|Theodore|
But rest, for someone like me, didn’t come easy.
It was well past two in the morning when my eyes snapped open again. The darkness was still thick, the world still quiet. I checked the time and realized I’d only been out for two hours.
Still, two hours was more than enough.
I rolled out of my bedding, letting the others continue their sleep. They needed it more than I did. Silently, I stepped into the cold night, relieved the watchman on duty, and took up the post myself. I kept my gaze moving between the trees and the shadows, alert for any sign of trouble. The quiet was deceptive in these woods.
I stood there until four.
Slowly, the rest of the group began to stir. It was a daily habit now—we never waited for the sun to rise before setting out. The longer we stayed in on
