodded.
"We will witness it."
Elias placed the container on a flat stone.
With the help of a small knife, he loosened the corroded lid.