Darin considered Ridahne’s offer. It wasn’t a bad one, and the human found herself wanting to agree to it. Except it couldn’t happen now. Darin vaguely understood that there was a difference between the one in Ridahne’s ear and the one around her neck. They both had the same symbol on them, the Torzenei symbol, but the material was different because of where the person who had carved it had come from. It told others where the person was from. Darin didn’t mind being part of Ridahne’s family, but she was still her mother’s child. Suddenly, she remembered the apple tree where she had picked the apples for every apple pie she had ever made. Maybe, one day, she would let Ridahne make her a ku’o from the wood of that tree. That was still a long way off. There was still plenty of time to think about it.

Still, the young woman couldn’t help but whisper to herself so quietly that the two Elves talking of marriage wouldn’t hear her, “Darin Torenzei, daughter of Martin by Talia, Seed-Bearer of Astra.”

The siblings may not have heard her, but Astra did. A loud crack filled the air as a crash of lightning appeared in the otherwise cloudless sky. The Seed-Bearer’s attention was immediately grabbed by the out of place phenomena. Without even thinking she was on her feet in a moment. She kept her eyes on the sky as she took a few steps away from the fire. Suddenly a tendril of Sea snapped out of the ocean to wrap around her wrist. A feeling rightness filled her as The Seed burned in approval against her thigh. Taja had taken flight to land on Ridahne’s head to run his beak though her hair. (He was inclined to do that whenever Astra reacted to The Seed-Bearer. Darin still wasn’t 100 percent sure what it meant, if it meant anything) However, the message from Astra and The Seed was clear. They liked the name change and thinking of Hadian with the Sea wrapped around her wrist like this only cause the Sea to chitter happily. Without even thinking Darin flicked the trapped wrist towards the newcomer. 

The saltwater circled the Elf in a manner that almost mimicked the way Mitaja said hello as Darin laughed, “You’ve made an impression. The Sea knows you. The Sea likes you, at least as well as it likes any Child of Sky.” She flicked her wrist back towards the ocean, “However Ridahne is right. We have an early start tomorrow so now we must rest” Her voice took a tone that almost sounded like a scolding parent, “And it is time for feisty ocean waters to at least pretend to sleep.”

The waters, now that they had been reminded, flowed back to the ocean so the only movements were the soft waves of natural currents. It was odd that both the Sea and the Sky were so … apparent in the message they were trying to send. Oh, they could almost always be vocal, speaking a language that only certain people could muddle through and The Seed-Bearer could understand as well as she understood Astran. Sometimes they were so loud, at least to her, that her head hurt from their demands. It appeared that the Torzenei siblings were well loved by Astra and they wanted the two of them to know.

She turned her attention to Ridahne, “Still, there are two things left to discuss,” She held up a finger, “One, I understand the need to go to the Sols to get the nimarih, but I don’t like it, and I want you to know that.” She continued to gesture with her hands, “We should zigzag like we did in Eluri and Osori, stopping in the towns and villages and cities for at least a day, no longer than a week. I didn’t let the leaders of either determine my path and I don’t plan on letting the Sols have any say either. Plus going back to Atakhara means wasting time we may not have. I rather spend a week there and then go to Tasen. I understand the need to go to Tasen first, and I know you are excited to be home, but they are just stops. Please remember that.” She didn’t wait before holding up two fingers in a v shape, “Second.” Her flat palm came out to point at the other guest, “I have yet to be introduced to our final guest. I forgot. Which was rude of me.” She slowly walked over to Hadian’s horse and bowed slightly, “Please forgive me. I meant no disrespect.”