Tucking her flute away in her bag, which was safely stored in the crook, where the branch met the trunk, Ariadne hooked her knees around the branch and flipped down. For a second, she hung upside down, before grabbing hold with her hands and carefully unhooking her legs, lowering them to just above the ground.

She landed neatly, as if she were as light as a feather. And with equal grace, she dipped into a curtsy.

"A pleasure to meet you, Lady Ashara," she said, bouncing back up straight. "I'm Ariadne. Ariadne Everdeen."