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A Flame Rekindled
Chapter II: The Seeds of Doubt

Chapter II: The Seeds of Doubt

As Nathaniel’s regiment approached Greystone, the village, nestled beneath the dense forest, was eerily still. The usual sounds of life were absent, replaced by a heavy silence. His orders were clear: “Eliminate all threats.” But these villagers, gaunt and weary, hardly seemed capable of rebellion.

The tension in Nathaniel’s chest tightened as he dismounted, signaling his men to search the houses. His mind, focused on duty, couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. Were these people truly rebels, or merely caught in the wrong place?

Inside a small chapel, a woman knelt over a wounded man. Margaret Ellington. Her hands were steady despite the bloodstains. Tall, with dark hair and clear eyes, she exuded calm and resolve—an unsettling contrast to the fear around her.

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“Your name?” Nathaniel asked, trying to mask his uncertainty.

“Margaret Ellington,” she answered, unwavering.

The man groaned as she tended to him. “He was shot defending his family.”

Nathaniel studied her, uneasy. She wasn’t what he expected—a revolutionary, yes, but one driven by quiet strength.

“Arrest her,” the lieutenant ordered.

Nathaniel’s instincts screamed in protest. “Wait. There’s no evidence of rebellion. Stand down.”

The lieutenant hesitated. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. That’s an order.”

As he left, Margaret’s gaze lingered on him, questioning yet hopeful. He had defied orders. For the first time in years, doubt gnawed at him. Was this truly justice?