"You are good at it," Ridahne added. It was true. Though Ridahne was wrapped up in a lot of events and feelings and thoughts that night at the Farm, she had still heard Darin play. "I wonder...if he hadn't left, you know, if you didn't have all those feelings associated with him tied to playing, would you enjoy it more? I only ask because if it's something you like, then make it yours. Not his. Be better than he ever was, play different styles of music he never even heard, play it for yourself. Not for him. On the other hand..." a small smile crept onto her lips, "if it's really not your thing and you want nothing to do with it anymore, I'm sure Mitaja will hold him down while you break his nose with it. She's very good at it, aren't you girl?" The cat, who seemed to know she was being spoken about, rolled over onto her side with her belly facing the fire.

Ridahne sighed longingly. "We'll have to do it before we get too far south then! You make it sound amazing. I like apples, and I love cinnamon, so it must be good, right?" Darin rose and announced she was going out to check on the animals and to retrieve Ridahne's blades. The elf had to admit, that was a relief. She was honored to hold Darin's, but her own felt more comfortable in her hands. "Could you bring my cloak too? Thank you." It was much too cold for her liking, even with the fire going strong. "You ought to take Mitaja with you." There was an unspoken 'just in case' laced into that suggestion, though Ridahne knew if there was any trouble, it wouldn't be with Darin. Mostly she was worried the girl might fall over at any minute and she wanted to at least give her something to collapse onto that wouldn't give her a concussion, too.

Ridahne watched her go and, leaning heavy against the wall, she let her eyes close. It was strange to feel so exhausted and yet so cooped up at the same time. She sat there with the relative silence of only the crackling fire, and felt herself just about to drift into a bit of sleep when a small noise made her hold her breath and listen. Ridahne released that held breath in a heavy sigh. She knew it would happen, but it didn't make the prospect any easier.

"I knew you'd come," she said resignedly. 
A dark figure came from the short hallway that led towards Konie's and Talyn's bedrooms. In through one of the back windows, Ridahne guessed. And had been inside for some time, just waiting for the opportune moment. Which was, as Ridahne knew, when the target was alone. The woman had her own blade--a straight, slim one with dual edges and a clipped point--in hand and reflecting the firelight already. She took a few steps closer, then stopped. 
"If you've come to kill me, then do it, I've still got a little fight left in me. No sense in making this dramatic. Though if you want my advice? Don't. Killing me would undo things you'd give both your arms to set right again. Not to mention your Sota-Sol would not be so pleased as you think." 

She came closer and lifted her hood. Ridahne knew her. Not well, but she recognized her nonetheless. 
"Ah, Salei, isn't it?" 
"You're that Atakharan girl, aren't you?"
"Why is it everyone remembers I'm the poor Atakharan rat, but never my name?" Ridahne sighed. "Ridahne. My name is Ridahne. And yes, I am she whom you seek." Ridahne turned her face so that Salei could get a full view of her ojih, and thus the particular mark that painted her as a traitor. 

Salei flinched in something like horror or disgust and gripped her dagger tighter, visibly quivering with rage. And yet...Ridahne sensed a hesitation there too. It was then that she realized this eija was doing what Ridahne could not. In the face of a traitor, she could not bring herself to slaughter one of her own. Ridahne gave a small, soft, bitter laugh at this realization.
"Why?" Salei finally seethed. "Why did you do it?"
Ridahne sighed. "You and I both know what you came here to do, Salei. I don't have the energy to spare for inflamed banter." 
"NO! I want to know why! What kind of snake swears an oath to a Sol and then turns around and breaks it! Not just her or her successor, but Takhun? Your partner!" Salei was on the brink of tears, she was so angry and upset, though she kept the volume of her voice low so as not to attract attention from outside. 
"I'll mourn the loss of Takhun a hundred times over. I will weep for my friend to the grave. Do not mistake me, killing Takhun is the worst sin I have ever and will ever commit. But there's so much you don't know, Salei."
"Then tell me! I want to know why!"
"Will you believe me if I do? Everyone always wants answers but nobody wants the truth."
Salei paused. "...Do you promise to give it?"
Ridahne touched her forehead. "I swear by the blood of my ancestors, by my blades, by the Night Sky and the stars above, by the Great Tree itself, that what I have to tell you is the whole and honest truth." 

Even though Salei had asked for a promise, she clearly was not expecting one of that magnitude. Ridahne had gone right for every single one of the major, sacred things people swore by, and managed to do them all at once. In particular, she swore by the Tree. If it was ever possible to lie after swearing an oath like that, Salei had never heard tell of it. She took a slow breath, sheathed her blade at her hip, and slowly lowered herself to her knees so she could sit. "Okay, Traitor. I'm listening." 
"Good." 

Ridahne gave a quick but relatively full account of the events that led to her eventual treason, though she left out the events that followed. That was her business, not Salei's. 

Salei shook her head. "That can't be true. Khaltira-Sol wouldn't do that, would she? And surely Takhun wouldn't have gone with it?" But there wasn't much conviction in her tone. She knew the truth of it, deep down.
"I wish nothing I said was true, Salei. But it is. All of it. And I did only what I was trained to do, what I was tasked to do. If that makes me a traitor, then...well, so be it. So, now that you know, are you still going to kill me?"
Salei did not lift her eyes from the floor. "I don't know. I'm not so sure anymore."
Ridahne smirked. "You never were. But honestly? I have much to do before my inevitable time. Things you would rejoice to see completed. I can't tell you details, my errand is private, but killing me would not bring the peace you desire, nor would it bring back your Sol."

Salei considered for a moment, then looking towards the door asked, "The boy? Who's he to you?"
Ridahne offered a rueful smile. "It's a lonely life, that of the traitor. Even the worst monsters need company, too. We met by chance on the road and happened to be going the same way. You could say we're friends now." It wasn't untrue, but it left out a lot of important details. 
"There's whispers going around the village about him, you know..."
Ridahne laughed. "You know how Eluri are. No disrespect, they've been good hosts, mostly. But they don't spend enough time in the present." This was a common enough joke in Azurei that even Salei cracked a tiny smile. Ridahne waved a dismissive hand. "Besides, they don't know him like I do." There was a silence, and then Ridahne added, "When do you go back?"
"Now that the Red Hand is taken care of? I guess I should thank you, by the way. We've been wondering how one Azurei and one farm boy could best that pack...but now that I see you, I understand. I didn't realize we had an eija-alihn in our midst. But I expect we'll be heading back soon."
"Mm. About that, inquire about them as you go, and tell the other eija to keep an ear open for rumor of them. Something tells me they aren't just a local problem..."