After his encounter with the Whispering Secret, Jack's ride to rejoin the others did nothing to ease his anxiety. When he reached the hill overlooking Stone Wall Marsh, the group met him with suspicious looks, their expressions questioning the unspoken task that had drawn him away. Jack forced a smile, though it felt hollow and heavy with guilt.

  Kleo greeted him with a smile, embraced him, and kissed him sweetly. The taste of Woog honey lingered on her lips—a brief comfort against the knot in his chest.

  The bitter irony of his new secret weighed heavily on him—he had betrayed Kleo and Rugr's trust by revealing an Astirian secret to the creature. The thought churned in his mind like the murky waters of the marsh below. What tormented him most wasn't the betrayal itself but its futility. The hive mind had merely delighted in his treachery, offering only a cryptic riddle in return—yet another twist that deepened his frustration with the encounter.

  He sat down without a word, accepting a sandwich from Kleo. She leaned into him, her expression serene as she deftly guided the group's attention to a new topic. Jack ignored their banter, his thoughts turning inward as he wrestled with the consequences of the encounter. The nagging sense of the creature’s manipulation wouldn't leave him. Next time, he would demand something concrete—no more riddles.

  Kleo shifted behind him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and kissing his neck. Her voice was a gentle whisper against the breeze. "Let it go," she said. "Whatever happened, it's done. I need you here, Jack. With me." Her words seeped through the tightness in his chest as he focused on letting the tension dissolve. She was right. The encounter with the Whispering Secret belonged to the past. Whether it had been a mistake no longer mattered. What counted was this moment—being here, with her.

  He leaned his head against hers and whispered, "I love you, Kleo."

  She hugged him tighter. "Always?" she whispered.

  "Always," he replied, his smile finally reaching his eyes.

  Jack stood, stretching and brushing dirt from his hands. "Why's everyone sitting around? We've got places to be, boxes to find. Let's move, people."

  Rugr's gaze was sharp, his jaw set as if weighing a retort. Jack grinned, testing the waters. "Come on, old man. You've got the lead on this one. We're all right behind you. Besides, you can always kill me after we find the box."

  For a moment, Rugr looked like he might take Jack up on the offer. Then, to Jack's surprise, Rugr's expression softened, and the corner of his mouth twitched. "Aye," he said dryly, "I suppose I can."

  Kleo shot them a stern look, though her tone betrayed humor. "Father, please remember—no one kills Jack without my permission. Got it?"

  Rugr's smile deepened, a rare warmth breaking through his gruff exterior. "Yes, sweetheart, I got it."

  Jack turned to Kleo, eyebrows raised. "Sweetheart?"

  She shrugged, eyes twinkling. "I don't know—I kind of like it."

  Jack laughed, the guilt finally forgotten.

  As they approached the road where the abandoned wagon rested, Rugr dismounted and motioned for the others to do likewise.

  "I buried the box in the marsh across the road, southeast of the wagon," he said. "When we reach the road, we'll tether the horses and proceed on foot."

  The group nodded, recognizing the need for caution.

  "We can't assume we're alone," Rugr continued. "They've sent a search party for the box, and they could be nearby—or worse, waiting in ambush. Move quietly and stay alert." He waited for each person to nod before leading his horse down the slope toward the road.

  They halted on a flat stretch overlooking the road, waiting in silence. Only the occasional rustle of leaves and distant bird calls broke the stillness. Rugr intensely scanned the surroundings, his hand resting on his sword hilt. As Will secured the horses, the others kept watch, their eyes searching the trees and underbrush for any hint of movement.

  The forest held an ordinary peace—a natural quiet that felt deceptively normal. After a few minutes, Rugr signaled them forward, and they descended toward the road in a well-spaced line, every sense alert. Jack took the rear position, his nerves crackling with anticipation.

  At the road's edge, Rugr crouched and raised his hand for a halt. His eyes narrowed as he studied the ground, tracing faint imprints in the mud. After a moment, he stood and moved back to the group, speaking in hushed tones.

  "Fresh tracks from four horses—one or two days old. The prints are puddled from last night's rain but still readable. Thespis and his men must be heading toward the village where we found Jack."

  Will leaned in and murmured, "Let me cross first. If anyone's hiding nearby, I might draw them out."

  Rugr considered for a moment before nodding. Will moved onto the road, crouching to study the tracks. Rising, he let out an exaggerated yawn and stretched his arms overhead with deliberate nonchalance. His sword clinked against his belt in the stillness—an intentional signal to any watchers. Adjusting his waistband with theatrical flair, he strolled into the woods on the far side of the road. There, he crouched, watching and listening, waiting to see if he had drawn any unwanted attention.

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  After several moments of silence, Will signaled for the next person to cross. Maya darted over to join him, her eyes scanning the treeline. She whispered something, and Will responded with another hand signal. Rugr crossed next, moving across the road with practiced stealth, each step silent and precise.

  Kleo flashed Jack a playful smile. "See you on the other side," she whispered, then stepped onto the road. In contrast to the others' cautious movements, she walked with unhurried grace, as if daring anyone to notice. She reached the far side and joined the others with a confident nod.

  Jack hesitated, heart pounding as he scanned the road. He stepped out with deliberate care, keeping low and treading lightly. As he crossed, the forest seemed to hold its breath, its oppressive silence weighing upon him. Reaching the other side, he exhaled softly and crouched beside Kleo.

