Silent betrayal

Chapter Thirty-Nine: Silent Betrayal

The night was unnervingly quiet. Jasmine sat near the edge of the camp, staring into the darkness that stretched out beyond the trees. Her mind was sharp, as always before a battle, but tonight felt different. There was a heaviness in the air that wasn't just the anticipation of bloodshed. Something was wrong. She could feel it, even if she couldn't yet name it.

Marcus had insisted on a final check of the defenses before everyone took their positions. The scouts had returned with confirmation: the king's army was closer than they had thought, moving faster through the rough terrain than anticipated. Still, Jasmine trusted their preparations. They had planned for this, and they were ready. Or so she thought.

As she stared into the night, Helena approached, her footsteps soft but deliberate. Jasmine glanced at her, noticing the tension in the commander's face. There was something distant in Helena's eyes, something she hadn't seen before.

"Helena," Jasmine greeted, her voice low. "Everything set?"

Helena nodded, though there was hesitation in her response. "The men are in place. The traps along the northern ridge are ready, and the archers are stationed in the trees."

"Good." Jasmine's gaze returned to the horizon, her fingers tightening around the hilt of her dagger. "We need to hit them before they know we're here. The element of surprise is the only advantage we have."

Helena was quiet for a moment, and Jasmine sensed the unease in her. She turned to face her fully. "Is something wrong?"

Helena looked away, her hands fidgeting. "It's just… I've been thinking about this plan. About our odds."

Jasmine raised an eyebrow. "We've discussed this. We can't go head-to-head with the king's army. We have to strike hard and fast, destabilize them before they overwhelm us."

"I know," Helena replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "But what if there's another way?"

Jasmine frowned. "Another way? What do you mean?"

Helena's hesitation was palpable now, her face drawn with uncertainty. "I mean… What if we didn't have to fight at all?"

Jasmine straightened, her instincts prickling with suspicion. "You're not making sense, Helena. What are you talking about?"

Helena finally met her eyes, and what Jasmine saw there made her heart drop. Guilt. A deep, gnawing guilt that chilled her to the bone.

"I spoke with someone," Helena said slowly, her voice trembling. "From the king's side."

Jasmine's blood ran cold. "What?"

"There's a way to end this," Helena continued, her words spilling out now. "The king… he's willing to negotiate. He doesn't want more bloodshed. If we surrender the letter and agree to lay down arms, he'll let us live. He'll let you live."

Jasmine's heart pounded in her chest, anger rising like a wave. "You did what? You spoke to the king's men?"

Helena's eyes filled with desperation. "Jasmine, listen to me. We don't have to die here. We don't have to lose everything. This rebellion—it's noble, but it's doomed. The king's army is too strong. If we fight them tomorrow, we'll all be slaughtered."

Jasmine's fists clenched, her nails digging into her palms. She felt the sting of betrayal, sharp and deep. "You went behind my back. You made a deal with them."

"I did it to save you!" Helena cried, stepping forward, her hands outstretched. "Don't you see? They're coming for you, Jasmine. The king wants the leader of this rebellion. If you surrender, the rest of us can live. We don't have to die for this cause!"

Jasmine stared at Helena, her heart aching with a mixture of fury and sorrow. "This isn't just about me, Helena. This is about all of us. About the people who have lost their homes, their families. You're asking me to betray everything we've fought for."

"No, I'm asking you to survive!" Helena's voice cracked. "We can't win, Jasmine. You know that. This rebellion… it's a dream. A beautiful dream, but it's not worth dying for."

Jasmine took a step back, her voice hard. "And what would you have me do? Hand over the letter? Surrender to the king and watch him crush everything we stand for? You think he'll just let us go? He'll make examples of us. He'll destroy us from the inside out."

Helena's shoulders slumped, tears brimming in her eyes. "I just wanted to protect you."

Jasmine shook her head, her heart breaking at the sight of her once-loyal commander. "You've already betrayed me, Helena. You've betrayed all of us."

The words hung in the air between them, heavy and final. Helena took a shaky breath, her voice barely audible. "I thought… I thought you'd understand."

Jasmine turned away, her jaw clenched tight. "Go. I can't look at you right now."

Helena hesitated for a moment longer, as if hoping for some kind of forgiveness, but there was none to be found. She turned and walked away, her footsteps fading into the night.

Jasmine remained where she was, her heart racing, her mind spinning. The betrayal stung more deeply than she had expected. Helena, of all people—someone she had trusted with her life, her secrets—had gone behind her back, speaking to the enemy.

Her hands trembled as she tried to steady herself. There wasn't time to dwell on it. The battle was coming, and now, more than ever, she had to focus. She couldn't afford any more distractions, couldn't let emotions cloud her judgment. The king's army would be here by morning, and they had to be ready.

But as the night wore on and the camp settled into a tense silence, Jasmine couldn't shake the gnawing feeling in her gut. Helena had betrayed her, but how many others shared her doubts? How many more might be swayed by the promise of survival over the cause they had fought for?

The rebellion was more fragile than ever, and Jasmine knew that in the heat of battle, the line between loyalty and betrayal was razor-thin.

She steeled herself, her eyes on the horizon. Tomorrow, the king's forces would come. Tomorrow, everything would be decided. But tonight, in the silence, she could only hope that those who stood with her would stay true.

Because in war, the greatest danger wasn't always the enemy outside—it was the traitor within.