That night, Ridahne slept hard. She was usually a light sleeper in general, and years of being trained and expected to be ready for service at a moments notice had only reinforced that habit. But that night she fell into bed and dropped immediately into sleep, and she barely even stirred when Mitaja snuck in and snuggled up beside her. The cat had been keeping Tsura company mostly, but she felt the need to visit her handler. 

Ridahne awoke the next morning with disheveled hair, rumpled clothes, and a kind of dazed look on her face. She really had slept deeply. But she got up anyway and after changing into her traveling clothes consisting of slim trousers, boots, and a loose sleeveless blue shirt that despite being cleaned thoroughly by Workers, was quite travel stained and much mended. She went to the kitchens first, and found a few people lounging about drinking a strong, black beverage she knew the aroma of immediately. The humans called it coffee, but in Azurei where it grew in the more northern reaches of the mountains, they called it [I]alik[/I]. The people drinking it were about half Azurei, and the rest were a mix of elf, siren, and human. Not everyone liked coffee, as it was strong and sometimes bitter, but it was practically the national beverage of Azurei so shew wasn't surprised to see many of them there. They poured her a hot cup and offered her a seat beside them. 

"Tell us, where do you plan to go from here?" A human asked. 
Ridahne shrugged. "Neither of us really know for sure. We don't have a destination in mind, though I thought we might start by heading south into Eluri, wandering around there, and then eventually sweeping southwest to Azurei, Orosi, and then back up north towards Siren lands. We'll sort of travel all of Astra until we find a place. The place."
They all nodded, understanding. One, an Eluri woman with hair almost as short as Darin's, said, "Take care on your road south. I've hear rumors that letters are going astray, and merchants waylaid. I thought little of it--such things happen on occasion--but I have not heard from my sister who lives in Illishye, and she is prompt with her letters. I suspect hers has gone missing, too." 
Ridahne nodded gravely, her eyes sharpening a little. "Bandits?"
The woman shrugged. "Maybe. Perhaps there's trouble with the road itself, and travelers are opting for less tame routes? I don't know. But protect her, and yourself, Guardian." There was a soft noise of agreement from the others.
"Aye. I will. Just in case..." she thought silently to herself for a second, then continued, "pass word around the Farm that people should not tell anyone of our passing through. I'd like to keep our movements as much a secret as we can, at least until we reach Azurei, and then..." 
One of the other Azurei at the table gave a soft, sympathetic laugh. They were familiar with the customs surrounding traitors like Ridahne and knew that trying to sneak about would only cause more trouble. They needed to declare themselves to the Sols before anything else, and even after her presence would certainly be noticed. There would be no secrecy in Azurei.

Ridahne finished her cup of coffee and excused herself to go and get her things together. Her bag had been re-packed already with fresh supplies, and she got her hands on some leather and thick waxed thread for Darin to make falconry gear for her and Taja. Tsura seemed to be enjoying his leisure time and getting fattened up on abundant hay and apples, but by the time she had him saddled, he was ready to be off again. She mounted and with Mitaja beside her, Ridahne went out to the fields in search of Darin. 

She didn't really need to search. She knew where to find her without even really thinking about it, so she headed to the Tree. She no longer felt nervous going to see it, it felt like meeting a familiar loved one now. Ridahne guided Tsura up behind Darin but stopped him a small distance away and she sat back in her saddle, the leather creaking slightly. "The next time  you see The Great Tree of Astra, it will be very, very little." Ridahne smiled. "I'm ready when you are."