Cody gazed at the roof of his hut. He felt lightheaded as though sleeping on the moon. Am I crazy?! His revelation had disarmed Tiana. She had stumbled out into the night speechless and dazed. Cody was no less stunned by his own revelation. I love Jade? The words had exited his mouth by their own accord, as though his heart had grown impatient with his bullheadedness. His thoughts raced back to the last time he had seen her, standing in the battlefield. What had she said? Her last words were unheard, lost in the clamor of battle.He rolled over in his bed as his eyes drooped. He smiled to himself; for the first time he felt confident filling in her missing word: Love. His breathing was deep as his body drifted to sleep. For the first time in weeks, he wasn’t visited by nightmares.Two Days Remaining…The horses were loaded and ready. Cody rubbed his horse’s muzzle, happy to see him again. The prickle of a thousand eyes struck him from behind as the mob of children crowded around the convoy.Dace mounted his horse and headed toward the group.
