Ravi did not look at who he was speaking to as he continued, “You do know that the story you have just told me parallels with our dear Seed-Bearer’s rather closely correct? She may not be an orphan as you are, but she did lose one parent to heartbreak and another for reasons unknown at age fifteen. She was considered unladylike and disruptive by those who oversaw her life. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a personage of high power and honor came to thrust her into a life of high honor and prestige that she is simply not prepared for. Tell me that does not sound familiar and I will laugh you to scorn.” He turned to smile at the warrior, “Perhaps you should stop looking at the differences betwixt you two and start looking at what is the same. Perhaps then you can discover a way for the two of you to start a friendship.”

Ravi was not trying to make Ridahne feel bad for not seeing the similarities even if they were painfully obvious to him. The two girls were simply to close to see clearly. The humans had a phase, “cannot see the forest for the tree,” that came to mind. He was also will to wager that the two of them were stuck in the circle of their own thoughts and couldn’t find a way out on their own. What Ridahne implied was correct; it would not be easy to travel together if they loathed each other. They would have to at least make peace between themselves if they ever wanted to move forward.

Ravi continued, “As for your sorrow, you are correct, it does define you. That does not mean you should let it consume you or you will drown in it. I doubt that is something you, though to be painfully blunt, you are coming dangerously close to it. It will not do to always let your emotions get the best of you; especially if you are traveling with someone who keeps her emotions so tightly wound up that she does not know what to do when when yours overwhelm her.” Ravi knelt down to take the young Elf’s hands in his, “You were chosen for this task for a reason. That reason is to help Darin; not just as the Seed-Bearer, but as Darin as well. The Seed-Bearer is not a title or office like being Eija or Overseer. To be The Seed-Bearer is to be a person and you must treat her as such. To be The Seed-Bearer is to have the potential to become a person beyond doubt and question. To be The Seed-Bearer is to be able to grow into pure magnificence; to grow to be The Gardener. She is not there yet Ridahne, and that is your job; to help that seed of potential grow into the stunning tree it can be. That will not happen if you cannot learn to see beyond yourself the way she is struggling to do. You need to be better than what you are. You need to be you. It won’t be easy, but it will be good.” He softly traced the black mark that marred the Azurei’s face, “You need to stop thinking that you are this, and remember,” His hand moved from her face to her heart, “that you are this. That is all she is trying to see. But she will not see it if you do not live it. Do you understand Ridahne Torzinei?”
-
Darin looked up as Talbot paused. She was curious as to why they stopped. Then she saw Ridahne on the ground. It looked like Ravi was comforting her. The young human wanted to make sure that her traveling companion was alright, but it looked like a private conversation. Slowly the animals pulled a way to go back to their lives. The butterfly stayed on Darin’s nose, but she hardly noticed. She was more concerned with Ridahne. She was desperately hoping that Ravi was scolding her because of the things that she had told him. That wouldn’t be fair at all. Darin absently waved at Mitaja in order to send the hunting cat to the warrior. Who knew if that would work?

Ridahne didn't answer verbally, but she did nod. There was some similarities there, more than she'd considered. But still somehow at their core, they were two different people. Darin was quiet, thoughtful, and pure-hearted. Ridahne was jaded, loud, aggressive...and she did not see her heart as anything near pure. A hundred years of fighting made her...difficult. Fighting with others, fighting with herself, fighting for respect, for truth, for dignity, for pride. Always fighting. And for just a moment she wished bitterly that she could be more like Hadian, who had the back of a duck--everything just kind of rolled off him. Compared to her, he was passive, quiet, introspective, and his life was nothing short of honest. Good clean work with his hands and his back. And she wished so much that she could just be that kind of person. Calm. Passive. But...no. That wasn't who she was. She was a fighter. She was fire and stone, she was the wind in a storm. She was what the Azurei called Isfahan. Fireheart. A term for those with drive, passion, and ambition.

"Let that fire run free, Ridahne, and it will consume you. Or, if not you, those around you."
"What you mean is that I need to be quiet. Be obedient. Demure." The young Ridahne crossed her arms across her chest, but her mentor, Talena, snatched her wrist and pulled her close.
"No," she said firmly. "You mistake me. A traveler alone in the forest lights a fire, even though it hasn't rained, and the entire forest could go up in flames because of that fire. But he lights it anyway because if he does not, he might freeze. He might be attacked by hungry wolves in the night. He must cook his food and boil his water. He needs that fire. But he knows it can do great harm if left unchecked. So the traveler places stones around the fire, he keeps it contained, and keeps it focused on its purpose. This is what you must do, Ridahne. You have a fire in you, and that is admirable. But if you let it run wild, your forest will burn. You must find a way to keep it contained and focused. Find a way to make that fire work for you."

Even as Ravi spoke to her, she could hear the voice of her old mentor as she recalled their two-week trip into the Dust Sea for training. She was very different than Darin, though they shared a similar history. But she had to use that to her advantage. Their advantage. Somehow. She didn't know how exactly, though she knew for a while now that a kind-hearted Seed-Bearer wouldn't make it far without someone to show her how to use her teeth. Their initial meeting was some proof of that, and their encounter with Mark showed that the Seed Bearer needed someone on her side who could fight--in every sense of the word. Ridahne needed to be that person. She WOULD be that person. Somehow.

The elf shivered at Ravi's touch, though she wouldn't look at him directly. In Azurei, the Ojih were sacred and to damage one was unspeakable. As a result, there was a kind of taboo about touching other people's faces. It wasn't completely disallowed among society, but it was not something done lightly. It was not an unpleasant, vulgar sort of moment, but it did feel intimate. Tears were streaking down her face almost uncontrollably by this point. Ravi had cut to the quick. She was not an exile. She was Ridahne. In her head, she repeated this to herself again and again, hoping that if she beat it into her brain a few times, it might actually stick.

Suddenly Ridahne's steadying grip on Ravi's hands slackened, and her hitched breathing slowed and smoothed as though she were asleep. Her eyes, wide open and still glistening with tears, went suddenly vacant. She slumped forward a little into him as she was pulled into a vision.

An ambient roar that comes and goes in a pulsing pattern. Splashing. Gentle hissing. The crash of waves, yes. Ridahne tasted salt. Wind scrambled her hair into her face but she made no move to brush it aside. Someone else did. An old (by elf standards) man with a crisp ojih and even crisper wrinkles. His face is grim and stern looking when he contemplates the undulating of the sea, but when he turns and looks at her, his smile is easy and soft. He is a study in contrast. Though the face has changed, she knows those eyes without a doubt.

Ajoran.

She takes his hand; her skin is just as wrinkled as his face, lined with centuries of hard use. They speak no words, but he leans over slowly to kiss her forehead, where she bears not just the mark of her betrayal, but the mark of her redemption. They lay back and enjoy the heat of the sun in pleasant silence.

Back a few hundred years. She is young again, in the flower of womanhood, yet her body feels less whole than when she was elderly. It feels broken. It is dark. Breathing hurts and her voice nearly does not work but she mouths a simple Azurei song she learned as a child about a man who falls in love with the spirit of the sea.

Ridahne was still murmuring this song softly into Ravi's chest when she came to. Blinking, she took a moment to ground herself in the present. She did not need to explain to him what had happened--he knew all too well, as he'd likely had countless visions before and knew what they were like. She was glad. She didn't feel like explaining. After a few breaths, she wiped her face clear of tears and stood, brushing the dirt off her knees. She wanted to tell him what she saw, but she needed a moment to process it for a bit before she trusted herself to speak.

"Darin was given the seed three months ago. I had my vision four months ago, and I have spent those four months without much direction or hope in succeeding. Even now that I have found her, I have not had much hope in what lies beyond this quest. It has been so, so long since I have had any hope at all. But...I have seen it. There is hope for Astra. There is hope for me. I know visions are possible futures, not certain ones. But..." For the first time, she turned and gave the faintest, tiniest, barest ghost of a smile and it was not tainted by derision or bitterness. "They are generally likely futures." She allowed herself to enjoy that thought for a moment, to hold it close like a talisman, before she frowned slightly and said, "I saw something...else. But I can't make sense of it. I have to think on it." Ridahne bowed low. "If you are finished with me, Ravi, I would like some time to myself. I have much to think about." It was then that she felt a familiar warmth press into her hand; Mitaja was purring beside her and leaning heavy on her leg. Ridahne obliged and stroked her silky fur.

Ridahne spoke in Aurian softly. "I thought I told you to stay with Darin?" The cat made a chittering sound and curled her tail around Ridahne's knee. The elf looked up and glanced around, and in the distance she could see a lone figure on a magnificent brown horse. Her heart sank a little. Ah, so she'd seen. Darin had seen her on the ground in vulnerable, feeble collapse, and that made her cheeks burn in embarrassment. She did not like others to see her in moments of vulnerability or weakness. Especially not her. She felt like she had to be a kind of anchor, a steady, strong rock which Darin could lean against if she had to. And in that moment she'd been anything but. Sighing, and with Mitaja close by her side, Ridahne made her slow way back to the farmhouse.

