Darin clicked her teeth together that threw that idea out; the idea being that the tattoo for being the Guardian could be a symbol already in use just in a different color. The truth was Darin wasn’t sure she was the one to be designing something like this. She knew nothing about tattoos or symbolism. She had already been more direct than symbols required. Though that did lend itself to an idea. Maybe it didn’t need to be a symbol. Maybe it could be direct. Though Darin wasn’t sure about that either. She did know it had to be small and discreet while still being seen.

She did explain one thing, “You are the first Seed-Chained Ridahne. You will not be the last. At least I do not think you will be the last. So while you are correct that the ojih are an Azurein thing the symbol needs to be something that anyone can wear or tattoo in other places. It needs to be something that anyone in Astra will one day know by sight. Like the outfit the Workers wear.” She was checking on Taja, “At least that’s what I think.”

Darin was also thinking about Ridahne’s belief that she would be married when they got to Azurei. The thought of Ridahne married made the human apprehensive for a reason Darin didn’t quite know. She didn’t know if she was jealous or angry or what it was. She did know that she was worried. Darin was hoping that on day Ridahne would be free to live her own life; free from being marked a traitor and from being Seed-Chained. The problem was that the warrior wasn’t free yet. Even throwing out the fact that Darin had inadvenrtanly Chained her to The Seed Ridahne had still agreed to see this journey through to the end. Darin wasn’t going to stop Ridahne and Ajoran from getting married, but she did have to wonder if it was a good idea. There were some … less than good people that wanted The Seed. Would Ridahne be able to leave Ajoran to finish the job of protecting Darin? If the choice, Tree forbid, between Ajoran and The Seed came up what would Ridahne pick? More importantly, would Darin press her into picking the right choice? What even was the right choice? Darin wasn’t sure.

So instead she asked, “What is the symbol for marriage. Why do people even get married? Is it religious or what?”

People in Lively got married for tax reasons. Darin had a vague idea of what taxes were. It was money the lord collected to pay to repair roads and protect the people. Her village didn’t have taxes. If something needed to be fixed the people came together to fix it. If they needed protecting, they took turns keeping guard. Some of the traders got married for religious reasons; a belief that their deity or deities told them to get married. Her home didn’t really have a god beyond The Tree. So there was no reason to make living their lives with someone official or what not. Maybe an explanation from someone who wanted to get married would help it make sense to Darin. She didn’t think so though. She didn’y really like anybody enough to spend her life with them.

She said the next part out loud, “Expect you Talbot.” He snorted at her in question, “I would spend my life with you.” She flapped a hand at the bird, “And maybe Taja if he stops trying to take my arm off, but so far that doesn’t seem to be happening.”