  Rugr gestured for them to follow as he turned away from the road. Leading them deeper into the woods, he moved with heightened vigilance. The group pressed on toward the buried box, every sense alert. They flinched at each snap of a twig or rustle of leaves, pausing to see if their presence had been detected.

  Upon reaching the marsh, Rugr guided them along a maze of narrow land bridges that stretched deeper into the wetlands. They leaped across shallow stretches of water, their boots sliding on the soft, muddy ground. The marsh buzzed with life—small flocks of birds burst into flight as the group passed, their cries dissolving into the heavy afternoon air.

  Deep in the marsh maze, Rugr halted. “There,” he said, pointing to a patch of water. "About four feet out. The water's waist-deep. Jack and I will retrieve it."

  Jack eyed the dark water with apprehension, its surface filmed with a slimy mixture of green algae and yellow pollen. Rugr had already stripped off his pants and waded in with confident strides. Looking back, he said, "What are you waiting for? I can't haul it out alone."

  Jack grimaced but complied, removing his boots and pants, then eased into the cold, murky water. The silt sucked at his feet as he moved, each step a struggle. When the water reached his waist, he stifled a yelp as the chill seized his core. Rugr smirked. "Stop whining. The sooner we get this done, the sooner you're back on dry land."

  Jack muttered under his breath as he waded toward Rugr, stubbing his toe on the submerged box. Rugr ignored his glare and reached down, using a hand-hold to heave his end. Together, they wrestled the box from the muck and dragged it back toward the shore.

  The group gathered around the box, its surface obsidian black and smooth as polished glass. Its beveled corners and intricate ivory inlay formed a design that rippled in the sunlight. A mesmerizing swirling pattern adorned one side, but the box showed no seams, hinges, or openings—a single piece of masterful craftsmanship.

  “That’s a nice box,” Jack said, suppressing the urge to whistle.

  “I’ve never seen anything like it,” Will said. “I can’t even imagine how it was made.”

  “Craftsmanship and Magic,” Maya said, as if that wasn’t obvious.

  Jack stared at it silently. During their wagon journey, this box had lain beneath a blanket where he'd slept. The thought of spending two nights resting above its contents was unsettling, but what he found even more disturbing was that the box contained the living body of his mother-in-law.

  “How does she breathe in there? There aren’t any holes for air,” Jack asked, although the question felt rhetorical.

  “Magic,” Maya said.

  When Jack and Will turned to look at her, she understood. “Oh, I guess that’s obvious.”

  They nodded and turned back to watch Kleo kneeling by the box, wiping away debris and mud. She traced the swirling design with her fingers—a gesture that felt almost reverent. With a deep breath, she placed both hands along the top and closed her eyes. Jack felt the familiar stir of mana, a subtle connection through their bond.

  Kleo tilted her head back, her mouth parting as if to speak—but instead, she gave a sharp gasp and stumbled backward. Jack was instantly at her side, steadying her.

  "What happened?" he asked, worry evident in his voice.

  She shook her head, her eyes distant. "I'm fine," she said. "I pushed mana into the box to strengthen the spell. The heartbeat surged—stronger than I expected. I’m okay... but I was caught off guard."

  “Smart idea," Maya said. "Feeding it mana could buy more time before the body begins to deteriorate.”

  Kleo smiled, appreciating the praise.

  Rugr exchanged a glance with Will. "Let's move this closer to the road."

  Rugr and Will lifted the box with surprising ease. Will's eyebrows rose at its unexpected lightness. Given the box's ornate appearance (and contents), he had anticipated a much heavier burden. Jack wondered if magic was woven into its construction as the weight defied natural explanation.

  At the road, Will retrieved the horses as Rugr gathered poles and canvas from his pack. Working together, they fashioned a makeshift litter to trail behind one of the mounts. Jack sat beside Kleo, who remained deep in thought.

  "Are you sure you're okay?" he asked.

  Kleo nodded, though her gaze remained fixed on the box. "I'm still processing it. My mother's in there. It's... a lot to take in."

  He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, offering what comfort he could. "I understand—well, as much as I can. Just know I'm here if you need anything, even if it's only to talk."

  She leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. "I know," she whispered. "I depend on you, Jack. More than you realize."

  After a moment, she pulled back to look at him, her eyes searching and vulnerable. "If I ever change—if my transformation makes me...someone else—you'll still love me, right?"

  Jack's smile was gentle but unwavering. "I can't imagine not loving you, Kleo. No matter what happens, you'll always be you to me."

  She sighed, her shoulders softening as she buried her face against his chest. He stroked her hair, wishing he could ease her fears. Yet deep within, he knew she wrestled with doubts beyond his understanding.

  After the group finished securing the box, Rugr motioned them forward. They walked the road on foot, testing the litter's stability while minimizing noise. Though each scrape of the poles against the ground set Jack's nerves on edge, he found calm in the steady rhythm of his companions' footsteps.

  As they neared the wagon site, tension hung thick in the air. Jack couldn't shake the feeling that their task—straightforward on the surface—marked only the beginning of something more perilous.

  The Whispering Secret had indicated as much. Something waited—something that would draw Kleo in, and him with her.

  His thoughts returned to the tiny house in the Woog village. Would they ever be able to make a life there, or would something always pull Kleo in a different direction? He accepted his fate for now, but would he always?