Chapter 8: The Mountain Where Nobody Returns
The symbol bothered Corvin.
Not because he understood it.
Because he didn’t.
For the rest of the day, he searched through his father’s journal.
Every page.
Every mark.
Every hidden note.
But Elias Torne had been careful.
Too careful.
The answers were there.
Just buried beneath layers of caution.
By evening, the Apache warriors had created a camp around the ranch.
Not as soldiers.
As protectors.
Corvin noticed the difference.
Nobody entered his home without permission.
Nobody touched his property.
They respected the land.
Something he had not expected.
Aiyana sat near the fence, looking toward the mountains.
Corvin approached.
“You knew about the marker.””
She did not deny it.
“Yes.””
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I did not know if I could trust you.””
The honesty surprised him.
He sat beside her.
“Fair.””
She looked at him.
“You are not angry?””
“I should be.””
“But?””
Corvin looked at the ranch.
“I have spent years believing everyone wanted something from me.””
Aiyana was quiet.
“Maybe I was wrong.””
A small smile appeared.
“Maybe.””
They sat in silence.
For the first time since she arrived, the ranch felt peaceful.
Then Aiyana spoke.
“My mother died because of this valley.””
Corvin looked at her.
“What?””
“She was protecting the second marker.””
The words changed everything.
“She knew where it was?””
“Yes.””
“And Silas?””
“He knew too.””
Corvin looked toward the mountains.
“So this has been happening for years.””
Aiyana nodded.
“My family protected the truth.””
She looked at him.
“Your family protected the location.””
Corvin looked down.
Two families.
Two histories.
One secret.
He understood now.
His father had not hidden the truth because he wanted power.
He had hidden it because he feared what people would do for it.
The next morning, Nantan arrived with the journal.
“We found something.””
Corvin stood.
“What?””
The chief opened the book.
A page had been folded.
Inside was a drawing.
A mountain.
A small trail.
And a mark.
The same circle with a line through it.
Nantan pointed.
“This is the second marker.””
Corvin looked at the drawing.
“Where?””
The chief looked toward the northern mountains.
“The place where nobody returns.””
The name alone made the warriors nearby grow quiet.
Corvin noticed.
“What happened there?””
Nantan looked serious.
“Many years ago, men went there searching for what was hidden.””
“And?””
“They never came back.””
Corvin stared.
“Because of the land?””
“Because of what they brought with them.””
Aiyana stepped closer.
“What do you mean?””
Nantan looked at her.
“Greed.””
The answer was simple.
But it carried years of pain.
Corvin looked at the mountains.
He knew what he should do.
Stay.
Protect the ranch.
Wait for authorities.
But something inside him knew Silas would not stop.
The man would keep coming.
Until he found what he wanted.
Or destroyed everything trying.
“I’m going.””
Aiyana immediately looked at him.
“No.””
Corvin frowned.
“You need to know what is there.””
“I do.””
“Then why stop me?””
“Because people who go there looking for answers usually find something else.””
“What?””
Aiyana looked at the mountain.
“The truth about themselves.””
Corvin almost smiled.
“That sounds like something my father would say.””
“It probably is.””
He looked at her.
“What?””
She hesitated.
Then reached into her clothing.
She pulled out a small folded piece of paper.
Old.
Worn.
Corvin recognized the handwriting before she opened it.
His father’s.
His heart stopped.
“Where did you get that?””
Aiyana looked at him.
“My mother kept it.””
Corvin unfolded the paper.
Only one sentence was written.
If Corvin ever finds this, tell him I was sorry I could not protect him from the truth.
His hands shook.
Below the sentence was another line.
A line that made his blood run cold.
The second marker is not hidden from men.
It is hidden from my son.
Corvin looked up.
Aiyana’s face was full of concern.
And then a distant sound interrupted them.
A rifle shot.
Everyone turned toward the northern mountains.
Another shot followed.
Then another.
Nantan grabbed his weapon.
“They found us.””
Corvin looked at the trail.
“Who?””
The chief’s expression darkened.
“Silas.””
Aiyana stared into the distance.
“No.””
Corvin looked at her.
“What?””
Her voice was barely a whisper.
“He is not going after the marker anymore.””
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A pause.
“He is going after whoever reaches it first.””
