Learning all the bows from Mr. Armin, who’s first name was Isaac, was great fun. There were bows for greeting an equal, greeting someone of a higher rank, or greeting someone of a lower rank. There were bows for a master to an apprentice and apprentice to a master. Children to parents, parents to children, deferring to an equal. Bows for enemies, formal bows, causal bows. It almost seemed like there was an Eluri bow for every occasion and every ranking. Darin couldn’t help but make a comprasion to a human handshake. Mr. Armin found all the bowing, even with its miniscule differences and complexities, to be underwhelming simple. The human had never thought of it before, but she realized that how you shook a person’s hand said just as much as how you spoke to them in greeting. The distance between the two people shaking hands could say just as much as words to a person who knew the language. There were all kinds of factors that were difficult to explain to someone who didn’t grow up learning it.

Suddenly Mr. Armin stopped the lesson, “It just occurred to me. I am supposed to be helping you find your companion, yet I do not know who we are looking for. That will make this quest difficult and while I find I do not mind your company Mr. Lively I cannot spend all day with you.”

Darin smiled at her own forgetfulness, “Yes! That makes perfect sense. RIdahne Torenzi is an Azurei Eija. I suspect she will be easy to spot.”

Darin saw no reason to lie about Ridahne’s identity the way she had lied about her own. Ridahne’s name and life story were on her face and honestly there was no way of telling who had the necessary skills to read that story. If Ridahne had a problem with that she would have to get over it. Darin didn’t think she would. The whole point of the Ojih was to compel honesty by all who wore it. Darin was glad she didn’t have to be honest to everyone she met. That would make her life very difficult though she could see how being honest all the time lead to its own form of simplicity. Tell too many lies and a person began to lose track of the lies they had told.

Mr. Armin looked around to get his bearings before pointing at a level above them, “You mean like the Eija staring at us from above?”

Darin looked to where he was pointing, “Yes!” Her smiled deepened as she started to wave, “Hello Master Torenzi! I apologize for getting lost.”

Darin didn’t dare call her Ridahne right now. The story was simple. Martin Lively was a boy RIdahne Torenzi took as an apprentice for reasons that were her own. Darin didn’t want to seem to familiar or friendly with someone that was technically her superior; especially in the Eluri culture she found herself in in this city. It seemed very focused on ranking and making sure that the rankings were observed at all times. It seemed unwise to draw too much attention to themselves or to give people a chance to poke holes in their story. It was as simple lie for now, but Darin didn’t want to make it complex if she could help it. That would be begging for trouble.

She pointed at Mr. Armin, “This is Mr. Isaac Armin. He was helping me look for you.” She turned her face and smile to the Eluri, “Thank you for your help.”