Aiken is rudely awakened by the vermite statue – although this time it's being held by Sylvania Jack instead of moving on its own. The Kadie is a bit blurry headed, and unsure if the incident with the vermite last night was all just a nightmare now. He also doesn't know why he's in a sacrificial gown and his clothes have vanished.

Jack is amused by the whole thing, and explains that he still has business with Granny Oggton, so will be sticking around for a few more days at least. He tries to convince Aiken to join him in digging up the past, and the Kadie is torn – he has responsibilities, after all, and can't just leave his family to go adventuring!

The otter tempts him with mysteries close to home: there are a lot of interesting legends about the Stonebarrow region worth looking into, right in Aiken's own backyard as it where. This gets the Kadie to agree – assuming he can convince his wife.

He makes it home in a borrowed pair of pants, and manages to sneak in and get into some of his own clothes before Curiel and Kiona wake up. Then he surprises them and offers Curiel the Gigi sarong he kept for her – which makes her suspicious, of course.

Aiken explains about doing a little adventuring with Jack – not anyplace far off though – and how if he passes up the opportunity he'll always regret it. Curiel sighs and conditionally agrees, depending on just where and how long her husband would be away.