53: HINDSIGHT

I did not envisage a lot of things were going to move against me when I made the decision to free General Masa. The only good thing was that his forces rallied around us, giving me a fortified position.

Captain Hyde’s departure still weighed heavily on my heart, and the integration of General Masa into our ranks had only added to the unrest.

It seemed as though every corner I turned, there were whispers and glances of suspicion. I had hoped that bringing Masa into our fold would strengthen our defenses, but instead, it had sown seeds of discord.

As I approached my quarters, I saw Karim waiting for me. His expression was serious, a clear indication that there was more troubling news to come.

“Ava,” he began as soon as I reached him, “we need to talk.”

I nodded, leading him into my room where we could speak privately. Once inside, he wasted no time.

“There’s been talk of an uprising,” Karim said, his voice low. “Some of our people are vehemently opposed to General Masa’s presence. They