The damp air hung like a heavy cloak, and Jack shivered. “We should make a fire. I don’t see much that will burn, though.”

  Maya extended her arm, and a blue-orange flame leaped from her palm, casting flickering shadows on the cave walls.

  “Will, gather some rocks and pile them here, near where we’re sleeping.”

  Jack frowned. “Magic fire can burn rocks?”

  Maya laughed. “No, but it can heat them. The rocks will hold the warmth for a while.”

  Will brought an armful of stones, arranging them as Maya spread the flames across their base. She cupped her hands over the pile, drawing the fire upward, the glow growing steadier.

  Jack watched, fascinated. “Can you teach me to do that?”

  “Yes, but again, start with something simpler. Try keeping this fire alive while practicing your orb. See if you can manage both at the same time.”

  “That sounds… ambitious,” Jack muttered, but he conjured his orb anyway, letting it hover between him and the fire.

  Kleo smiled and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. “I’ll be back soon. I need to finalize plans with Rugr. They’ll leave in the morning. We’re heading deeper.”

  Jack nodded, too focused on the orb and the flickering fire to say much else.

  Will settled across from him, watching the spider clinging to the wall nearby. It was resting, legs folded beneath its body, eyes closed.

  When the fire began to wane, Jack instinctively adjusted the orb. Its hue shifted to a vibrant green, and the flames flared. Satisfied, Jack grinned. “I did that.”

  Will raised an eyebrow. “Did you mean to make the orb green?”

  Jack shrugged. “No. But hey, at least it didn’t collapse.”

  Will chuckled. “You might want to ask Maya about that. Messing with magic when you’re unsure what’s happening is not always a great idea. Try matching the orb to the fire. It might help align your focus.”

  Jack nodded, concentrating. The orb deepened into a red-orange glow tinged with dark undertones. At the same time, the flames burned brighter, their flickering dance casting shadows that seemed almost alive.

  Then came the signal: Blind.

  Bug Bug fell from the wall with a heavy thud, his legs flailing as he struggled to right himself. His movements were erratic, his legs skittering against the stone as though searching for balance.

  Another signal followed: Cluster? It felt more like a question than a command.

  “Bug Bug?” Jack said, standing. The orb disappeared as he moved, and the spider froze mid-step.

  “What’s going on?” Will asked, his tone sharp. “It looks like he’s having some kind of seizure.”

  The others rushed over, Rugr already reaching for his weapon. Bug Bug’s legs twitched as another signal pulsed through the bond: Cluster.

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  When Kleo approached, the signals shifted. Queen. Serve.

  Kleo hesitated, then responded with certainty: Serve.

  The spider stilled, re-orienting itself.

  Maya broke the silence first. “What just happened?”

  Will pointed to Jack. “It was the orb. When he shifted it to that fire-like color, Bug Bug fell off the wall.”

  Kleo frowned. “That doesn’t make sense. Jack is always playing with the orb, and he’s been experimenting with different colors for days.”

  “I’m telling you, it was the color,” Will insisted. “Try reproducing it, Jack.”

  Jack conjured the orb again. The spider remained unbothered as Jack cycled through shades of blue and green. But when he focused on matching the fire’s hue, the orb shifted to its previous red-orange glow.

  Bug Bug reacted immediately. Blind. The spider’s legs extended wildly, brushing against the wall and floor in disoriented movements.

  “Let it go!” Maya urged, and Jack released the orb. Bug Bug stopped, tilting toward Kleo with another signal: Queen. Serve?

  Kleo nodded. Serve. Rest.

  With visible relief, the spider returned to its perch.

  Maya’s eyes narrowed in thought. “I don’t think it’s visual. Bug Bug was resting when it happened, eyes closed. Whatever this is, it’s deeper than sight. The orb disrupts something in his mind, and it breaks his connection to Kleo.”

  Kleo’s expression shifted as understanding dawned. “If this can disrupt him, it might work on the entire nest. We could sever their connection to their queen.”

  “Or,” Will added, “we could make them ours.”

  The group exchanged a tense, excited glance, the possibilities sparking in their minds. If they could control the nest, they wouldn’t have to fight a horde—the horde would be their army.

  Kleo embraced Jack, her voice warm. “You amaze me, husband. This might be the key to defeating whatever’s waiting. Let’s build a plan around this and test it as soon as possible.”

  As Rugr and Thespis walked away, Thespis muttered, “Wow. Jack really is a genius or something.”

  Rugr snorted. “Jack’s something all right*.*”

  Will sighed, shaking his head as Jack fiddled with the now-innocent orb. “It’s maddening how he stumbles into these things.”

  Maya smiled, her gaze lingering on Jack. “It’s not luck, Will. The fates have a plan for him. I just wish I knew what it was.”

  Kleo wrapped her arms around Rugr and held him in a long embrace. He returned it warmly, his hands clutching her as though unwilling to let go. The change in their relationship over the past week was remarkable. Years of unspoken truths, buried beneath layers of uncertainty and misunderstanding, had finally been addressed. Nothing was left but the raw, honest affection they had always felt but rarely expressed.

  When she finally pulled away, her eyes lingered on his, a silent reassurance passing between them. Then she turned to Thespis, whose awkward posture betrayed his uncertainty. He shifted on his feet, glancing between her and Rugr, unsure whether he should expect a farewell hug or a simple goodbye.

  Kleo stepped toward him, smiling. She embraced him, pressing a light kiss to his cheek. She felt the tension drain from his body as he exhaled, his weak smile a mixture of gratitude and lingering self-doubt.

  “Trust Rugr,” she said, glancing at the older man. “You can always count on him.”

  Thespis shifted again, his gaze flickering toward Rugr. “I don’t think I have much choice,” he muttered, though his words had no bite. After a pause, he added, “If you find Sela… tell her I’m sorry. I’ve got… a lot to apologize for.”

  Kleo’s smile remained steady, though a shadow crossed her expression. She wanted to believe that Sela was still alive, but the odds seemed slim. Still, she nodded with quiet conviction. “I’ll let her know.”

  Rugr and Thespis moved to lift the box, their movements careful as they adjusted its weight between them. As they turned toward the tunnel that would take them up toward the surface, Rugr hesitated, looking back over his shoulder; his gaze rested on Kleo for a long moment.

  “Are you sure about this?” he asked, though the weight in his tone suggested he already knew her answer.

  “We’ve been over this,” she replied, her voice firm but not unkind. “Get yourselves—and my mother—to the sanctuary. That’s all that matters right now.”

  Rugr nodded, the lines of his face heavy with unspoken worry. Without another word, he turned into the shadows of the ascending tunnel.

  Kleo stood watching them disappear, the echoes of their footsteps fading into the distance. Then she turned back toward the others, the weight of what lay ahead settling on her shoulders. There was no room for hesitation now.