She didn't speak to anyone as she entered, slipping past the bustling people in well-trained silence and stealth. She could not go unnoticed, not here where she was very much a stranger in a tight community, but she could go without incident and without eye contact. Ridahne grabbed a wooden cup full of clear, cool water and, holding it in her teeth, she scaled the roof and perched against the chimney where she could feel the wind and breathe in the sweet smell of hearth smoke. And she contemplated life in silence where she could have a moment to be alone.

Ravi smiled at the young Elf, “Visons are remarkable things. They are always possible.” He, “They may even come to past, but not in the way you expect.” He let the girl, “Go and think. Be sure and remember to join us for the celebration.”

As he watched the Elf walk off her felt the human come and join him on horseback. The Seed-Bearer asked, “Will she be alright?”

Ravi sighed, “Perhaps. That is for her to decide.” Then he grew serious as he turned to look at the young human, “And so, Darin, you know the truth. What do you make of it?”

Darin sighed as she looked back towards The Tree, “Yes. I do know the truth. It is not a truth I wish to know.”

Ravi felt obligated to point out, “Truth is not something we often want to know. Lies bring comfort. Truth only brings reality. Yet you have never shied from truth.”

Darin turned her attention back to The Overseer, “No I haven’t. It doesn’t always bring despair. Sometimes it brings joy beyond measure.”

Ravi laughed lightly at that, “That is truth as well.”

Darin sighed, “I don’t know if I should tell Ridahne or not.”

Ravi shook his head, “I would not advise it.” He held up a hand to silent the human’s protest, “She is not your friend. You may wish to be her friend, you maybe her friend at some point, but you two are not friends yet.”

Darin was insistent, “I want to be her friend. She’s just so … prickly.” Darin quickly pointed out, “Not that I’m any better. I’ve never really wanted friends before, so I don’t have a lot of practice in making them.”

Ravi nodded in agreement, “True. But there’s no time like the present to start getting that practice.”

The girl couldn’t help but ask, “How do I start? Or rather what do I now? I already started. I did so badly.”

Ravi laughed again, “Just be yourself Darin. That’s all you can do.”

Darin grew exasperated, “I am a farmer! Not even a very good one. I have no idea how to be myself on the road. It’s not like my skills are useful on the road.” She pointed in the same direction Ridahne had left in, “At least she can fight! That’s useful!” She was just about ready to start shouting, “I spent the first three months of this journey lost! That’s not even a metaphor. I literally had no idea where I was.”

Ravi raise a carefully arched eyebrow, “You can’t tell me you are completely useless. Your farming knowledge is how you understand the truth so well. You might not have useful skills for the journey, but your skills will be in high demand at the end of it.” Ravi was blunt, “Besides; your ability to speak your mind will serve you well. You will have to convince others of the truth at some point.”

The human scoffed, “This whole journey is a quest to make as many friends as possible. I have no practice doing that. I think I said that already.”

Ravi nodded, “You did. Which is why you need to practice. Think of it. If you can make friends with Ridahne you could probably make friends with everyone.”

Darin laughed lightly, “Not everyone. Not everyone wants to be friends.”

The Overseer agreed, “True. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try.”

The Seed-Bearer let out a nasty laugh, “That’s all I can do right; try. Never mind the fact that if I fail all of Astra’s people will fall into to delicious ruin. Failing isn’t an option. It never was an option, and with reality being the way it is it is even less of an option than it was then. There will be no do overs or second chances. I have one chance, one hope, one option. I can’t afford to merely try. I have to succeeded and I have to succeed magnificently, and I can’t even make one friend!”

Darin’s voice had been increasing in volume and agitation. It was clear that she was not happy with the current state of events. The job had seemed so much easier when all she had to do was plant The Seed. It was so much bigger than that now. It had always been bigger than that, but The Gardener had refrained from telling the young girl that. Darin wasn’t sure that she liked him for that. The Gardener was supposed to be wise and all-knowing. That was probably why he hadn’t told Darin the full truth. She might have stayed home to let Astra fall into ruin. She had never wanted to leave home in the first place. Now she had to go farther than she every even thought possible.

Ravi felt compelled to point out, “You are not alone Darin. You have allies.”

Darin laughed again at that, “And the only one of them that sees me for what I am and nothing more is the horse that I borrowed that may or may not be a creature of myth and legend.”

Ravi’s voice left no room for question, “Or maybe, Darin, you are the one that does not see yourself for what you are. True, you ae a farm girl way out of your depth. That is true.” His sharp voice softened just a touch, “But you are still The Seed-Bearer. That is not an office or a performance. It could only be you. It is who you are; the same way you are a farmer.”

Darin had been shocked into silence. Her mouth opened a few times only to close. It was clear that she had no idea what to say or how to say it. She was at a complete and total lost. She didn’t know what that could even possibly mean. She wasn’t sure that she wanted to know what that could mean. Could being The Seed-Bearer be more than just some assignment. She wasn’t sure. Darin let out a shuddering breathe. Could Ravi be telling the truth? Could it really only be her?

Ravi smiled again, “Think about it, young Darin. I have to go finish final preparations for the feast. You think. I’ll send some one to get you when it’s time.”

With that Darin was left alone as Ravi walked off. She stared after him, and then flipped her gaze back to The Tree. Whether Ravi was right or not about her being the only one, she was The Seed-Bearer now. Maybe she should stop acting like it was a glorious burden and start actin like it was the magnificent honor everybody else seemed to think it was. It was probably somewhere in the middle, and Darin wasn’t even sure what to make of that. How was she supposed to be The Seed-Bearer the same way she was a farmer when she didn’t feel like The Seed-Bearer at all? Then again, she hadn’t felt like a farmer at first either. Maybe Ravi was slightly wrong, maybe. Maybe she wasn’t a person that could be The Seed-Bearer yet. But maybe, just maybe, she could grow into it. Darin thought about that. Maybe she should do that instead of scoffing at the notion that she was nothing special. Maybe she should actively work on become what everybody else thought her to be.

Ridahne could hear the clink of plates and bowls and mugs down below her, along with a soft din of voices. They really were excited, all of them. Ridahne was just glad she wasn't the fixture of all their attention--Darin had that honor. And that burden. She couldn't imagine that they would let her alone tonight, and Ridahne pitied her for that. She guessed they both needed time to think and to ponder. Time to consider their own conversations with Ravi, time to think about what came next. And Ridahne had visions to think of. Her last one had been so clear, so abruptly obvious about what it meant and what she needed to do and this one was so...vague. The first part was clear enough at least. She held on to the image of his hand in hers, the feel of its leathery warmth and the grit of sand between their fingers. Peace. Joy. But inevitably her mind was thrown back to the other part of her vision.

The contrast had been sharp. One moment she was happy and blissful and the next she was...she didn't know what else to call it besides broken, at least physically. She tried hard to think back to the other sensations, other thoughts. It hurt to breathe and her voice, when it came, was raspy and strained. She did not feel the pull of the earth upon her, nor weight on her feet. It felt like she'd been floating. And like something had been accomplished. Yes, like some great struggle was now finished. Finished, and she could let go. Of what? Let go of...

Ridahne sat up and gave a small gasp, looking around as though there was anyone to see her up there on the roof. There wasn't. Ridahne wasn't certain, but she had a feeling that she'd just seen two possible futures. One was her long distant future of peace and happiness. The other, her death. Untimely. Painful. Neither future was certain, but she disliked the idea of even knowing her own death, even in part, before the events played out. To know like she had in the prison cells of Azurei was one thing--the evidence was plain before her and events were already set in motion. For this, she had no context, and was glad she wasn't given more. She shivered. She didn't want to think about that now. For now, she should focus on getting ready for the feast. She needed to look halfway presentable and do her people some pride, at least.

Ridahne slid down the roof and down to the ground, where she found a young human woman and asked after bathing supplies. The woman gladly showed her to a place she could wash and left her to it. Ridahne cleaned up, braided the front of her now combed and washed hair back into a kind of half-ponytail, though a knot was more fitting than ponytail for what it was. The two locks of hair wrapped in blue cloth and tipped with bone beads were prominently in front of her pointed and pierced ears, the silver plates lining the helix polished bright. She put on her traditional garb--a halter-neck half shirt of sorts fringed with small bone beads and woven of tight, sturdy linen. Her knife harness was obvious and she wore the blades in it out of habit, though she left her sword with her saddlebag. She'd be more comfortable with the harness than without it and hoped no one would take offense to her wearing it so openly. She also wore her uri--the sarong-like garment made of a thin, flowing fabric dyed indigo blue that hung about her knees. Though it was sufficiently secure on its own, she also bound it at the waist with a wide band of rust colored silk, fastened with a silver pin in the stylized shape of a seahorse with its head reared. She did not wear shoes. This was her formal attire, good enough for the banquets in the house of the Sols, and good enough for here.

