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.