Night watch

The night was unnervingly quiet after the battle. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a silver light over the farm that had become their fortress. The once lush fields were now scarred with the remnants of the clash: broken weapons, deep ruts in the earth, and the bodies of those who had fallen. The silence felt unnatural, a stark contrast to the chaos of the day, but no one dared disturb it.

Jasmine stood at the edge of the farm, her gaze sweeping across the tree line that bordered their land. She was exhausted, her body aching from the brutal fight, but sleep was the furthest thing from her mind. There was no room for rest, not when another attack could come at any moment.

Beside her, Caden stood tall, as if the very act of being alive had given him newfound strength. His face was set in grim determination, his eyes scanning the horizon for any sign of movement. The others had retreated into the farmhouse, tending to their wounds and trying to find solace in the brief respite, but Jasmine and Caden remained outside. They were on watch. The night was their responsibility.

"I still don't understand it," Jasmine murmured, breaking the silence.

Caden's eyes flickered toward her but he didn't speak. He knew exactly what she was talking about, but he had no answers. He'd risen from his grave, pulled back into a world that had already said its goodbyes to him. How could he explain something that made no sense, even to himself?

Jasmine turned to face him fully, her eyes searching his face for any clue that might reveal what had happened. "You died, Caden. I saw it. We buried you."

"I know," Caden said quietly, his voice strained. "I can still feel it—the cold, the darkness. I was gone, Jasmine. But… something brought me back."

"What?" she pressed, her voice soft but insistent. "What could bring you back from death?"

He shook his head, his brow furrowing as he tried to make sense of it himself. "I don't know. All I remember is feeling… pulled. Like something wouldn't let me go."

Jasmine let out a slow breath, turning her gaze back to the forest. The air was still, but it felt heavy, as if the world itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to break the silence. "It's a miracle," she whispered.

Caden grimaced. "Miracles don't come without a price."

She looked at him sharply. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know yet," he admitted, his jaw tightening. "But something like this… there's always a cost. I've cheated death, Jasmine. That doesn't happen without consequence."

Jasmine felt a chill creep up her spine. She wanted to argue, to tell him that he was wrong, that this was a gift. But deep down, she knew he was right. No one comes back from the dead without a reason. And whatever force had brought Caden back, it wasn't finished with him yet.

The silence between them stretched on, thick with unspoken fears. They had survived the battle, but something darker lurked in the shadows, and it was only a matter of time before it revealed itself.

A rustling sound from the trees caught Jasmine's attention. Her hand instinctively went to the hilt of her sword, her body tensing as she searched the darkness for the source of the noise. Caden had heard it too, his posture shifting, ready for a fight.

"Do you see anything?" she whispered, her eyes scanning the tree line.

"No," Caden muttered, his voice low. "But something's out there."

The rustling grew louder, followed by the snap of a twig. Jasmine's heart raced as she strained her eyes to see through the shadows. For a moment, nothing moved. The world was still. And then, a figure emerged from the trees, stepping into the moonlight.

Jasmine's breath caught in her throat. It was a man, tall and lean, his face obscured by a hood. He moved with a quiet grace, as if he had been watching them for some time, waiting for the right moment to reveal himself.

"Who goes there?" Caden called, his voice sharp and commanding.

The figure paused, his head tilting slightly as if considering how to respond. Slowly, he raised his hands, palms open, showing that he was unarmed.

"I mean you no harm," the man said, his voice smooth and calm. "I come with a message."

Jasmine exchanged a wary glance with Caden. Messages, especially from strangers who appeared in the dead of night, were rarely good news. She tightened her grip on her sword, ready for anything.

"Step forward," Caden ordered, his voice steady but laced with tension.

The man obeyed, stepping into the full light of the moon. His face was still hidden in shadow, but there was something unsettling about the way he moved—too deliberate, too controlled. He stopped a few feet away from them, lowering his hands to his sides.

"You fought well today," the man said, his tone almost conversational. "But you know this is only the beginning."

Jasmine's stomach tightened. "Who are you?"

The man ignored her question. "The king's forces are gathering. They'll come for you again, and they won't stop until every one of you is dead."

Caden took a step forward, his eyes narrowing. "And what do you want with us?"

The man finally lifted his head, revealing a face lined with age and weariness. His eyes, however, were sharp and calculating. "I'm here to offer you a choice."

Jasmine's pulse quickened. "What kind of choice?"

"You can continue this fight," the man said, his voice lowering. "You can stay here, defend this farm, and die trying to hold on to what little ground you've gained. Or…"

"Or what?" Caden demanded.

"Or you can leave," the man said simply. "Take your people, disappear into the wilderness. The king's reach does not extend as far as you think. There are places where even his army won't find you."

Jasmine felt a surge of anger. "You're asking us to run."

"I'm giving you a way to survive," the man countered. "This war will claim many lives, but it doesn't have to claim yours."

Caden's jaw clenched. "Why should we trust you?"

The man smiled faintly. "You shouldn't. But trust me when I say this: the next battle will be your last if you stay."

He turned to leave, disappearing back into the trees without another word, leaving Jasmine and Caden standing in stunned silence. The weight of his warning hung in the air, heavy and suffocating.

Jasmine's heart pounded as she looked at Caden. "What do we do?"

Caden's eyes were hard, filled with resolve. "We fight. But we won't be caught off guard again."

Jasmine nodded, gripping her sword tighter. The night watch was far from over, and the storm that loomed on the horizon was only just beginning.