Ridahne emerged as if from the woodwork to find Darin, placing herself gracefully beside her just as the feast was about to begin. Her movements were controlled, elegant, and smooth. Composed. This was the only defense she had against her own discomfort. Ridahne grew up poor and was unused to the idea of banquets and feasts. Though she'd been exposed to them plenty as an Eija, she never could quite figure out how to be at ease at one. How much food was she allowed to take? Was it rude to not try everything? Was she supposed to let someone else eat first before she could start? She struggled with those thoughts even in her own country. Here, she felt lost. Everyone teased her for it back home, mostly in good fun. She found them overwhelming and left her unsure of how to behave, so she defaulted to stone-cold composure. She realized for a moment that Darin was probably thinking the same things she was, and that composure cracked a little to reveal a soft, barely concealed smile. She leaned down close to the human's ear.

"Is this as overwhelming for you as it is for me? I feel like a pig brought from the mud and set in a chair at table..." She was not ungrateful, not in the least. Just nervous.

As Darin approached the main Farmhouse Talbot practically bucked her off. She laughed at the horse. On of the Workers came to take Talbot away to be taken care of. Darin herself was led to a hot bath. Darin let out a sigh as she finally got the chance to clean up three and half months of grime. She felt so much better when it was done. There was even a Worker there who cut her hair. The young Seed-Bear was given a set of clothes that were just a tad to big for her. She smiled down at the practical uniform of the Workers. The knees of the pants were reinforced and the whole thing was made of light colors. She put her own boots on and followed the sound of cheerful voices to the location of the feast. As she entered the room all the voices stopped as their owners turned to look at her. She waved, unsure if that was the right course of action.

Ravi stood from his place at the front table, “Darin Seed-Bearer, come.” He indicated a seat next to him, “sit here.” As she did so, he told the crowd, “Tonight we celebrate the life of the Gardener and celebrate the arrival of Darin. Tonight is, bittersweet yes, but also joyous. So, we celebrate!”

A giant cheer filled the air and then the celebration began. Darin watched for a minute. It reminded her of the celebrations she had been a part of back home. People chattered to each other as they ate simple foods made in a Farmhouse kitchen. Darin looked over the food laid out to recognize some of her favorites. She did not recognize others. Despite the fact that she was the guest of honor this feast felt like home. She took some of her favorites as Ravi smiled at her. She smiled back as started to eat. She was starting to relax for the first time on this trip. No one talked to her, but if that was similar to home as well. The only thing missing was the dancing, but she figured that would come later.

Ridahne finally came in and Darin found herself smiling widely at the Elf, “Sit down!” Darin pressed a plate into the Elf’s hand, “Have something to eat! I tried some new things. I’m not sure what they are, but they taste fabulous. I don’t really feel uncomfortable because this is more like home. It is odd that people aren’t talking with me because I’m the guest of honor rather than the outcast, but it’s not much different.”

Ravi looked over at the one nervous girl and the one girl who look more at home than ever, “This isn’t like feasts you have in the courts of the Sols young Ridahne. This may be The Farm, but it is still just a farm.”

Darin laughed, “So there’s nothing to worry about! If you feel uncomfortable, we can change that! There’s food Ravi says come from Azurei. It wasn’t bad, but it was a little spicy. My mouth still feels hot. I’m hoping there’s dancing.”

Darin actually felt a little tipsy as giggled. She wasn’t sure that was in her cup, but she was willing to bet it wasn’t juice like she thought it was. It probably had some alcohol in it. At least she thought it had alcohol. It was making her giggly, and that was a new experience for her. She reached for her cup only to find that it was missing. She scowled up at Ravi who only smiled back at her.

The Overseer spoke simply, “That is enough for you my dear Darin.” He handed her a cup of something else, “Let’s see if we can get you sober again.”

Darin didn’t say anything, but she did nod. There was plenty of food, so she ate whatever looked interesting. In fact, she was probably eating far too much, but it seemed like a such a waste to just let the food go to waste. She people watched, waved at people who turned to look at her, and kept putting things on Ridahne’s plate that she had liked and thought the Elf should try. After the last few months, and after today’s revelations, Darin was glad for the chance to not have to worry about anything. Then the music started. She listened and watched the dancers with a cheerfully smile and laugh. Then the music changed. Darin knew this song! And she knew how to dance to it, sort of. She stood suddenly.

She exclaimed loud enough for all to hear her, “Yes!” Then she turned to hold out a hand to Ridahne, “Come dance with me! This one needs a partner!”

Ridahne was surprised by Darin's mood. She realized upon a little reflection that she shouldn't be--this was just like home for her. These were her people. But still, it surprised her all the same when the human gleefully took her hand and all but dragged her into her seat. She couldn't help a tiny, tiny smile. Well, at least one of them didn't feel like a complete outsider. It wasn't anyone's fault either, that was just how Ridahne reacted to large gatherings like this. If they had set them a table with Ravi and maybe two or three others and a modest meal, she might have been perfectly at ease. Here, with this bountiful spread and exuberant cheer and many voices, she was out of her element and it showed.

Again, she defaulted to a kind of forced composure that read more as aloof than nervous, but the closer one got to her, the more they could see her unease. She'd warm up to it eventually, she told herself. But it was just so...overwhelming! It didn't make it bad, though, just...a lot. She grew up on bread, rice, fish, and lean, hunted meats from the desert. Fruits, sweets, and fresh vegetables were foreign delicacies to her as a child. Even as an adult, she couldn't ignore the novelty of them.

Darin thrust a plate at her and was throwing things onto it with a kind of joy that was almost childlike in its purity, in its genuine honesty. She was waving and smiling and looking positively radiant in such an easy way that Ridahne almost felt a touch of gentle jealousy. In comparison, if Ridahne was a dog, her ears would be pinned flat against her lowered head and her tail hanging stiffly between her legs. Not only was the whole affair a lot to process, but it was the first time she had been so...public since her fall from grace. She did not fear the occasional glances of Tax, whom she knew understood her plight. But there were other Azurei, and though they were all acolytes of the Tree and saw her current purpose as far more than she ever was before this, she could feel their curiosity as they looked at her. The mark on her forehead signaled 'treason of a high degree' but it did not specify what she'd done exactly. But word had also reached their ears of events back home. The unprecedented situation of both a Sol and her apprentice being killed, and the remaining Sols having to choose one on short notice, was not small news, and every Azurei in Astra would know about it by now. All of them had the same question in their eyes.

Was it you?

But as she sat there, her plate piled high and her clay mug full of that light, fragrant mead, something deep within her, that flame that made her Isfahan, Fireheart, blazed. She felt suddenly a fierce defiance. You are not an exile. You are Ridahne. You are guardian of the Seed-Bearer. And, staring directly into the eyes of one of the Azurei looking at her, she took a long, very purposeful pull from her mug. Her demeanor seemed to shift from beaten dog to prowling wolf, and she finally began to eat. Really, she was thankful that Darin was putting things on her plate for her. She genuinely didn't know where to start otherwise, and never would have put that much on her plate by herself unless cajoled into it.

The food was incredible. The flavors ranged from sweet, savory, spicy, salty, earthy, from rich to light, from robust to delicate. She had never seen such a diverse spread of cultures in one place. And the mead did a little to put her at ease, too. She welcomed the flavors of home with relish, but was equally curious about the things that she did not recognize. And like the dusty Atakharan-region kid she was at heart, Ridahne ate anything that was put on her plate for as long as things were put there. The only thing she actually took from the table herself was a pitcher of a semi-clear, fragrant beverage that she knew at once. Ridahne took it at once and filled two small cups, one for her and one for Darin, which she pushed into her hand with the same kind of enthusiasm that Darin had shown her a moment ago.

"Here! You have to try this!" She actually smiled. "Don't worry, there's no alcohol. But it is strong in flavor." The drink smelled sharp and acidic, but not in an unpleasant way, and it undoubtedly was made with several different kinds of herbs, the most recognizable of which was lavender, but there was also mint and something else decidedly floral. "Do you have lemons this far north? I have not seen them. This is lemons and herbs brewed with a little honey. Where you are from, you do...this.." she tapped her little wooden cup against hers. "But where I come from, we do this..." She slapped it against the wooden table then drank, and there was a faint echo around the room of the noise as several other Azurei did the same. The flavor was at once sharp and sweet, sour and floral, bright and complex.

Ridahne was in a better mood now, less awkward looking and a bit more at ease. But she was not prepared for Darin taking her hand and practically dragging her off to dance. She smiled but said, "Ai! Wait! I don't know how!" She did not say the she could not dance, for that was untrue. She could. But she had no idea how people danced here and to music like that. Still, she allowed herself to be led away to an open space where people were dancing. And Ridahne Torzinei, fierce warrior, Hand of Death, mystical moonlit forest sprite and slayer of royalty, was blushing. It was harder to tell on her dark, inked skin, but there it was all the same. Still, she was smiling a bit. "I'm too tall for you, Darin! What do I--how..." But she followed Darin's guidance and tried to match what she was doing, and though she was not very poetic about it, she did make it through.

A new song started to play, one with more drums and without fiddles, and Ridahne gave a mock-wicked grin. "My turn," she said deviously, and pulled Darin into a now forming line. Most were Auzurei, but there were plenty of others who knew the dance as well. They did not dance 'together' necessarily, but more in sync with each other, and instead of bouncing and twirling and skipping and dipping like some other dance styles, it was much more controlled, much more sharp and precise. There was some chanting involved, a kind of call and response that resonated deeply through the hall. And the dance style could be called nothing but 'percussive'. Everything was in time with the heavy drum beats--hard footfalls, the chanting, hand movements, and occasional slapping of the arms, which echoed through the hall with a stirring crack. And suddenly Ridahne felt as much at home as Darin had been this whole time.

