A fragile peace

The farmhouse sat in an uneasy stillness as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the land. Inside, the air was thick with tension, and Jasmine could feel it pressing down on her with every passing moment. The soldiers were gone—for now—but the danger was far from over.

After her frantic warning, Caden and Nathan had acted swiftly. They hid Caden in the cellar, where the soldiers wouldn't think to look if they came snooping. Jasmine's heart had pounded in her chest as she watched her father speak to the men with a calm that seemed unnatural, given the circumstances. He told them what they wanted to hear—no, they hadn't seen anyone matching Caden's description; no deserters had passed through the area. The soldiers had asked questions, their eyes sharp and their hands resting too casually on their weapons, but eventually, they rode off, leaving behind only the faint echo of their suspicion.

Now, with the soldiers gone and the farmhouse bathed in the dim light of evening, Jasmine felt the weight of the day settle heavily on her shoulders. The fragile peace they had carved out in the wake of the war felt like it could shatter at any moment. Her mind spun with thoughts of what could have happened if the soldiers had been more thorough, if they had found Caden.

Nathan sat at the table, his face hard and unreadable as he stared into the distance. The fire in the hearth crackled softly, but the warmth it offered did nothing to ease the cold knot of fear in Jasmine's stomach.

"We can't keep this up," Nathan said at last, his voice low and gruff. "It's only a matter of time before they come back."

Jasmine knew he was right, but hearing the words spoken aloud made it feel more real. The soldiers hadn't believed them, not entirely. They would return—whether in days or weeks, it was only a matter of time. And when they did, they wouldn't be as easily convinced.

"We need a plan," Jasmine said quietly, her voice trembling with the weight of the situation.

Nathan's eyes flicked toward her, softening slightly. "We have a plan," he replied. "Caden leaves. That's the only way to keep us safe."

Jasmine's heart tightened at the thought. Sending Caden away meant sending him into danger, but keeping him here put all of them at risk. It was an impossible choice, one that weighed heavily on her. She had only known him for a short time, but already, she couldn't imagine the thought of him walking away—especially not with that letter still in his possession.

Caden emerged from the cellar, his face pale but composed. He had heard every word, of course. The farmhouse was small, and secrets were difficult to keep. He leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest as he studied the two of them.

"I'll leave in the morning," Caden said, his voice steady despite the turmoil that was clearly brewing inside him. "It's the only way. I won't drag you into this any further."

Jasmine's chest tightened. "You can't leave. Not yet."

"I have to," Caden replied, shaking his head. "If I stay, they'll come back. And when they do, it'll be worse. They'll search every corner of this place, and you'll all be punished for hiding me."

"But where will you go?" she asked, her voice rising with a mix of desperation and fear. "You're not safe out there. You said yourself they're hunting you."

Caden's jaw clenched, his eyes flashing with frustration. "I'll figure it out."

Nathan stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. "This isn't up for debate," he said sharply. "He leaves. End of story."

Jasmine opened her mouth to argue, but the look on her father's face stopped her. He wasn't just scared—he was angry, a simmering rage that had been building for days now. Nathan had always been a man of few words, but when he made up his mind, it was like trying to move a mountain.

Caden met her gaze, and for a moment, something unspoken passed between them. It wasn't just the fear of the soldiers or the danger of the letter—it was the fragile connection they had formed in the midst of all this chaos. A connection that now felt as though it was slipping through her fingers.

Jasmine couldn't let him leave. Not like this.

"I'll go with him," she blurted out, her voice louder than she intended.

Nathan and Caden both turned to stare at her, their expressions mirroring the shock she felt at her own words. But now that the thought had crossed her mind, she knew it was the only way. She couldn't stay here, not while Caden was out there, running for his life. If he was going to survive, he would need help—someone who knew the land, someone who could get him through the forests and across the borders.

"What are you talking about?" Nathan asked, his voice low and dangerous. "You're not going anywhere, Jasmine. This isn't your fight."

Jasmine stood her ground, her heart pounding in her chest. "It became my fight the moment he showed up at our door. If we send him out there alone, he'll die. You know that."

Nathan's face hardened. "You're not going with him. You stay here, where it's safe."

"Safe?" Jasmine laughed bitterly. "There's no safety here anymore. Not with the soldiers coming back, not with this war hanging over us. The only way we stay safe is if we stop pretending that nothing's changed."

Nathan clenched his fists, his frustration evident. But before he could say anything, Caden stepped forward, placing a hand on Jasmine's arm.

"You don't have to do this," he said softly. "This isn't your burden to carry."

Jasmine turned to face him, her eyes filled with determination. "Yes, it is. We're in this together now. And if you're leaving, I'm coming with you."

The room fell into a heavy silence, broken only by the crackle of the fire. Nathan looked as though he wanted to argue, but the resolve in Jasmine's eyes seemed to stop him. He knew, deep down, that there was no convincing her otherwise.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Nathan let out a long, weary sigh. He rubbed a hand over his face, the weight of the world seeming to settle on his shoulders.

"Fine," he muttered. "But don't think for a second that I approve of this."

Jasmine nodded, relief flooding through her. She knew this wasn't a victory—not really. But it was the only path forward, the only way to protect Caden and herself. The fragile peace they had built here, on this farm, was crumbling, and the only way to survive was to face the danger head-on.

As the night settled in, Jasmine sat by the fire, her heart heavy with the knowledge that in the morning, everything would change. The road ahead was filled with uncertainty, but at least she wouldn't be walking it alone.

In the fragile silence of the farmhouse, the storm of war and secrets lingered, waiting to break.