Ariane:
A tent flap flew open near us, and the sound of ripping canvas and wind in a sharp arc startled me.
“By the gods, you’re tiny!” a young woman, near my age crowed before I could draw in a breath to refuse to participate in this, whatever this was.
A blur of bronze armor, a golden braid, and muscle descended on me, and the next thing I knew, I was being yanked into the depths of the war tent like an overeager offering.
“Wait—what—hey!” I flailed as I stumbled into the golden light within.
Smoke-slicked air curled around us. The scent of leather oil, steel, and woodsmoke clung to the inside of the tent.
The warrior grinned down at my muddy feet and nightgown, and with a snap of her fingers, the mud and mortar were gone completely, “I’m Saga,” she said like that explained anythi
