Redsand Canyon i will make myself steel

The girl insisted she was old enough to make her own decisions. 

"Yes," Ruenna agreed thoughtfully. "I suppose you are." If Rue were Mulberry's mother, she knew what she would want for her child. She would want her daughter safe, and she would want her to be instructed in her areas of interest. Both were possible here in Mereo. 

Ruenna did want to touch briefly on Germanicus's point, as the child had neglected to answer him directly. "We are already allies of circumstance, Mulberry. We in Mereo have historically opposed the Saints. If you wish to fight for Mereo, be prepared to view your former packmates from the opposite side of the battlefield." Ruenna was still not sure if she quite believed that it was entirely coincidental, that the girl appeared so soon after the Saints had come sniffing at their border. Whatever her connection to the boys, and to the Saints, she needed to understand what she was signing herself up for here.

Assuming that did not change the girl's mind, Ruenna would accept her after a long moment of consideration. "I will take you into my ranks for now as a civilian, but I would like you to apply for entry to the auxilia-- the military ranks-- as soon as you feel settled. Speak with Germanicus when you are ready to be tested." If Mulberry agreed, and Germanicus had no objections to this outcome, Ruenna would then escort her to her quarters in the civilian apartments. 

With any luck, Mulberry would earn their trust and win her way into the auxilia quickly. Even if Mulberry failed her initial test, she would no doubt receive helpful feedback that would assist the Matrona in designing her instruction. If Mulberry was committed to making it into the auxilia, then Ruenna was committed to helping her get there.