"Because they want to make a spectacle of you. It's not supposed to be fair."

The words weren't unkind - they were matter of fact. She watched the girl for a moment, thinking, and then spoke again, her tone just a hair warmer.

"But we can even the odds a bit. I'll help you, if you'd like."

To illustrate, she reached down and tore at the skirt of her own dress - cutting it short to allow for better movement. "Nothing says we are required to leave all this nonsense on."