Darin tried tapping the cup to the table as Ridahne did only to sing up with a hand cover in the drink. She licked the liquid from her fingers. It was strange and different, but Darin loved it. She found more of it and this time didn’t tap so hard. She wanted to learn about all the things Ridahne wanted to know. Besides the more she learned about other cultures the easy her job would be. The Gardener had got his Seed at the last possible moment. The Gardener before him had wanted to give their people the best possible chance to survive. The Gardener that had interacted with Darin wanted Darin to have the best possible chance of saving the people. There was no right and wrong answer in that regard. Every Gardener had simply done the very best they could.

Still Darin had no time to think of that now. She let out a laugh as she led Ridahne through the paces of the dance she had rarely danced before. She laughed as Ridahne led her though the dance of the Azurei people. Darin was one move behind the entire time, but no one seemed to care. When that was done Darin didn’t sit down. Instead she kept dancing. A Siren woman let the human copy the movements of a graceful fluid dance that Darin was honestly too jerky for. An Elf that didn’t look like Ravi or Ridahne tossed her about in a radically different dance. Darin was far to clumsy to ever become proficient at that one. The human jig was a little better. No matter how well or not well Darin danced she danced every dance anyone was willing to help her with. She laughed the entire time. Finally, she had to beg off the next dance just because she needed to breath. She fell into the closest chair as she started to clap in tune with the songs.

Then a strange hush fell over the air. Darin knew at once what was happening. She pulled her knees up under her shin as her eyes locked on to where the musicians were. The music slowly shifted from encouraging dancing to a tune more suited to listening too. Many dancers just collapsed where they were to kneel or sit cross legged. The evening was winding down. Ravi came to sit next to her. He pushed a cup of hot tea into her hands. In fact, many people were being given or retrieving hot drinks. The music wasn’t necessarily somber, but it wasn’t dancing music. Darin closed her eyes to let the pure story sweep over her. She paused when the music stopped longer than what was required to change songs. She almost fell out of her chair when she saw every pair of eyes on her.

Ravi quietly asked, “Do you play Seed-Bearer?”

Darin smiled tightly, “Not as well as anyone here.” She was hoping she wouldn’t have to, “Not as well as anyone else I know.”

Ravi shook his head once, “That is not what I asked Seed-Bearer.”

He waited as Darin squirmed. Then she broke, “It’s in my bag. I would have to get it and I don’t want.”

She didn’t get to finish as Ravi bent to pick up something beside his chair. It was the case for her instrument. She sighed as she stood up. It appeared that the Overseer wouldn’t let her ger out of this. She briefly wondered if she could ask Ridahne to rescue her, but she didn’t think that was fair. She reached for and received the case. The case was placed on the table, and then opened. Darin pulled out the only thing that belong to her father that was left behind. She would have liked to burn it. Her mother insisted she use it. Darin stood slightly away from the table as she tucked the fiddle that was sized for travel, under her skin. Then after carefully tuning it and a quick look to see if Ridahne would heard this, the Seed-Bearer began.

She had been correct. All the over musicians in the room had both more talent and more practice than she did. She still played as best she could. She had no song in mind and as such played in such a manner that could only be called, “from the heart.” The result was a slow, almost haunting melody, with moments of lighter bounce. Darin closed her eyes as she continued. Other than her instrument the room was silent. Darin almost wished someone would start singing or playing something else. She wasn’t sure she could ask though.

Then Ravi’s whisper almost caused her to lose her place, “I know you sing Ridahne. So, sing for us now. Sing as The Seed-Bearer plays. Sing us your heart.”

Somehow the whole celebration had thawed Ridahne's usually stony, well-guarded heart and she danced readily now that she'd been convinced to get up at all. She knew more dances than she let on. And even if she didn't know the steps or the style, she caught on relatively quickly and had a general feel for rhythm, control, and grace. It was all her sword practice that helped her. In fact, one word in the Azurei language for sparring with a blade was literally translated as 'dance'. She had bodily control aplenty and so using it to move to music instead of with a blade was only a short hop. She was less familiar with the siren and human dances and had to rely on guidance and watching others, but the elvish ones, both Orosi and Eluri, she was quite adept at. But her favorites were the Azurei ones. They were somewhat aggressive in their tambour and a little bit more primal, which suited her. She felt like she could get things 'out' that way.

An Orosi man lifted her by the waist and together they did a quick spin, though as he lowered her into a dip between his knees, Ridahne slipped. She was tired at this point and couldn't keep up with a dance that required that much control. But instead of being embarrassed about it, she broke into peals of honest laughter as she was half on the floor, still clutching the hands of the Orosi man. He laughed too. And it was the first time since she'd been in Darin's company that she'd laughed wholeheartedly like that. It was the first time in months. He helped her up and she bowed to him with her hand across her chest and stepped away, panting.

Ridahne leaned back against a support beam and looked at Darin. She gave another real, genuine laugh as she smoothed back the parts of her hair that had come out of its knot. She didn't say anything, but she didn't have to. For once, things were good. And that was all either of them needed. She called for another round of the lemon-herb drink, kadih, and she and a group of five slapped their cups on the table and threw them back.

The music slowed and softened, and people began to settle in. Ridahne did too, sinking back into her chair. Ravi insisted Darin play, which got Ridahne's attention quickly. Play? Ridahne hadn't realized she played anything. The human protested and even glanced to her as if for help; Ridahne smirked and shook her head slightly. Oh no. You're not getting out of this one. But something about her expression was encouraging. They brought out the fiddle and Darin started to play, slowly and cautiously at first but then the notes seemed to just pour out of her. But then attention was turned on her. And Ravi asked her to sing. He wasn't wrong in his assertion that she could sing--she could, or reasonably well anyway. She was no bard, but good enough for taverns anyway.

Ridahne's eyes went wide. She opened her mouth to refuse, to say no. To say that no, she couldn't, not on the spot like that. Not to a fiddle--she didn't know any songs to a fiddle. She didn't know what to sing, or what fitted the occasion. She couldn't remember any in her panic. Except when she drew breath and pushed it out again, what came out of her was not 'no'. The song just sort of...came. And it followed Darin's song reasonably well, or at least the tone of it if not the exact tune. Softly at first, and then her voice rose and rose until it filled the hall, rivaled only by Darin's rhythmic sawing of the fiddle. She sang in Azurian, so most didn't know what she sang about exactly, but the emotion was there all the same. She sang of grief. Of loss. Of heartbreak. She sang of love, of passion, of fire. Of defiance. Of serenity. And while she sang, Ridahne began to dance much like she had during the first Azurei dance. The stamping of her bare feet on the wood floor was like a drum and the wavering of her hands matched the rise and fall of her voice. And Darin continued to play. The result was something that had not been done before, something new. It was the intersection between Azurei and human. Of stone and the night sky.

Ridahne sang her last note just as Darin's faded off into a soft echo. The silence hung there a moment, for it seemed wrong to disturb it so soon. And Ridahne saw just how many eyes were on her and Darin. She had a sudden expression like she'd just found herself naked in a public square and took several steps back until she had her back against the wall; she slid down and sat on the floor, wanting nothing more than to be less visible than she felt. Her cheeks were bright red even under the cover of her olive skin and tricolored tattoos. What had just happened there was...something sacred. Something pure and unexplainable and could not be replicated or understood. It just was.

Darin wasn’t sure what she was playing or even when she should stop. She recognized Ridahne’s voice even if the human didn’t understand the Azurien words. The song they created together was hauntingly beautiful and majestically simple. Darin began to sway about the same time Ridahne began to dance. They were telling a story. They were telling Astra’s story, but Darin thought Ravi was the only other person that knew that. The human ended on a hopeful note. Astra was more than the land. Darin had to believe that or else she might lose all hope. That was just the way it was.

Darin opened her eyes as she finished her song. The first thing she saw was Ridahne; looking like she wanted to melt into the wall and disappear. The human placed her fiddle gently in it case before walking over to her companion and holding out her hand. Darin was painfully aware of the fact that every set of eyes were on her and Ridahne. She shouldn’t be surprised by that fact. They held the hope of all of Astra in their hands. Darin was obvious. The Seed was pleasantly burning against her thigh. She didn’t know if Ridahne realized how much pressure was on her. Darin may have been The Seed-Bearer, but she was the guardian. Keeping Darin from falling off of cliffs and down gorges was a feat in and of itself.

Darin spoke, “Stand Ridahne. Please. Please stand with me.”

Of all the truths that Darin had learned today the truth about what The Tree actually had the power to do had been the easiest to understand. Darin finally had an answer for whether or not her Tree would do the same thing as The Tree, but she wasn’t sure she should tell Ridahne that or not. It would open a lot of questions that Darin wasn’t sure she could answer or not. Right now, she just knew that she needed Ridahne on her side. What’s more she wanted Ridahne on her side.

Darin continued, “Get up Ridahne Torzinei. Do not hide what you are; at least not here. And please, never from me.”

