Huzzah! I think you handled Odessa well. She seems to be a woman full of fire and idealism and that is how she comes off here. I luff her for it Though, I should temper that with the fact that I systematically ignore the whole "Achilles" angle in my own stories. I find it weakens her as a character to have joined the rebellion only because her boyfriend was killed. That's just a personal choice and I hold nothing against those who do write it.

As far as the rest goes...I like George and the mention of Mathiu off being his usual angsty self made my inner fangirl melt. I wasn't sure if you were talking about him when you mentioned other members of the family deserting them. (Or is that Leon?) The part about the "escapade in the palace" has me intrigued. Was that a nod to the bit where Odessa fought off the palace guards or something else? Either or it makes me curious in a fan-obsessed "omg!plzritemoR" way. ^__^

My only suggestion would be to rework the very short 1st paragraph. You use the word "cousin" in it twice. Maybe have Odessa call him "George?"

All in all, great stuff!!!