The aftermath of the assault on the coalition's hub lingered like a bitter taste in the air. The camp was quieter than usual, its occupants weary and subdued. They had won the skirmish, but the victory had come at a cost. Lives had been lost, supplies had been drained, and the traitor among them had yet to be unmasked.
Aiden sat near the edge of the camp, sharpening his blade with methodical precision. Each scrape of the whetstone was a reminder of the fight that still lay ahead. The scarred woman approached him, her movements deliberate and controlled. She had taken to watching him more closely since his return, her suspicions simmering beneath a façade of leadership.
"You didn't tell me everything before the mission," she said, her voice low but firm.
Aiden met her gaze, his expression unreadable. "I didn't know how much I could trust you."
Her eyes narrowed, but she didn't argue. "Do you trust me now?"