Gabriel didn't sleep after his watch ended.
He lay on his bedroll with his eyes closed, listening to the camp. Adan's steady breathing. Gilbert's occasional snore. Ennu's complete silence.
Tess shifted beside him, her hand finding his in the dark.
Still awake too.
They didn't speak. Just held hands in the cold while the hours crawled past.
When dawn finally came, grey and reluctant, Gabriel was already breaking camp.
"You look like shit," Gilbert said, rolling up his bedroll.
"Feel worse."
"Didn't sleep?"
Gabriel shook his head.
Gilbert studied him, then let it drop. "We'll reach Kelmar in five days if we keep this pace."
"Four if we push."
"Then we push."
The group ate a quick breakfast of dried fruit and stale bread, then started walking. Northeast through the hills, following game trails when they could find them.
The morning passed in silence.
