She shrugs a little. "It- seemed much like it usually did? I- I'm sorry?"

"Bad situations always do."

"The Circle works when it's fair, Azry."

"Slavery never works, Wynne."

"I- no- they- they were- trying to help us...control it. So that we didn't- hurt people? Or- or fall to demons?"

"And how does keeping you separate from everyone else help you with that? Mages outside the Circle deal with the same things, and most of the time, better."

"Azry," Wynne says warningly.

"I- I- didn't know any- they were- the only ones who- wanted me."

"That can't be true. Surely you had a family."

"Azry!" Wynne chided, wrapping an arm around Blaze. "The Circle is a mage's family. They protect, teach, it is a good place!"

"That's why there was an uprising in your absence, I'm sure."

Blaze makes a low sound. "I- I don't know what you mean- They-" And maybe it had been good for her, but- but- "I- no-one- they only- only spoke to me if they- needed something?"

“Only if they needed something?” Azry says, disgust creeping into her tone. “Like a servant? Or a-“

Slave. 

"I- yes? I guess? Ma'am..."

“Oh, Blaze. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. You’ve come from an awful place. I don’t mean to take you back through the memories.”

“Dear thing. You are safe now.” Wynne wrapped an arm around Blaze carefully. 

To Azry, with narrowed eyes, Wynne said, “Are you quite done attacking an institution you don’t know anything about?”

“For now.” Azry frowned. 

...but she was safe at the Circle wasn't she? And- and Wynne seemed to think she should be and-

Blaze just nods. "I- as you say, ma'am," she murmurs.

"You can put the terrible place you come from behind you now. You have us. We will protect you."

The sun began to dim hours later, and the group veered off the beaten path to find a secluded area to camp. They had lost the river a while back, so they had to make do with the water they had left.

Alistair and Wynne began the evening meal once the fire was built, while everyone else set up tents. 

Azry called over to Blaze. "Can you give me a hand? I need someone to hold the pole steady."

Blaze has been looking around, wringing her hands, with no clue what to do, she's glad to have some instruction. "Yes, ma'am," she agrees, hurrying over to help.

"Just hold it here, keep it upright," Azry directs. She starts pegging down the sheet.

"Can...can I ask you something very personal, Blaze? You don't have to answer if you don't want."

"If you wish, ma'am," she says quietly.

"Do you know who the father of your child is?"

She freezes, and then a faint trembling starts in her shoulders. (She- she could make a guess. But-)

"I- sorry, ma'am," she says, flinching slightly.