The Tree laughed, “Ridahne. I know Darin told you the truth. I cannot directly cause good. I can only encourage others to do good.” It looked up at Its Leaves as they considered, “I know every soul in Astra. I know the paths they walk and why they walk them.” The Tree looked back down at Ridahne, “And so, I know you. I also know Jacob Teganson. He’s a good man, though not very bright. He got lost but did not deserve to die. I whispered to dozens of people; urging them to go look for them. Some listened but did not hear. Some didn’t hear me at all.” The Tree was errnest, “You did. You looked up right as I told you to, in just the right direction. The rest was all you.” The Tree laughed, “So no Ridahne. I did not make you rescue those people. I just gave you a push. You did the rest all on your own. It was your doing.” The Tree looked Ridahne dead in the eye, “Though that is the way for most good people. They need just one whisper to point them in the right direction. They do the rest themselves. Like you.” The Tree put a borrowed hand over a borrowed heart, “Like Darin. Like my glorious wonderful Darin.” The Tree smiled broadly, “My glorious clumsy directionally challenged Darin. Who else could I have protect her than my wonderful courageous finding warrior? Who else but the one woman that found everyone I sent her after? Who else but the one woman strong enough to murder a monster despite knowing the consequences? Tell me Seed-Chained; who else could I have protect my Seed-Bearer but my wonderful stunning Ridahne Torzinei? And yet I find you want to leave her because you think you are not good enough. Because you think I think you are not good enough. How could you think that I would be disappointed in you when I am the one that sent you after the false Sol? Who damaged your soul badly? Tell me so I may sic my Seed-Bearer on them. Tell me so that way my vindictive Darin, filled with misplaced righteous anger, may take her wrath out on them. You have seen her spit fire to defend those she loves. Do you not know that, despite you fighting, you are very dear to her heart? That though she does not know you she wants to understand you. Tell me Ridahne Torzinei, why did she had to Chain you to get you to stay? Explain it to me! I know that you have explained it to Ravi. Now explain it to me. You never once failed to listen to my whispers. Why do you not listen now?”

--

Darin left Ridahne’s brother and went ‘looking’ for a way to see if she could find Ajoran. She had liked the little she had ‘seen’ of the fisherman and then woman she assumed was his wife. They lived a much simpler life than Ridahne had lived. That much was clear. It looked like the type of life Darin would have liked if she had been born an Azurian. Then again, there was no point in wondering about what ifs or maybes. The life she had been given was the only life she had. It was up to her to make the best of it. Darin searched the country for places she thought Sols might live in. She knew that Ajoran was a Taja and that Tajas were warriors that served the Sols. She also knew that Sols were kind of like princesses. So, she was ‘looking’ for palaces or castles. She wasn’t sure what either looked like. She was really just ‘looking’ for really big buildings. That was kind of vague, but she couldn’t just ‘watch’ one person the entire time The Tree talked to Ridahne. That would be creepy. Darin wasn’t really ‘looking.’ She was really just wandering. Occasonially she would ‘hear’ bits and pieces of conversations that would distract her. She let herself be distracted. There was no harm in that. Then she found something even more interesting than a palace.

It was the Dust Sea. It had to be. This was where Ridahne’s adventure had started. The warrior had rescued so many people from the heat and sand. That had called the attention of many people much more powerful than a fisherman’s daughter. It was what started the whole chain of events that lead the Elf to the Seed-Bearer. This was where Ridahne first made the choices that crafted her into the woman she was now; the woman that Darin had a hard time connecting with. It was hard to believe that something so small had lead to something so big.

Without really thinking about it, and forgetting about her desire to find Ajoran, Darin moved across Astra to find someone. This someone was not a person. It was a dog; a dog named Max. The dog once belonged to a man in her little village. The man was a drunk and the poor creature was his victim. The elders did not care, but someone had to do something. It was surprisingly easy for Thomas to convince the other young adults his age, including Darin, to do something. They got the dog to a trader who came to Lively once a year. The merchant had promised the dog would find a good home. He had sworn on The Tree so they all believe him. When accused of the theft Thomas had been prepared to take the fall. Darin didn’t give him the chance. The punishment for theft in her village meant her hand had been run though with a hot poker. She didn’t regret it; not one little bit. 

Finding Max was easy. He was in a town much bigger than even Greyrock. Darin knew him at once. His brown and brown coat and missing leg gave him away easily enough. He was walking next to a human child that couldn’t be older than ten. It was evening so it was clear then were heading home. Darin ‘watched’ and was not surprised when Max stopped at turned to ‘look’ at her. He barked happily at her. Darin stayed just long wave and hear the child ask Max what he was barking at be for traveling away again. This was her chance to see parts of Astra she never had before. It would be a shame to waste it.