Luneth was awake again, letting Stitch adjust the wrap. She looked tired, but not broken. Her hand still rested near her blade.
Sylric was already fiddling with a new charm.
Erebus… just stood there.
Like he'd never moved.
"You should all rest," Lindarion said.
"Don't need sleep," Sylric muttered.
"You need stillness."
Stitch stood, brushing off his coat. "We set a rotation?"
Lindarion nodded. "Two on watch. Three hours each. We hold the chamber for now. No one moves deeper until we regroup."
They all nodded.
No arguments.
Not this time.
Everyone moved to their corners.
Except Lira.
She remained seated beside him.
"You're not sleeping," she said.
"No."
"Because of what's down there?"
"Because of what's watching," he said.
And neither of them added anything after that.
Not until the darkness settled again.
And the second chamber went quiet.
But not still.
Never still.
—
Lindarion waited until the others slept.
Or at least pretended to.
