Hidden Pathways

Covert Expedition - Chapter 83

Zach and Ruby'ck rapped on the heavy wooden door of Haerak's house, their knuckles echoing in the quiet night. A minute crawled by without any response from within.

"Seems like no one's home," Ruby'ck observed.

"Maybe. But this is usually where Haerak spends his evenings," Zach noted, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

"You're right. He's not one to wander off at this hour," Ruby'ck agreed, scanning the darkness around them.

"Well, let's give it another try," Zach suggested, knocking again.

Still met with silence, Ruby'ck's patience waned. "Zach, maybe we should just call it a night. Haerak might have dozed off," she proposed.

"Hmm, just hold on for a moment, Ruby'ck. I'll take a quick look through the window," Zach decided, stepping toward the nearest window and peering inside.

His eyes caught sight of a large family portrait illuminated by a flickering candle and ten gold bars on the ground. "A family portrait? A gold bars, I didn't know this village have such golds. That's unexpected," Zach murmured to himself. "Does Haerak have a wife and child? Or perhaps it's not his family at all. But why keep such a portrait if they're not truly his kin?" 

Zach's mind raced with questions, uncertainty creeping into his thoughts, "I wonder if there's more to Haerak than we realize."

"Hey, Zach, what do you see there? Is the chief really asleep? Or is he just not inside the home at this moment?" Ruby'ck said as she slowly approached him, her curiosity piqued by the dim glow of the candlelight.

"I don't see him here at all. But regarding that candle, he must've been here a moment ago and forgot to put it out," Zach said, his voice hushed as they stood before the mysterious scene.

"Woah, what's that big family portrait? Wait, what. The chief himself? But who's the woman and the kid. Wait, don't tell me they're his wife and kid? But where are they exactly?" Ruby'ck's voice was filled with incredulity as she observed the portrait, her brow furrowing in confusion.

"Same thought, it seems weird to be owning a portrait, especially that huge if it doesn't have a huge impact on your life," Zach replied, his gaze shifting between the portrait and the flickering candlelight, a sense of unease settling in the air around them.

"Zach, do you think he's keeping secrets from us?" Ruby'ck's voice trembled slightly, her eyes fixed on the portrait.

"It's hard to say. But whatever it is, it seems deeply personal," Zach replied, his brows knit with concern.

"Maybe he's hiding his past, or protecting someone he cares about," Ruby'ck mused, her thoughts swirling with uncertainty.

"Perhaps," Zach murmured, his gaze lingering on the portrait, a myriad of emotions crossing his features.

"Whatever it is, we should respect his privacy," Ruby'ck said softly, her tone laced with empathy.

"Agreed. But it's hard not to wonder," Zach admitted, a note of sadness in his voice.

They turned away from the window, a sense of mystery hung in the air, leaving them both with unanswered questions and a newfound understanding of their enigmatic leader.

"Should we start heading home now? We need to find Nert and make sure he drinks the potion," Ruby'ck suggested.

"Agreed. But about Nert, I already gave the potion to Leeani. She and the others are taking care of finding him and getting him to drink it," Zach explained.

"Oh, I didn't realize. Thanks for taking care of that," Ruby'ck replied, a hint of gratitude in her voice.

"Let's go back then, Ruby'ck," Zach said.

"Yeah, let's go home, together," Ruby'ck said, her smile warm and genuine as they walked side by side.

"Zach," Ruby'ck began, her voice soft and gentle as they walked side by side.

"Yes, Ruby'ck?" Zach responded, casting a sideways glance at her.

"I just wanted to say thank you for always looking out for me," she said, her cheeks turning a faint shade of pink.

"It's my pleasure, Ruby'ck. I'll always be here to protect you," Zach replied, his tone filled with sincerity.

"I know, but... it means a lot to me," Ruby'ck murmured, her gaze drifting to their intertwined hands.

"Ruby'ck, there's something I've been meaning to tell you," Zach said, his heart fluttering nervously in his chest.

"What is it, Zach?" Ruby'ck asked, turning to face him with a curious expression.

"I... I care about you. More than just a friend," Zach confessed, his eyes searching hers for any sign of reciprocation.

Ruby'ck gasped, her heart fluttering in her chest as she felt a rush of warmth flood her cheeks. "I didn't expect you to say that."

Zach's confession caught her off guard, and she found herself at a loss for words. Her mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions, unsure of how to respond to his heartfelt admission.

"I've been wanting to tell you for a while now," Zach confessed, his voice soft and earnest, his cheeks tinted with a gentle blush.

Ruby'ck felt her heart skip a beat at his words, her stomach fluttering with butterflies as she gazed into his eyes. His sincerity touched her deeply, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of affection towards him.

"I... I don't know what to say," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper, her cheeks flushed with a rosy hue.

Zach reached out, gently squeezing her hand in reassurance. "Take your time," he said softly, his eyes filled with warmth and understanding. "I just wanted you to know how I feel."

"Thank you, Zach," Ruby'ck replied, her voice barely audible as she felt a shy smile tug at the corners of her lips. "I appreciate your honesty."

Zach's fingers tentatively intertwined with Ruby'ck's, a gentle warmth spreading between them, igniting a blush on Ruby'ck's cheeks.

Her heart skipped a beat at the unexpected touch, her breath catching in her throat as she glanced up at Zach with wide eyes.

"Uh!" Ruby'ck muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Zach furrowed his brow in confusion, his gaze softening as he noticed Ruby'ck's reaction. "What is it?" he asked, his tone filled with concern.

"N-nothing," Ruby'ck stammered, her blush deepening as she looked away, unable to meet his gaze.

Feeling emboldened by Zach's gesture, Ruby'ck mustered the courage to gently squeeze his hand in return, her heart fluttering with nervous anticipation.

Their footsteps slowed as they continued their journey, the comfortable silence between them filled with unspoken words and shared emotions. They walked hand in hand, a sense of warmth and affection enveloped them, their connection growing stronger with each passing moment.