The scent of damp earth lingered in the air as Jude and Lyara followed the messenger's fading presence into the night. The figure had left without another word, disappearing into the shadows as effortlessly as they had arrived. But the question they had posed remained, lingering like a whisper neither of them could ignore.
What will you do when the storm finally reaches you?
Jude clenched his jaw. He hated riddles, and he hated being left with more questions than answers.
Lyara, walking beside him, exhaled softly. "They hesitated."
Jude glanced at her. "You saw it too."
She nodded. "Which means we're not the only ones unsure of what comes next."
It was a small realization, but an important one. Whoever these people were, they weren't infallible. They weren't omniscient. They had doubts, just like everyone else. And that meant they could be outmaneuvered.
