Darin cringed as she heard Ridahne say that all the other Eija needed was to see her gear. That meant she had inadvertently created an enemy. They hadn’t shown up at the door demanding to let in, so that was some good news. Did they even need a door in order to get in? The door might mean nothing to them. Would they just kill Ridahne without asking questions first? Darin wouldn’t put it pass them. Maybe the rain was keeping them from doing anything. Darin cast a quick glace up at the roof. Maybe she could keep the rain going for a while. Darin mentally scolded herself. That’s what got her into this shaky mess in the first place.

Darin’s voice was quiet, “There was a, well I think he was an apprentice. He was in the stable cleaning your blades. He said he had been told to look at your things by his master when he saw your bloodied blades. He said he was going to put them back when he was done. I didn’t want to cause a scene, so I left him too it.” She struggled to remember the details, “When I spoke in Azurei he said I spoke like a “Long time visitor.” He said the man with the” She paused as she struggled to word the next part. “The man who’s hand I cut off is dead. They are all dead.” She remained silent for minute before giving her head a brief shake, “Anyways they probably know who you are.” She shrunk into herself as she buried her arms into Mitaja’s fur, “I’m sorry.”

This was a disaster. The Eija, and there were at least two of them, knew that Ridahne was considered a traitor. They were going to do something about that. Darin had wanted to avoid any Azurei styled confrontation for a while yet. There was going to be a fight and Darin had no idea if Ridahne’s blades were where they were supposed to be. Darin shakily got to her feet. Using small steps, she moved toward her sickle was waiting for her. She had it with her while she was taking care of crops. Whoever had carried her back here must have delivered it as well. She grabbed it and then held it out to Ridahne.

She explained, “I know it’s not yours, but it will have to do until the rain stops and I can get yours.”

Darin just hopped that she could actually get Ridahne’s blades. She had no idea if the Eija would steal them or not. She knew that she wasn’t thinking went she let the one boy clean the knifes. Well she had been thinking. She didn’t want to cause a scene. That may be a moot point at this point. It didn’t seem honorable to steal from an injured person, but Darin would be the first to admit that she didn’t understand Azurei honor at all. It was confusing, because she thought Ridahne shouldn’t be considered a traitor, and she was fine with it. So, Darin didn’t know what was going to happen.

Well, that wasn’t entirely true. She thought Harris, or one of the other workers she had been with, might give her a warning. It might not be a quick warning, and the two of them might not have a lot of time to get out of the village, but they might get some warning. Darin wasn’t sure if that would be enough, but she would take what she could get. It would have to be enough. Darin wasn’t sure that she wanted to be run out of the village just yet. The Tree was right. She was making friends here, she hoped. She almost wanted to see what direction it took her.