Darin hoped that last request wouldn’t backfired. The last time Ridahne had decided to “reveal” herself to Darin they wound up yelling at each other. Yet, the human knew there was so much more than what Ridahne was showing her. The Tree was adamant that Ridahne needed to be on this journey. Darin wasn’t sure that Chaining her to The Seed had been the way to ensure that would happen, but happened it had. Now the young Seed-Bearer had to do her best to ensure that Ridahne wanted to be here. Darin had a vague idea of how the journey was going to go, but she had a fairly good idea of how Ridahne would react to what would most likely happen in Azurei. The Human couldn’t wait to see the look on the Elf’s face, but that would only happen if Ridahne learned to take pride in the direction of her life. Which meant, Darin supposed, she should learn to do the same as well.

Darin was pretty sure that she was babbling now, and the bow of her instrument was tapping against her leg nervously, “We have no need to hide from people we trust. I am The Seed-Bearer, and you are my Guardian. So,” Darin licked her suddenly dry lips, “Let’s be that; together.”

Behind Darin everyone in the room was watching. Ravi was idlily tracing patterns in the water drops on the table. One long leg was crossed over the other. He alone had a fairly good idea of what was happening. He learned a little bit about Azurei from Tax and the other Azurein workers. They tended to let things go and move on once the yelling was done. Humans let things fester until there was communication to deal with the feelings that had caused the yelling in first place. Darin had been worrying about the fact that the two of them had yelled at each other twice now since it had happened. Ridahne was trying to move on from it. That would not happen until Darin received her closure. Hopefully, what was happening her would help. Darin needed to know that there would be no more talk of abandoning her. Whether or not the Elf realized it or not, whether or not The Seed-Chained agreed with it or not, Darin had seen a repeat of her father when Ridahne had spoken of finding the human another guide. Darin hadn’t realized it yet. She was so desperate to move past her father that she buried the trauma until it reared its head in ugly ways. Ravi slowly looked up to look Ridahne in the eye. Slowly he tapped his own face and then his heart. The only choice in the room right now was Ridahne’s. This would be the only time the Guadian got to take such a burden from The Seed-Bearer. The girl with so much passion needed to think just once or any chance for her might just be lost.

Ridahne didn't know what to think or feel. She felt a tear or two spill down her cheeks but she wasn't necessarily upset, just...moved. Emotional. Which emotion, she couldn't say. All of them? She decided that whatever it was, it wasn't wholly bad. She decided on just overwhelmed. That seemed to encompass much of tonight, she thought. Somehow Darin coming over to speak with her made her feel even more 'on the spot', which just made her cheeks burn even hotter with embarrassment. She felt so exposed, so open and vulnerable. It scared her. And yet there was freedom in that, too. She didn't want to a make a scene though, and she realized with a quick glance around the room that she had anyway. Inwardly, she cursed herself for not just shaking the feeling off and rolling with it.

Her amber-gold eyes flicked up to Darin, reflecting something like panic and yet something like an apology too. She wanted to speak, to move, to say something or give some sign. But she just had to...just had to breathe for a moment. This day had been earth-shattering for her in one way or another, and her brain was still struggling to keep up and process it all.

Get a grip, Ridahne. You were trained better than this. Pull it together.

One breath. In. Out. Another. Each one slower and longer and more controlled than the last. And then her hand reached up to take Darin's and her grip was strong and purposeful. She stood, smoothed back the loose runaway locks of hair, set her shoulders square and stood tall, composed. It was the best she could do. Ridahne spoke in a low voice so that only Darin would hear, "I am with you, Darin-Sol." Her hand was still wrapped around Darin's; she squeezed it. "To whatever end."

Sol.

The honorific just sort of came out of her mouth without any thought or intention and though she didn't show it on her face, it surprised even her. But she had no intention of taking it back. When she thought about it, it fit. Roughly translated, the suffix meant 'one of high honor', but in Azurei only the Queen or her princesses merited that level of honor even though the word itself did not mean 'Queen'. Ridahne had not belonged to a Sol since her betrayal and had promised herself she would not swear to another ever again. But this felt right. Yes, it felt right. She hoped Darin wouldn't panic like she had when she had first called the girl Ri'atal. Perhaps she'd explain the translation of it later. Either way, it was something for her ears alone for now.

"I'm sorry," she said softly, though at a less private volume. "I'm...not used to...being so...open. You play nicely. Will you play more for me on the road?" She smiled despite herself. "Maybe I could sing for you? I grew up around sailors, and they do love their working songs and shanties..." Another smile. It was awkward and uncertain in its delivery but it was her way of apologizing for all that had gone awry between them thus far, and it was her way of asking, Are we good?. She got the feeling that neither of them would be the same when they left this farm. Now was as good a time for a fresh start as any.

Darin stared at Ridahne with wide eyes. Her first instinct was to protest; to scream and run as she had the other times she had disagreed with the Azurei warrior. She couldn’t do that now. Darin wanted to move passed the screaming and the yelling. Darin forced herself to take a few deep breathes as she smiled weakly and let Ridahne’s hand fall from hers. Slowly, Darin turned make to her way back to the table with the case and fiddle on it. Carefully she put the bow away, made sure the fiddle was properly detuned, and closed the case.

She surprised herself by speaking in a calm low voice, “Do not call me that again. I am not a Sol. I have no desire to be a woman who values honor above what’s right.” She kept her eyes firmly on the table, “I know you mean no insult, and I have no desire to insult you. But still, this isn’t a journey or honor’s sake, or even a journey for power. This is to do what is right; for all the people of Astra. A such I refused to be compared to a group of women, who as far as I can see, value honor above what is right.” Darin closed her eyes as she slowly shook her head, “If you must use a title to refer to me use the one I already have. I am Seed-Bearer Darin, and quite honestly that is enough. It is more than enough.”

Darin’s eyes were still firmly closed as her fists slowly clenched on top of the table. She wasn’t sure she meant to say that out loud, but she was glad she said it. Even better she didn’t yell so that was a big plus. She was afraid of how Ridahne might react. She knew the Elf had mean no harm, but Ridahne did have a temper. Darin didn’t even think Ridahne could deny that. Darin didn’t mind admitting, at least to herself, that she was worried about how the next part of the conversation went. It’s just she couldn’t be a Sol. She couldn’t be compared to those women that had banished an Agent of The Tree, the only person in all of Azurei capable of listening and acting that listened and acted, simply because of honor. There had been evil in that land. Darin had learned that today. There had been evil, Ridahne had stopped it, she should not have suffered for that. So no, Darin refused to be a Sol.

Darin didn’t mention playing for Ridahne on the road. This piece of the conversation was far to important. Besides, the fiddle had been her father’s Darin didn’t really like to touch it unless her mother asked her to play. Ravi wasn’t going to take no for an answer, but Darin wasn’t sure she could play as often as her traveling companion might request. She didn’t want to make promises that she simply couldn’t keep. Darin was well aware of most of her shortcomings. Her inability to think of her father without wanting to throttle the man was one of them, She supposed that if she was going to one day be Gardener, the very symbol of wisdom, goodness, and righteousness, she might want to get over that sooner rather than later. She had been trying for years. It didn’t look like it was going to happen anytime soon.

Ah, there it was.

Ridahne had been doing so well, the whole night had been going so well, and with one stupid word she ruined it. Figures. Why she wasn't just waiting for something like that to happen was beyond her--she should have known better. The first thing out of her mouth was a very quick but quiet, "But that's not what--" And then she clamped her mouth shut so hard and so tightly that Hadian would have been proud of her. You'll only make it worse. So she took a breath, sighed, and gave her second, more thoughtful answer.

"I won't do it again. But...think about this...Should not honor come from truth and justice and what is good and right? Not from an artificially given station? Don't let the corrupted actions of one Sol ruin the word. It is our language. Language is history. Language is culture." And then even more softly she added, "I did not mean to offend you. I thought to honor you but...I have never known when to keep my mouth shut." Then bowing, she said, "I will do better."

And that was all she had to say. She quieted and gracefully sat back down in her chair, reaching for a cup of wine. She was not angry, not bristling or bitter or furious. Instead she just looked a little deflated, like whatever emotion or energy that had fueled her up to this point had left her, and she was now just kind of tired and defeated. Maybe even a little sad. So Ridahne sipped her wine and quietly waited for the two of them to be 'released' from the celebration. Ridahne had done this many times before and she was good at it. Perfectly polite, she would sit and be the presence she was required to be, to speak when spoken to, and to wait patiently until the ritual was over. That was her duty. So that's what she did. Instead of paying attention to other conversations she merely inspected her cup, occasionally gave a cursory glance around the room, and thought of bed.

Suddenly, without warning, Darin slammed the lid of her case closed. In an effort to remain calm she took several deep breathes. The human was unsuccessful. Suddenly, without warning, Darin had grabbed a cup of something and sent it hurling across the room. Thankfully the girl was uncoordinated, had terrible aim, and wasn’t really aiming at anyone in particular to begin with. Everybody in the way managed to get out of the say to have the cup bounce off the floor to chatter as it hit the way. There were pieces of ceramic everywhere. The Workers all stared at The Seed Bearer in pure shock; alarmed that she could even get that angry.

