Father took interest in her, because after Mother's death, her older brother froze at the sight of an enemy's imminent approach, whereas she burned rope looped through a steel dart and walked through drill after drill, until she felt naked without the wrap of her weapon around her skin.

After completing her assignment, she returned. At the gate, her brother broke away from his training and fussed over her with relief -- that she wasn't badly hurt, that she didn't leave even though he'd asked her if she would.

Of course she wouldn't. This was family, no matter how broken it had become, and she had sworn she would never watch from the shadows again.