The rebels had always been a mismatched band—farmers turned fighters, thieves turned scouts, workers turned soldiers. What bound them was desperation, not trust. And Kael’s display of lightning only deepened the cracks between them.
By morning, whispers circled camp like smoke.
“He burned that man alive.”
“Not a man. A monster.”
“What if he turns on us?”
Kael heard every word, even when they thought he was out of earshot. His chest grew heavier with each murmur. He had saved them, but instead of gratitude, there was unease—fear.
At the center fire, the council gathered: Asha, Joran, Liora, and the elders. Kael sat at the edge, silent.
“We cannot ignore what happened,” one of the elders said sharply. His beard was streaked gray, his eyes stern. “Power like that draws eyes. Dominion’s