Ravi started, “Well, you girls, have had a long couple of days, perhaps,”

Darin’s voice was cold, “No.” Her voice was not elevated, just cold and relentless, “This time I don’t run. This time we settle this.” She turned to look Ridahne dead in the eye, “I can recall saying I know you meant me no insult. Do you recall that?” It was rhetorical and the human continued without waiting for an answer, “As for one person damaging the word, I count five!” Her hand was up to count. Her thumb went up, “One who abused her power for selfish and evil reasons, and.” The rest of her fingers came up, “Four who would have killed you for doing the right thing simply because it was dishonorable! And the fact that you were willing to die for doing it is more telling than you know! It means a whole culture chooses honor over what’s right.” She was earnest, “There was evil in Azurei, and The Tree.”

Ravi tried to cut in, “Darin you shouldn’t.”

For the first time Darin yelled as her head snapped around to glare at the Overseer, “NO!” Her voice returned to being cold, “I made a mistake. I Chained Ridahne to The Seed and that was a mistake; a mistake I cannot undo! So, I will tell her this truth, even if I never tell her what else I have learned today!”

Darin turned her gaze back to Ridahne. In a few swift steps she was in front of where the Elf was sitting. In another movement she was kneeling to look up to make eye contact with eh warrior. Her hands reached up to take her companion’s. Her voice went from cold to earnest.

Darin spoke and everyone somehow knew it was true, “There was evil in Azurei. The Tree, The Tree cannot actively fight against evil. It never could. The Tree can only encourage good thoughts and send inspiration to encourage righteous choices. Its influence is lessening as it dies, but that’s all it could ever do. No one in power was listening to The Tree’s subtle suggestions. No one, that is, except you. Your power was limited. Who would listen to you when it was your word against a Sol’s? So, you did what you could, and successfully got rid of the evil. Then, instead of admitting there was a stain in their courts, they took the easy route, and sentenced you to die; citing dishonor. Four of them came together to uphold the honor of a dead evil. So, The Tree sent you to me. And while we don’t really get along, I am so glad it’s someone who understands that honor means nothing when compared to doing what’s right. Because I swear to you now; this task never was and never will be about honor. So, please, I beg you Ridahne Torzinei Seed-Chained, do not seek to honor me when I know for fact that you value doing what is right more than honor.” She paused and shook her head once, “And please, do not be afraid to speak you mind. Just because I don’t agree with you doesn’t mean what you have to say is wrong.” She looked down as her hands slowly started to fall, “I make mistakes as well.”

Darin fell silent. She was unaware that the Workers were frozen in place; unsure if they should leave or not. Against Darin’s thigh The Seed burned. In the distance The Tree rustled contrary to the wind. If the human had been paying attention, she might have felt a sense of amused pride coming from The Seed. As it was, she was silent; waiting for Ridahne to speak her mind. They were never going to make it anywhere if they kept fighting with each other or remained silent in fear they offended the other. They were stuck with each other for a long time; longer if Darin truly succeeded. They needed to learn to talk with each other. The sooner the better.

The slam of the instrument case felt somehow expected and Ridahne didn't even look up. But the sudden crash of crockery against the wall made even her jump, and she turned to stare at her companion with wide eyes. That was the kind of thing she would have expected herself to do, not Darin. Not quiet, reserved Darin. She was no stranger to the raised voices and the intensity of the conversation either, just...not from her.

Admittedly, a lot of what she had to say surprised her a bit. She had always been told the tree prevented evil. Yet Ridahne had seen evil. She had seen a lot of it. And she had questioned the Tree in her youth many times. But somehow knowing it made it feel more...important. But her words did answer some of her questions about why she'd been given that vision, why she'd been sent on this insane journey. At least she knew, sort of.

"They have LAWS, Darin, laws that have to be upheld! What were they supposed to do, wash the blood off my hands and then sit me down in Khaltira-Sol's chair and put me in her place as thanks for MURDERING her? Let's not forget the two other people I slaughtered!" Her voice was raised but it lacked the fire of true rage. Darin had seen that before and this was not it. This was frustration, but not bitter, fiery rage. Ridahne's eyes locked onto hers unflinchingly. "I will make no apologies for it. I'd do it again. And again, and again, and AGAIN if that's what I had to do. But the fact of the matter is I murdered people." There was no guilt in her eyes, no pity. "I came in the night and slit their throats. They did not order my death to defend Khaltira-Sol. They ordered my death because that is what you do to a murderer. What else could they do? You forget also that they forgave my execution in order to send me here. They could have killed me anyway. But they didn't. I hold nothing against them for that. And if I can let that go, so can you."

Ridahne caught her breath. But she kept going. If they were going to talk, then by the Tree, she was going to. "I did not try to give you honor for the sake of honor. I tried to give it to you because you are earning it. You are not perfect and neither am I," she said with a bit of a laugh. She knew that all too well. "But like it or not, whether you're aiming for it or not, by the end of this you will have earned honor. Is honor given for the right reasons really so abhorrent to you? Darin, I see so much promise and hope in you, but black skies, you frustrate me sometimes! And I don't know what you WANT from me! I keep my mouth shut and you are upset with me for not being open. So I speak, and you don't like what you hear. And I'm sorry," she began, her voice a little raised but again lacking the heat of real anger. "I know I am not the easiest person to be with. 'Aggressive' is a kind word for what I am. I get it. And I'm sorry." And she meant it. Ridahne had a lot of thoughts and feelings, and none of them could be summarized so neatly into either 'good' or 'bad' feelings. She just had them, and right now they were all tumbling out at once in a disjointed mixture of respect, frustration, thoughtfulness and a desire for reconciliation.

Though Ridahne never rose from her seat, she seemed to sink a little further into it again. She put one elbow on the table and rested her forehead against the heel of her palm. She sighed deeply. "I don't even know what point I was trying to make. Typical Azurei--just start yelling until something makes sense." She shook her head, perhaps at her own folly and eventually said, 'I'm sorry. I'm sorry for making you uncomfortable. I'm sorry for being so damn difficult--I am. You can say it." A tiny smile pulled at the corner of her lips. "I'm sorry for snapping at you all the time. You don't deserve it. I hope I can be better. I hope we can be better, you and I. I have never wanted to be at odds with you. I still don't."

Ridahne meant it. From the depths of her soul, she meant every word. She just hoped Darin would see her earnestness. She really did want things to be better between them, though she was still figuring out how. Somewhere in her mind she was trying to remind herself of what Ravi told her of the two of them being more alike than either realized, and she held on to that quiet notion.

Darin paused to think about what Ridahne had said. She raised a good point. It wasn’t like Ridahne should be allowed to wander about unpunished after murdering someone. That wasn’t what Darin had been trying to say at all. Though that still left Darin with a question; a question she had asked before but didn’t receive a proper answer to. She slowly stood from where she was kneeling. She thought she might ask the question again. This Ridahne might just have to answer this time.

Darin slowly moved back to the table with her fiddle on it, “You’re right. Murder cannot go unpunished. So, I’ll ask again. Were you due to be executed for the innocents or the liar? If the answer was the innocents or both than I owe you an apology. I judged the Sols too quickly. But if you if the only answer you can honestly give is the liar, then perhaps you do not know the Sols as well as you might wish you did.” She carefully locked the case, “Then again, I’m sure there is more to this story than more than either of us know; more than anyone but the Sols know.” She turned to smile at the Elf over her shoulder, “You’ll have to forgive me though. I tend to be possessive of what, or rather, who, I consider to belong to me.” She shrugged, “I also tend to not like people who hurt my people.”

From the corner her eye Darin spotted the shattered cup. It felt so good at the time. Now it just felt childish and stupid. Well, Mama did say she needed to learn to clean up her own messes. Darin moved from the table to bend down and start picking up pieces of the broken cup. She waved away the hands of the Worker that came to help her. The Workers were still staring at her in shock. She wasn’t surprised. She was beginning to think that the Workers had built her up to be some sort of idol. Now that she had proven that she wasn’t they didn’t know what to make of her. She was okay with that. She wasn’t sure what to make of most people. Then again, she wasn’t sure people were meant to be understood. At least she hoped that people weren’t meant to make sense. It made her feel better to think that.

As she picked up pieces she spoke, “Life is hard Ridahne. I’m only nineteen and I already know that. Life isn’t meant to be easy. I sincerely doubt your life was any easier than mine, and I doubt my life was any easier than yours; just a bunch of different hardships. I’m not sure I could live the life you’ve lived or make the choices you’ve had to make. Then again, could you say you could make the choices I’ve had to make?” She sighed, “I had a point.” She smiled lightly, “See? I do it too; ramble and hope that something makes sense sooner or later.”

She finished picking up the pieces she could get with her bare hands. She managed to cut herself a few times, but Darin paid no attention to that. It wasn’t the first time she had suffered such minor injuries to her hands from picking things up that she shouldn’t really pick up. She doubted it would be the last. She supposed that there was a metaphor in there somewhere about making choice you knew what hurt you, but she was honestly far too tired to think of them at the moment. She was far too tired in general right now. Her crazed descent down the hill, her interaction with The Tree, the dancing, the fiddle, and now this conversation with Ridahne; they were all exhausting in their own way. Perhaps Ravi was right. Maybe she should have gone to bed. She walked back over to Ridahne with her cupped hands.

