Midway through Darin’s explanation of expectations of most women in Lively, Ridahne let out a sudden noise of sympathetic exasperation, even stopping her inking to look up at her new travel partner. “Oh, by the tree, if I was ever condemned to be like [i]that[/i]...” she gave a little laugh. “I can’t imagine myself becoming one of those women...the ones who stay at home all day, stay inside, raise children and clean and cook. I’m not a good cook,” she laughed. “I’m better than Hadian, my brother, but Ajoran was always better than me...” A sad note touched her voice as she said this, but it didn’t stay. 

“No, I can’t blame you for not wanting to be like that. What a dull life... Azurei women have different standing in society than in human lands. From what I understand, women here are supposed to be second to men, yes? Submissive? The man makes the decisions in the home and the woman follows? We are not that way. We are a matriarchy—-females are the head of the household and they rule Azurei. We believe the gender responsible for giving life should make decisions for those she cares for. And we also believe that those who give life should be the ones to take it, as well. We don’t have as many male warriors, not like you. The sword is a feminine art. It is a dance, prized for its elegance, control, and speed. The idea behind female warriors, also, is that women will naturally have a better appreciation for life and will thus be more careful when taking it from someone else.” 

She went back to her tattooing. “I was also expected to be something different than I wanted. The Torzinei clan has been fishers for ages, and it was sort of expected that I would stay in Atakhara. I wanted more. And eventually Scouts came to town and took a liking to me. I wanted what they offered and eventually left home to pursue...new things.” She did not elaborate on what those were; it seemed her former occupation was something she was not keen on revealing unless cornered about it. 

Darin asked about the tree and Ridahne sighed heavily, sadly. She had seen the tree. And she wouldn’t forget what she saw. “Yes...I have. In a way, anyway. I h ave not seen it in person, but the vision I had showed it. One moment I was in a cell talking to Ajoran and...the next I was in this...glade. In the center was the Great Tree, its branches spread wide and high into the sky like a living mountain. Around it were once flowers of many kinds and colors but they had all died. Wilted, dry, and broken, their colors faded. The Tree’s leaves fell but it was not autumn. The leaves that fell were not red and gold but black, brown, and gray. The bark, which was supposed to be smooth was starting to flake away like sunburnt skin.” She had dropped her tools now, eyes looking unseeing at the wall of the little cave; they were filled with tears and her voice quavered as she went on. “And I could feel the stillness in the air. No wind blew. No birds sang. The sun gave no warmth. And it showed me what would come if you failed. Darin...what do you know of war?”

Ridahne’s face was haunted as her amber eyes turned to the younger woman. She knew of war. Her people still remembered it and told stories of it, sparing no harrowing detail. The Azurei knew that its horrors should not be forgotten, even when the tree was alive and well. And now, as the Tree was failing and slowly evil was going to creep into Astra, Ridahne knew it would come if they failed.