Trial by fire

Doctor Brent rises before dawn to tend a feverish widow, the quiet of rural New England offering a brief respite from the turmoil spreading from Boston. As he rides back home, the June heat hangs heavy, and his thoughts drift to the uneasy stalemate between the patriot militia and the British garrison. He watches the countryside ripple with rumors of a looming march, the Committee of Safety whispering orders that could ignite a larger clash.

On the road ahead, a ragged procession of men in musket and powder horn appears, moving in loose groups yet with a shared, determined stare. Their silence is broken only by curt exchanges with the doctor, who probes for the purpose of their march. The encounter hints at a secretive venture beyond a simple drill, setting the stage for a confrontation that will test loyalties and the fragile peace of the fledgling colonies.