She spoke simply, “Though, like it or not, we are in this honorless task, and I do promise that it is a task without honor, together now. If we do not learn how to at least not end every night without a fight we are in for a very long tip that might just end up with one or both of us dead and Astra doomed. So, for the sake of both our sanity, I promise not to insult, scoff at, belittle, or imply I don’t like, the Sols. I will do my best to not make light of the things that are important to you, and to take the things you take seriously, seriously. In return I need you to think about the fact that I told you I needed you to treat me like Darin and, at least from my point of view, you treat me as incapable, a child, or some sort of royalty. I may not know how to survive on the road, but I do know how to take care of myself. I may not be an adult, but I stopped being a child long ago. I maybe the Seed-Bearer, but I will always be a farmer; not a queen, not a princess, a farmer, and by The Tree, a stubborn one.” She smiled lightly, “Maybe that’s why it really bothered me; not me thinking they are dishonorable, which may or may not be true, I do not know for sure. But because I am not a ruler. I will never be a ruler. Even The Gardener was not a ruler.” She moved back to the table and let the shards fall on the table, “At this point I have nothing left to say. Do you?”

Darin didn’t think there was anything more to say. She desperately just wanted to sleep. She might sneak away from the table to go sleep with Talbot. She couldn’t do that yet though. She needed to give Ridahne a chance to answer what she had to say. Communication had to go both ways. Darin had done her best to express her points of view clearly. Now she had to listen carefully. If she didn’t, she might miss something, and that was the last thing she wanted. They had to figure out how to live together. If things went the way they were supposed to they would be living together for a very, very long time.

Ridahne's expression softened and she gave a very sad, very wry smile like it pained her to say it, but she answered with an obvious note of regret and sadness, "All three." The whole 'mission' to clear the court of Sols had been a doomed one and she'd always known it. There had been no legitimate option of escape for her and she'd accepted that...until she had that vision. "They were not unkind to me. They could have slain me the moment my ojih was marked but they let me live the night and it wasn't by accident that the guard posted to my cell was Ajoran." They'd both known it too.

And though she didn't say anything, there was a visible change in her posture when Darin implied that Ridahne 'belonged' to her. She looked proud. And like she'd never wanted to hear anything else. To her, having a place and a purpose was important. Ridahne did not mention that in elf culture, 19 was a child. Though Ridahne was nothing like Darin at that age, so she supposed humans aged a bit differently. And anyway, Darin was not a child. She resolved to find the balance between being a mentor when it came to certain areas and a guardian without demeaning her. They'd figure this out together, Ridahne had hope.

In the end, she merely offered the littlest quirk of a lopsided smile and gave a single gentle nod. They did not yet understand eachother completely, but they'd made some steps that night. "Personally? I'm exhausted," she said with a note of gentle dry humor. She was though. Mentally, emotionally, physically. She was ready for a little quiet time and then for an actual bed with an actual pillow instead of just her saddle. "I don't see any reason to rise especially early tomorrow. The road ahead will be easier if we are well rested and well fed, if you ask me." She then turned to Ravi and bowed low. "Thank you. You have been a most gracious host." With a silent nod of goodnight to Darin, Ridahne slipped away to first steal back onto the roof for a little bit, as she liked the solitude it bought her and she enjoyed the cool touch of the night air. And after a little silent contemplation, she slipped back inside and went to her bed where she fell asleep almost immediately.

Darin nodded, “Good night Ridahne. I will see you tomorrow.” As the warrior left Darin turned to Ravi, “Where do I sleep?”

Ravi sighed, “This way Seed-Bearer.” As they walked, he asked, “Was that necessary Darin?”

She didn’t hesitate, “Yes Ravi, it was. We couldn’t keep running from each other.”

Ravi sighed, “In front of everybody?”

Darin shrugged, “Probably not. But we do not get to pick the location of our battles. We simply fight them when they come.”

Ravi opened a door, “I suppose that is true.” He nodded in the open room, “Here you are.”

Darin smiled, “Thank you. Good night Ravi.”

The Overseer left, “Good night Darin.”

The human placed her fiddle on the small table before falling on the bed. She fell asleep almost instantly. As she slept The Tree reached out to her. It was a continuation of the lessons Darin had learned earlier in the day. The Tree needed to make sure she had all the information before she left The Farm. The Seed-Bearer had been assigned an impossible task. She would not be sent out unprepared. She was loved and she needed to know that. The Tree woke the girl just in time for her to hear the first rooster call the rising of the sun. Darin smiled as she looked out the window. Ridahne claimed she wasn’t going to rise early. Darin always knew she would be up with the sun. This was The Farm and she was a farmer. It was inevitable.

Darin looked at the Worker uniform she was wearing. She grabbed the hat on the hook by the door and then snuck out the window. She was going to attempt to simply join the Workers in the day’s labors. She wasn’t sure how well it would work, but she was going to try. There was a group of them gathered together. Darin kept to the edge of the group. She then followed them to weed carrots. He was good work, and Darin found herself smiling as she worked in the dirt. She had no idea if she was hiding properly or if they were just pretending that they didn’t recognized her. Darin wasn’t sure she cared. She just lost herself in the farm work. It felt like home.

Darin worked with the others until lunch. Then she saw Talbot watching her from the edge of the field. He looked towards a spot in the distance and then back towards her. She furrowed her brow in question. It seemed like the horse had something he wanted to tell her. Without speaking to anyone Darin headed towards Talbot. NO one tried to stop her. Well, that answered that question. People were pretended they didn’t know who she was. Talbot bent his knees so Darin could get on. She then let him carry her away from the carrots. They walked for a moment before he stopped. Darin slipped down to see what Talbot was concerned with. Her attention was drawn by a shriek.

Darin smiled, “Why hello there beautiful. What happen?”

It was some type of bird of prey. Darin almost wanted to say it was a hawk. The poor creatures wing was broken. Darin had rehabilitated crows and sparrows before. She wondered how much different healing a hawk would be. She obviously was going to do her best. She didn’t think Talbot brought her to just look at the poor bird. Darin was glad she was wearing thick work gloves. She carefully picked the hawk up. She was not surprised when he lashed out. She managed to avoid terrible injuries, but he did get a talon across her cheekbone.

Darin scowled, “Now that’s not nice! I’m just trying to help you silly!” The bird quieted down, “That’s better. Come on. Let’s go see what Ravi has to set that wing. Maybe he can tell me what you eat too.” She looked at the sun, “And hopefully Ridahne is up now.” She smiled at the hawk, “Maybe we can get her to weed carrots.”

That didn’t actually sound like a half bad idea. Darin had tasted a bit of Ridahne’s warrior lifestyle back in Grey Rock when Mark attacked them. Maybe the Elf could see just a little bit of being what a farmer was all about. Still, Darin couldn’t force her to do anything she didn’t want to. Darin wrinkled her nose. She could feel blood dripping down her face from the injury the hawk had lashed out. She scowled at the thought of both Ravi and Ridahne freaking out about the minor wound. The most it would do would scar. That was not Darin’s biggest concern. She still had all her fingers. Talbot walked next to her as the headed back towards the Main Farmhouse. She didn’t feel comfortable trying to ride while holding the injured animal. She was glad Talbot understood that.

Despite what Ridahne had said, she wasn't much of a sleeping in person. For years she had trained her body to wake early and typically that's what she did. This morning was different, however, and for once the elf actually slept in a little. Not terribly late, but later than usual. It felt good, especially after so long on the road and the events of the night before. Not to mention she really didn't get much sleep the night the two idiot horse thieves found them. It felt wonderful just to sleep without any worry. Eventually she did rise, and, still wearing her more traditional clothes she came down for a bit of breakfast. After eating, Ridahne went to go check on her animals. She had no doubt that they were well taken care of if not outright spoiled, but she learned long ago that animal partnership was not just about meeting basic needs. That was the first step, but it was important to connect to them on a personal level. She found Tsura chewing on some hay in the shade of a little open barn.

"Getting nice and fat, are we?" She teased in Azurian. The horse simply snorted and kept eating, so she combed through his black mane with her slim fingers. It was already very smooth and brushed, but she enjoyed the feel of his coat on her fingertips anyway. She took the opportunity to check his iron shoes and the health of his hooves too, as they had been on the road a long time and crossed all kinds of terrain. There would be more to come. Mitaja she found rolling in some cool grass not far from the farmhouse, pleased to be basking in the sun and also sleeping in late.

After that she wasn't sure what to do. She didn't see either Darin or Talbot but had no worry for them, not here, so she didn't pay that much mind. It felt strange to just stand there while all these people, who had shown her such excellent hospitality, were hard at work. But she looked over at the group of people pulling certain plants out of the ground and tossing them in wheel barrows, but they left others alone. The practice had a name, she knew...but what was it? In the region of Atakhara where she was from, the land was completely arid and sandy and outright terrible for growing anything but extremely hardy palm trees. And water was a commodity so no one in her village ever farmed, or at least not in the sense of working the soil. There was lots of livestock that was fed on hay or grain purchased from the northwest or brought in trade from the sea.

