The Weight of Brass and Bleached Oak: A Reckoning under the Vaulted Ceilings of Duty
CHAPTER 1: THE RECKONING LANE “How many medals does it take to hide the smell of scorched earth, Captain?” The words did not echo; the high, vaulted ceilings of the commendation hall seemed to swallow them, leaving only the raw, dry scraping of the old man’s voice. Captain Claire Vance stopped. The polished oak floor…