[i]The night was dark. No moon graced the night sky over Azurei and even the stars were veiled by a thin mist of clouds that hung in dark patches across the sky like deeper shadows. And it was quiet. The chirping bugs had stopped their singing and all that could be heard was the delicate whisper of wind. Ajoran awoke to this silence, knowing that he was not alone. Curious, he lit a candle only to find one of the shadows reflecting a new shape back at him. 

“Ridahne? What are you doing here?” His voice was groggy and tired, though he slowly stretched and sat up.  It wasn’t unusual for her to come over when she was in town, and she did sometimes come in at odd hours but she usually knocked or called for him. What was more, there was a cold, heavy air that night that put him on edge. But she did not turn. She did not come to him. 
“I’ve done something I shouldn’t, Ajoran. I wanted you to be the first to know. And I need you to tell Hadian.” Her voice was so soft, so cool, like  little ocean waves. Something about it bothered him. 
He might have taken it as a joke except her tone was so icy, so distant. He felt his blood run cold. “What are you talking about?” He didn’t move from his place at the edge of his bed, almost afraid to move. 
“They will come for me. No one knows I’m here...yet. But they will before long, they’ll guess where I am. And I will be marked for the things I’ve done this night. Promise me you’ll tell Hadian?”
He didn’t like where this was going.  “Tell him what, Ridahne?” As if in answer, bells began tolling wildly from the palace and a somber note from a low horn echoed mournfully through the night. Ajoran blanched. “By the Tree, Ridahne...is that for you?”
“I don’t have much time, Ajoran.”
“Ridahne!” His voice was frantic, shaking. “What did you do?” Somewhere deep down, he knew. But he needed her to say it.

She did turn to him then, tears in her eyes. That, more than anything else, made his breath stick in his lungs. “Something terrible, Ajoran. I need you to escort me back.”
“Back!? You...want me to...turn you in? Why? Why would you ask this of me?”
“Because you aren’t involved and I need them to believe that too!” Her voice was sharp. “If you wait with me, they will come here anyway and you could be stripped of your rank, or worse. Even if I didn’t come here, everyone knows about you and I. You have to cut ties with me. Publicly.”
Ajoran’s eyes began to sprout tears now. “No, no, I can’t...Ridahne I—“
“Can’t afford to be with me anymore. Do this and let me go...you have to. I die tomorrow.”[/I]

—-

Ridahne’s jubilance at finally finding the Gardener faded markedly when Darin asked that question. Something about the elf hardened for a moment, a stony exterior rising where once there had been ease. “That—“ she bit off the words. Her first instinct was to shut her down, tell her it was none of her business. But frankly it was. Indirectly maybe, but it was now. Darin had a right to know, she supposed. “If you don’t take me as your guardian, I will return to Azurei. I will return to my Sol and tell her I failed my final mission. I will be stripped of my weapons and by them I will be put to death. But look here, human.” Ridahne took a step forward, putting up one bloodied finger. “Do not make your decision on my account. You owe me nothing and my life is no concern of yours. It’s already forfeit and I have accepted my fate. I don’t need your pity; the ruling is no less than I deserve.” She softened a little. “But If you want me by your side, it would be my honor to do so.”  

It was then that the constable joined them, approaching cautiously with two other deputies who looked more unnerved than he did. One of the lads had a bow, though he wasn’t keen on using it. “Now miss, I know that horse don’t belong to you…that’s ol’ Jack’s. You’ve got some things back there to answer for, now don’t add horse thieving to—“
“Hush, constable.” She gave him an impatient, withering look, though her posture was relaxed. Only someone trained in combat would be so casual while covered in blood.  She held up one bloody hand and, gory as it was, it was still elegant. “No horse thieving here. This one just took a liking to young Martin and saved him from being run through with a few arrows.”
He eyed the cut on Darin’s shoulder and nodded slowly. “Er…right. And them three back in the inn? I don’t know how you do things in your land….er…Azurei, if I’m not mistaken from the tattoos? Anyhow, I don’t know how you folks do it there, but ‘round here, murder is—“
“It wasn’t murder. I know your laws, constable,” Ridahne answered coolly. “I drew my weapon first but did not strike or swing until one of them tried to stab me first. That’s defense, by your laws. Besides, another one tried to shoot down the lad—don’t you think that’s proof enough?”
The constable couldn’t actually argue with that. There was some small chance that she was lying about who swung first since no one actually saw it happen, but he did not feel inclined to call this woman a liar. Not to mention she had a point about the lad. “Er…alright…” anyone else, and he might have demanded a trial or further questioning but he had a gut feeling that was a bad idea, nor was it necessary. “But the barman still has a mess in his tavern. You’ll have to pay for that, you know, for cleaning.” 
Ridahne nodded amicably. “Deal. Tell him I’d like to rent a room for the night too.”
The constable nodded slowly and numbly shuffled off, glancing back once to give her a bewildered stare. 

Ridahne looked to Darin. “There, that settles that. Look…I need to get clean--I’m sure my ojih is a mess. I’m going to spend the night in that inn, and you’re still welcome to join me. Take the time and think on my offer and decide in the morning. Perhaps you’d like to get to know someone first before letting them follow you through all of Astra.” She gave a dry smile.