“Ugh, I’m so tired of fish,” Steven exclaimed.
“Yeah, right. The Watch eats better than the rest of us, so who are you to complain?” Bruce asked in a friendly fashion.
Steven laughed and rubbed his belly. “You have a point. It’s the reason I joined.”
“You had soup last night, didn’t you?” Bruce said. “With real meat in it.”
Steven nodded. “And bread rolls too.”
“Bread rolls!” Patti cried.
Steven smirked. “The soft kind.”
“That’s not fair,” Patti said. “The last time I laid eyes on a bread roll was over a month ago. And it was full of twigs and seeds. I nearly broke a tooth.”
Steven shrugged. “We all know where the good flour goes.”
“To the upper class, and the Watch,” Kat said, examining her nails for minute flaws.
“Exactly.” Patti ground her teeth, her fury plain for all to see.
“All right, everyone. That’s enough talk about food,” Moran said, raising both hands in the air. “Can we get back to business, please?”
“Fine,” Patti grumbled, folding her arms.
“Fair enough. It’s making me hungry anyway,” Bruce said, pointing at the map. “So, what do you need?”
“A team of your best fighters,” Moran said.
“How many?” Bruce asked.
“At least twenty, fully equipped with weapons and backpacks. We’ll need wheelbarrows too,” Moran said.
“Won’t that make a lot of noise?” Kat asked.
“Yes, that’s why we have to make sure the Watch is far away,” Moran said. “That’s where you come in, Steven. We need to know the guard’s schedule.”
“I’m on it.”
“We’ll also need a distraction,” Moran said. “I’ll arrange for that.”
“And I’ll ready our stores,” Patti said.
“Perfect. We’ll convene again tomorrow at sunset to go over the details. For now, you all know what to do,” Moran said.
“Except me,” Kat said. “What am I supposed to do?”
“You keep the General and his men as far away from those stores as possible,” Moran said. “That’s your job.”
Kat shrugged. “That’s easy enough.”
“Then, I’ll see you all soon. Dismissed,” Moran said, watching as Kat sauntered out of the room, her luscious hips swaying from side to side. Though she was in her mid-thirties already, the woman was untouched by time and a rare beauty by any standards. “Do you think we can trust her?”
Patti shook her head. “I don’t know. She could be a spy for Sikes and Douglas. Or, she could be sincere in her desire to see them burn. Either way, I don’t like her.”
“Most likely, she’s simply bored and looking for excitement. But, we can use her for now,” Moran said. “Just to be on the safe side, though, arrange for a back-up team and an alternative escape route during the raid.”
“Will do,” Patti said, gathering up the map and putting it away.
Moran slumped into the nearest chair, allowing herself to relax for the first time that day. Being the Rebel Faction leader wasn’t easy, and many a night, she wished she could simply disappear. Fade into the darkness and never return.
“You miss her, don’t you?” Patti asked.
“Who, Rogue?” Moran said. “Of course, I miss her. It feels as if a part of me has been torn away, leaving a gaping hole in my heart.”
“It’s never easy, losing a child,” Patti said, her face crinkling with remembered grief. “I still think about my Tobias every day.”
“I know, and I’m so sorry, Patti,” Moran said. “Why don’t you make us a cup of tea? It will fortify us both.”
“That sounds like an excellent idea,” Patti said, grabbing the kettle.
While she bustled about, Moran stared into the hearth, her eyes following the flickering flames’ patterns. In them, she saw Rogue, her daughter in all but blood. Petite, feisty, and beautiful. But that wasn’t what made her so special. It was her heart. Her boundless love and innocence despite everything she’d suffered. Yet, the girl was no fool.
Patti was right. It was hard to lose a child, but Rogue wasn’t lost. She was out there somewhere, wandering the vast wilderness. Moran knew it, just like she knew she’d see Rogue again. Where are you, Daughter? Hurry back, for I miss you sorely.
Chapter 2
Dark blue curtains fluttered in the breeze, and Rogue stirred beneath the cool sheets. A broad beam of golden light shone through the gap and fell across her bed. She stretched, allowing each muscle to reawaken beneath the warmth of the sun. Her leg felt much better, and it was good to be alive. Young, strong, and healthy.
The previous day’s events rushed back, and her eyes snapped open wide. It all seemed like a dream now. A wondrous, unbelievable dream. One moment, she was being held captive as a Prime spy, and the next she’s reunited with her long lost mother. Who says miracles don’t exist?
Suddenly, her bedroom door opened, and Olivia’s head popped around the corner. “Good morning, sleepyhead. Did you sleep well?”
Rogue grinned. “Yes, thank you. I could get used to such luxury.”
Olivia frowned. “Luxury? You call a bed luxury?”
“Where I come from, yes,” Rogue said.
“I’d like to hear more about this…past life of yours,” Olivia said with a frown.
A sense of unease stirred within Rogue at the words. She wasn’t exactly proud of everything she’d done in the past, no matter how necessary. Would her mother understand? “Uh, sure.”
“Come to breakfast, and we’ll talk about it,” Olivia added.
“Okay, I’ll be right out,” Rogue replied, slipping out of bed. “Is there somewhere I can wash up?”
“Of course. The bathroom’s right down the hall next to the toilet. I put a few things out for you, including your clothes. I washed them last night after you went to bed.”
“Thanks, but you didn’t have to,” Rogue protested.
“Oh, it was no bother,” Olivia said, waving a hand. “Now, hurry up, or your food will get cold.”
“I’ll be right there, Mom.” The word felt strange to Rogue, and she rolled it around on her tongue. After their reunion, everything had seemed perfect. Now,
