When Maya emerged from the shelter, she pressed a hand to her brow, squinting against the midday sun. "Will, what’s going on?"

  Then, she spotted the older man seated by the fire.

  "Rugr?" Her eyes widened. "Where did you come from? I didn’t expect to see you."

  She instinctively straightened her clothes and ran a quick hand through her hair, smoothing it down.

  "Morning, Maya," Rugr said, lifting his tea in casual greeting. "Good to see you."

  His voice was steady, but there was a distinct flicker of unease behind his eyes.

  "At least you’re wearing clothes."

  She glanced down at herself, suddenly unsure. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

  Will smirked and gestured toward the nearby blanket, still half-crumpled on the ground.

  "Kleo. She, uh… enthusiastically greeted Rugr. Let’s just say the blanket didn’t exactly stay where it belonged."

  Maya raised a brow, her expression shifting from confusion to amusement. "What’s gotten into that girl?"

  She folded her arms, trying for stern, though the twitch at the corners of her lips betrayed her.

  "Who am I kidding? Sounds like her. She’s not exactly shy."

  Rugr groaned into his tea.

  "Yeah," Will said, grinning. "And Jack wasn’t much better. They’re getting dressed now."

  Something tightened in Maya’s chest—an odd twinge she didn’t want to name. She brushed it aside. Still, the image of Kleo—youthful, wild, radiant—lingered a beat too long. Her hand went reflexively to the faint lines near her eyes.

  She glanced sidelong at Will. "And I suppose you were the perfect gentleman, staring away the whole time?"

  Will raised both hands in mock surrender. "Didn’t see a thing. Swear it."

  "Uh-huh." Maya’s skeptical glare dissolved into a laugh. "Honestly, I kind of regret missing it. She is stunning."

  Will chuckled. "If you say so. I had a better view of Jack—again. You missed him in all his glory."

  Maya gave him a long, deadpan look.

  Will grinned, unrepentant. The tension between them sizzled just under the surface.

  Rugr groaned again, this time louder, shifting uncomfortably as if his tea might offer refuge.

  Maya noticed and softened. She placed a hand on his shoulder, grounding him.

  "Welcome to life with Jack and Kleo," she said. "It’s never dull, that’s for sure."

  Rugr exhaled, long and slow, eyes fixed on his cup.

  "I’m starting to see that," he muttered.

  Around the campfire, Kleo shifted nervously, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her tunic. She had saved this tunic for a special occasion—perhaps a quiet dinner with Jack. Rugr's arrival felt significant enough to warrant wearing it to breakfast.

  She had so much to tell Rugr that she didn't know where to begin, and her excitement was brimming, making it impossible for her to sit still.

  Sitting across from her, Maya gave Kleo a small, knowing smile—an attempt to calm her, though it only made her more aware of her mounting excitement. She drew in a deep breath, trying to center herself.

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  Rugr’s arrival wasn’t only a reunion; it had to mean something. Something big. She forced herself to remain quiet, determined to let Rugr speak first. Afterward, though? She’d tell him everything. Everything. A sly grin tugged at her lips—she’d pin him to a tree if she had to, and he would never see it coming.

  Will broke the silence. "Your arrival is quite unexpected. I’m going to guess it’s not because you missed us."

  Rugr looked at Kleo. He missed the girl but wouldn’t say it in front of the group.

  He studied each member of the group in turn. His gaze lingered on Jack, assessing him. Jack met his eyes without flinching, and Rugr sensed the boy's hostility. If Jack suspected Rugr intended to kill him, that would explain the animosity.

  "Much has happened since I left you at the wagon," he began. "I won't go through everything now. I'll focus on why I'm here and what comes next. Then you can ask your questions."

  Everyone nodded, waiting for him to continue.

  "When Kleo and I left Astiria, our mission was to recover a box. The box was hidden beneath the floor of a small temple in the middle of nowhere, north and east of Cabal. Once recovered, we were to deliver it to a sea captain in Balta. The captain’s orders were to jettison it into the deepest ocean."

  A quiet tension settled over the group. Even Jack, who already knew part of the story, stayed silent.

