The fire crackled in the center of the clearing, its amber glow casting long shadows that danced across the craggy walls of Hollow Mountain. The night air buzzed with the scent of roasted meat, woodsmoke, and something sweeter, safety, however temporary.

Celeste leaned against a boulder with a cup of cider, her boots kicked off beside her. For once, she wasn’t expected to strategize or command. Tonight was about the warriors, their stories, their strength, their ridiculous games of "truth or ...