Seventy two

I stepped down from the vehicle, my hand gripping Alpha Rafe's firm arm for balance. As my feet touched the cobblestones, a roar of cheers erupted from the massive crowd filling the bubbly town square. I gasped, shocked by the sheer number of people who had turned out. Crimson kingdom banners flapped in the breeze as men, women and children craned their necks to catch a glimpse of us.

"They're here for you, for all of you," Rafe said close to my ear. His warm breath ...