  "For reasons I won't discuss" —Rugr's gaze flicked pointedly to Jack— "we picked up a stranger in a nameless village near the temple. When the wagon mysteriously broke down" —his sharp eyes turned to Kleo— "Kleo and our new friendleft on foot."

  Rugr felt his annoyance get the better of him. “Where were you heading, anyway? Ilimar?”

  Kleo shrugged, not wanting to reveal the temple from her dream. “Eventually, sure.”

  “Right,” Rugr continued. “After Kleo and Jack left for unknown parts, I returned to secure the box, hiding it in a safe location. Then, I rode for Balta as planned, hoping the captain could give me useful information. After much thought, I concluded that Balta was a trap. Kleo and I were being set up. Our fate was to be similar to the box.”

  Jack grimaced, but Kleo didn’t react. She had figured this out before Rugr even knew he should consider it.

  “The captain didn’t confirm that, but he dropped enough hints to confirm a threat. As Kleo had already surmised, more was happening than I realized.”

  Kleo beamed at the recognition.

  He paused, scanning the group. “Everyone with me so far?”

  Jack raised a hand. “What’s in the box?”

  Kleo jabbed him with her elbow. Jack winced, rubbing his ribs, but didn’t protest.

  Rugr nodded his approval.

  "When I left the captain, something most unexpected happened. I ran into someone I hadn’t seen in a very long time—an ally. We talked, and I understood what was in the box—not specifics, but enough. That conversation was revealing, answering questions I didn’t know I had. After that conversation, I know Kleo and I are caught in the middle of something far more sinister than I anticipated."

  Kleo blinked, startled. Rugr’s words carried a gravity she hadn’t expected.

  "Suspecting you two would head for Ilimar, I rode to the city. After I got the lay of the land from a man I trust, I met with Will and asked him to find you."

  "Sorry, Maya, I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist tagging along when you heard Kleo could wield the ancient magic."

  Maya arched her eyebrows but couldn't deny Rugr's words.

  "None of this explains why you’re here," Will said.

  "True enough."

  Rugr leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Astiria’s leadership has sent two search parties. One for Kleo centered around Medina, and a second to find and destroy the box."

  "Thespis"—he hesitated, glancing at Kleo—"Kleo’s brother is leading the team after the box."

  "You have a brother?" Jack’s tone was half-surprised, half-annoyed.

  Kleo rolled her eyes. "Not now, Jack. We’ll talk later."

  Jack crossed his arms but stayed quiet, though his expression said they would definitely talk later.

  "They'll start in Balta and retrace our steps to where we found it. Since they might discover its hiding place, I will retrieve the box and return it to its rightful location."

  "What’s in the box?" Jack asked again, this time more insistently.

  Rugr pinched the bridge of his nose. "Remains."

  Jack’s face twisted in confusion. "Remains? Like a body?"

  Kleo sighed. "Yes, Jack. A person."

  "You’re telling me I spent two days in a wagon with a dead body? And slept next to it?"

  "Relax, cupcake," Kleo said, annoyed with him. "You also got to meet me."

  Jack gave her a deadpan look but softened as her irresistible charm worked its magic.

  Will leaned forward. "Do you know whose remains they are?"

  "I have an idea, but I'll leave it at that for now. What I do know is that these remains were dangerous enough for Astiria to want them—and Kleo and me, along with them—sunk in the deepest part of the ocean. For whatever reason, what's in that box matters deeply to someone."

  Maya’s expression turned thoughtful. "I’d like to hear more about the box. We can talk about it later. Everyone needs to eat—and Rugr—you look like you could use some sleep."

  The group exchanged disappointed looks, but Rugr nodded. "Sleep would be best."

  Will exhaled. "All right. Let’s table it for now. Let’s eat. We can discuss more later and determine if this changes Kleo and Jack’s plans."

  Rugr stood, fatigue etched into his features. "Wake me in two hours," he said, heading toward Will and Maya’s shelter. "We can talk more then."

  As he disappeared into the tent, the group sat quietly, each turning over Rugr’s words in their minds. The thought of breakfast did little to dispel the unease in the air.

  Jack looked at Kleo, eyes squinting. "Right after we eat. We’re going for a walk."