[Rose takes another sip. She’s not much of a leader, at least by her estimation, but she’s more than happy to provide company right now. There’s a kindred spirit she can sense here.]

[Maybe that’s why she’s so open. When was the last time she talked about such things so freely.]

My father was a merchant, and he took my mother inland. This was before the annexation of Doma, when the borders were still open.

[She sighs, a fond smile on her face.]

It was terribly difficult to leave the country the first time, you know. But I did, for better or worse.