[This post is from Cameron’s point of view.]
He came awake a few hours later, in the darkness of their room, Neve nestled against his chest. Her breathing was soft and even—she was still asleep. The twins, too, were sleeping a few feet away in their shared cradle. He wasn’t quite sure how long he’d been asleep, but it was long enough for his eyes to be gritty and for him to feel at least vaguely rested.
A knock came at the door a few seconds after he got his bearings. Cameron breathed a quiet curse as he sat up, gently tucking blankets around Neve again, praying she didn’t wake up. He stumbled out of bed, seemingly in time to forestall another round of knocking that would have been sure to wake both Neve and the twins.
His heart started to beat a little faster. The scouts must be back. Time to start the real work.
No matter what he ended up deciding, he knew that he’d do his best to poke any holes into their plans he could—all in the name of making sure that people made it home alive.
He cracked the door open, peering out to see Thordin standing outside, a lantern in hand.
“The scouts are back?” Cameron asked softly.
Thordin nodded, peeking past him toward Neve, still asleep in bed. “Yeah. It’s time to hear their report. Do you—?”
“Let her sleep,” Cameron said, groping around in the darkness for his shoes. “She might not be getting much the next couple of days.”
He stepped out, tugging the door closed behind him. Thordin watched him, expression unreadable. Cameron frowned.
“What?”
“Nothing,” Thordin said. “I just don’t think she’s going to be happy about that.”
“She’ll understand where my head was,” Cameron said. “Come on. Let’s see if there’s coffee yet.”