She walked up to a human man and asked, "What is it called, this thing you are doing?"
If he thought her question odd or naive, he made no sign of it. "Weeding," he said simply.
"Oh. Wee-ding. What is its purpose..?"
"There are some plants that spring up and grow very thick very fast. They can steal nutrients, water, and sunlight from the crops, so it's best to pull them out."
Ridahne nodded. "I see." And, meaning to help she said, "Like this?" But she reached down and curled her fingers around the base of a plant and pulled, and out popped a kind of squiggly, stringy little orange root that was not yet finished growing. Ridahne cringed. "Not those plants, I see...sorry..." and then a little awkwardly tried to plant it back into the soil. "I'll um...just leave you to it..." She offered, and backed away. They must know a lot about what plants look like what to know which to pull out and which to leave alone, she thought. She knew which ones would be useful in the wild and could identify those, but outside of that her knowledge of flora this far north was poor.

But then she heard a familiar sound, a rhythmic whack-thud sound that she knew at once. She found an Orosi woman with skin even darker than Ridahne's and short wooly hair cut neat and close to her scalp swinging an axe and making her way through a pile of logs to split. Ridahne approached her. "Do you have another axe?"
The woman smiled. "Yes, in the shed there. But don't feel like you have to join in the work. You have a long road ahead of you, Guardian."
Ridahne bowed slightly. "Nevertheless I will show thanks to my host with my hands." She went to fetch an axe and began splitting wood with the woman, stacking the firewood on a small cart. This was what she was doing when Darin returned with the hawk.

Ridahne saw her approach and set down the axe to go and meet her. At first she was looking at the hawk, but then she looked up to Darin's cut face and her eyes lingered there for a moment. She did not cluck over her like a worried mother, but there was an odd expression on her own face, and for a moment she actually shivered a little before forcing her eyes away from the cut and back to the hawk.

"Oh, what've we got here?" She cooed softly to the bird. She could see the way it held one wing and knew it was hurt; for a lot of birds, that spelled death unless someone intervened. But she had no doubts it would be taken care of. She spoke softly to it in Azurian, telling it that it was in good hands and was a handsome bird, and other such compliments. She looked up at Darin, though she pointedly looked into her eyes and not at her bleeding cheek. "Are you going to leave him in their care or bring him with you? Hawks are good partners if you befriend one. I assume this one tried to fight you a bit...? When you get him settled, there's a wooden container of salve in my saddlebags. You should put some on that cut."

Darin answered Ridahne’s question easily enough, “It depends on how fast he imprints on me. Birds are hard creatures to earn the trust of. Once they trust one person, they tend to trust that person and no one else. If I earn this one’s trust, handing him off to someone else will negatively affect his healing. So, I guess we’ll see.”

Another voice filled the air, “Darin! What happened?”

Darin looked up to see Ravi coming towards her, “He’s scared and in pain. So, he lashed out. It was an accident. Accidents happen.”

Ravi sighed, “I suppose that is true.” He nodded at a human woman following him, “Kristi can take him. You are correct about the imprinting. If Kristi takes him now you won’t have to worry about that.”

Darin nodded in understanding and moved to hand Kristi the bird. The hawk did not like that one little bit. He lashed out again. Kristi fell backwards to get away from the rapidly flapping wings and talons desperate to make contact. Darin was left to struggle to hold the bird as he tried desperately to escape. The Seed-Bearer kept her grip gentle but firm. The creature was obviously terrified.

Darin snapped, “Enough you silly thing. You’ll just hurt that wing more.” The creature calmed down and turn his head to look at Darin’s scowling face, “No more of that. I still need to set that wing.” She turned to Ravi, “Where would I find things for that?”

Ravi pointed at Kristi, “Kristi can take you. I guess he’s imprinted on you already.”

Darin nodded, “I guess so.” She turned to Ridahne, “It looks like he’ll be coming with us.” At Talbot’s snort and nod she turned to scowl at the horse, “I know he needs a name. That is not as important as setting this wing.” She turned back to Ridahne, “If you could figure out what he eats I would appreciate it. He’ll need a meal after I set his wing.” Talbot pushed her in the shoulder, “I’m going! I’m going! Wait here! Or wherever. I don’t need you hovering Talbot.”

Darin muttered under breath as she followed Kristi towards a small building. The windows were open and covered by dark curtains. The only light came though the doorless entry. Darin approved. Birds healed better in the dark. Kristi quickly got away from the bird. Darin stuck her tongue out at her retreating back. Animals lashed out when in pain. That was just the way it was. Being afraid of them was silly. Darin place the hawk on the table to look at the break properly. Luckily it was a clean break even though the wing was broken in two places. It would be easy enough to set, though it would take some time to heal.

As she worked, she asked, “Talbot was right. You do need a name.” The bird just gazed at her with baleful eyes, “You don’t have any ideas? Neither do I.”

Darin had to force the wing into place and the hawk let out another shriek of pain. This time his talon’s dug deep into Darin’s arm. It was her turn to let out a shout of pain. She then gritted her teeth to finishing setting the bone with the straight sticks provided and the wool thread that seemed sturdy enough for the job. There was also a small gash on his leg that needed stitching. Darin pressed him down with one hand as she carefully patched up the injury. She might need stitches on her arm, and who knew what the stitches on her shoulder looked like. She would have to go find Ridahne so Ridahne could play doctor for her the same way she had played doctor for the bird that still needed a name.

Darin looked at the gashes on her arm as she thought, “These are some pretty deep injuries pretty bird. It’s almost like you were trying to pull my arm off.” She paused as she thought about that, “Arm. Arm.” She smiled, “Taja. You and Talbot can match with the T names.” Her brow furrowed as she thought further, “I suppose I should ask Ridahne about that first.” She carefully placed the hawk on one of the many perches in the building, “Hopefully she found a snack for you. It has been a little while and it is close to dinner time. I’m going to find her.” Darin looked to see Talbot looking in thought the door, “Alright then. Talbot, if something happens to out new friend Come and find me.”

Talbot nodded as she laughed as rubbed his nose. Then she headed towards the main Farmhouse. She had her own injuries to look at. Hopefully Ridahne would be willing to patch her up. She wasn’t sure she wanted one of the Workers looking at the injuries. Ridahne would be the one playing doctor in the future. It made sense to keep with one person patching her up for now. She was also hoping that the Farm had herbs they could use. It didn’t make sense to use the Elf’s salve unless they had to.

Ridahne was unsurprised the hawk wasn't keen on going with anyone else. It was panicked clearly, but also Darin as the Seed Bearer had a connection with nature and animals that no one else did. It just seemed right to her, so when the human announced she was taking him with, Ridahne simply nodded. Besides, they were excellent companions and could be trained in a variety of tasks. Mitaja already hunted for Ridahne and sparing some for a hawk would be no big deal.

Ridahne went off to the kitchens and asked after the butcher to find some meat scraps cut into little chunks for the bird. It was rabbit, which was perfect. She wrapped the bits in a little piece of cloth and went upstairs to fetch her aid kit. Now that she thought about it, now would be the time to get anything that was running low replenished, so she took stock of what she had left and then went in search of more supplies. She'd hoped that with a group of Azurei living here, someone would have made the traditional salve already. After speaking with an Orosi man about it, he informed her that they had a large jar of salve, but it was not the Azurei variety. The Orosi also had a version that was honey based, though some of the other ingredients were different and, according to him, better. She refilled her wooden container with it and went out to find Darin.

She'd gotten even more cut up, and Ridahne made a mental note that if they were going to keep this bird, Darin needed some leathers. "Come, sit," she said in her no-nonsense kind of way as she spread her tools across a little table inside the farmhouse. Though the arm wound was by far the deeper and more severe, Ridahne simply put a cloth over it to stop the bleeding for the time being, and treated the cut on her face first. It didn't require stitches, but she made sure her face was clean before smearing the salve liberally over it. "Try to keep that on there as long as you can," she instructed, then lifted the cloth on her arm and began treating that.

Ridahne prepared the needle and thread, made sure the wound was good and clean, and then she took her flask of whiskey and set it on the table. "If you want it, do it now. I'll make Mitaja hold you down if you squirm..." Ridahne teased, smiling a little, then with steady hands she began to sew Darin back together. Evidently she'd done this many, many times and could do it quickly without her hands shaking. She tied off the knot, trimmed the thread, globbed on the salve, and wrapped the wound up in clean linen.

"There we go. Good as new. While we're at it, let's see your shoulder..." Ridahne hooked a finger around the collar of Darin's shirt and pulled it aside. It looked good for only being a few days old. And the stitches hadn't come out yet, which was impressive considering they'd been on the road. Ridahne nodded, satisfied, and put salve on that too. "By the Tree, I think you might just live." The delivery was dry but it was very clearly meant to be lighthearted. There was even a little smile on her face. "So, do you know much about hawks? I only know a little--only rich people back home kept them as partners. But I know they like rabbit. Here," She proffered the little cloth bundle of meat scraps. "Thought about what you'll name him?"