Ridahne strolled along without any particular haste; things seemed to be going well down below, and Darin was doing fine on her own. Ridahne wasn't about to interfere. She watched, and though she could not hear them over the clamor of the city, she brushed up on her shaky lip reading skills. From what she could see, Ridahne gathered that Darin was getting a lesson in Eluri bows. Good, that would serve her well, and it would also give her an insight into these people's lives and culture. Not to mention, if she got good at 'speaking the language' of bowing, she would understand the subterfuge that happened in many interactions. Sometimes bows were given genuinely, but sometimes the wrong bow would intentionally be used, and it was a quiet slight. An ambassador once came to visit Azurei and had words with Khaltira-Sol, whom they did not particularly like. Instead of giving a bow of deference or respect, the ambassador gave one as if he was speaking to someone lesser than him. He didn't know that Khaltira-Sol could speak the language too, and what he thought was his own private joke got him immediately thrown out and forcibly sent home with a sealed, signed letter from Khaltira-Sol demanding a different one next time. Reflecting on this, Ridahne now thought he was lucky he wasn't killed. She probably didn't just because he was an ambassador, and killing him could cause major trouble with their close neighbor Eluri. 

A flash of anger rose in Ridahne at the thought of Khaltira-Sol. She shouldn't even be called Sol, she should be stripped of her title. Which made Ridahne wonder if they'd decided on her replacement yet. The Court of Sols had never had to choose a new Sol in the memorable history of Azurei. The original Sols had risen to power sort of organically, and they individually chose their successors after having years to observe them. But they'd never had to choose, as a group, someone they did not have their eyes on already. Ridahne wondered if one of the other Sols had given up her successor and lifted her to the rank of Sol to fill the position, or if they'd found someone else. Ridahne wondered who she would be. 

Darin and her new companion looked directly up at her. Ah, she'd been discovered. Darin greeted her and apologized for getting herself lost. Ridahne found a nearby ladder and descended down to their level smoothly and with grace. She approached her apprentice with a formal, haughty air and said, "Ah, Martin, I was wondering when you'd notice me. You must pay attention to your surroundings, [I]Eshai[/I]" The word meant 'apprentice' or 'student'. The rebuke was mostly formal, mostly part of the ruse they kept. If the city was more dangerous, her ire might have been sharper and more genuine, but there was little worry in a place like this. She looked at the man standing with her. "You must be with the Council," she guessed. Ridahne chose a bow indicating that she was a guest, and he was her host. "It's a pleasure to see your fair city again. Thank you for finding my apprentice. I hope he wasn't too much trouble to you?"