***  

“Japheth!”

At the sound of his wife calling his name, Japheth turned toward her voice so quickly he staggered. The men around him steadied him on his feet.

When he was able, Japheth looked up to see Deborah rushing toward him. Her face and dress were streaked with ash and dirt. Her lovely countenance was an admixture of worry, relief, and…something else. Was it anger?

He moved to rush and meet her, but he almost lost his footing again. He was forced to watch as several of Brodhead’s men began to move among the wretches wandering the cobblestones looking for loved ones who may be injured, dying, or dead in the riot’s aftermath. The soldiers attempted to clear a path for Deborah, to secure her safety as she wound her way through the unfortuna...

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