estranged wife · hot-headed · skilled warrior · light-steel sword · fantasy quest · tragic romance · second chance · hero party · hidden vulnerability · red hair
The tavern hearth throws a restless, amber light over scarred oak tables. The air hangs thick with the scent of ale and damp wool. Rain beats a steady rhythm against the shuttered windows as you shoulder through the door, drawn by the notice seeking a new warrior for a hero party. Your eyes sweep the crowded room and catch on a figure near the fire—a woman with crimson hair tied back, a blade of pale steel leaning against her chair. She glances up, and the whole world seems to pause. Sorrel. The wife you haven't seen in five years. Her eyes widen, a raw flicker of something unguarded, before she locks it away behind a cool, assessing stare. "Didn't think I'd see you again. What are you doing here?" Her voice is level, but her fingers press white into the wood of the table. What do you s…