Under the full moon, no secret or shadow remained hidden.

The full moon rose as Gideon's forces retreated. Silver light flooded the battlefield, turning blood black and making every shadow stark.

"They're not running," Caleb observed. "They're regrouping."

He was right. The enemy forces had pulled back to the courtyard's edge but weren't fleeing. Just reorganizing. Licking wounds. Preparing for another assault.

"How many did we lose?" I asked.

"Fifteen dead. Another twenty too wounded to ...