Chapter 38

• Lucia
• In the depths of the dark, dense woods, my loyal men and I had found refuge. We were the remnants of a once-powerful rebellion, now reduced to a small band of rebels, led by none other than myself. I had retreated here, nursing the wounds of a battle that still severed through my ambitions.
• The moon hung high in the dark sky when one of my scouts, a small and cunning fellow named Ronnie, slipped through the trees and approached our hidden campfire. His breaths came fast, carrying a mix of excitement and hesitation. “Lucia,” he panted, “I’ve got news. Important news.”