President Silen sighed as she waved her hand at Ridahne, “Yes, yes, yes. As you say. Everyone in this room will swear whatever oath The Seed-Bearer asks us to swear. I’ll start. By The Tree, I swear”

Darin suddenly exclaimed, “No!” She stumbled out from behind Ridahne, “No. The Tree is dying and does not have the strength to hold such an oath maker accountable.” She stood up straight with her shoulders square, “And I am The Seed-Bearer.”

Suddenly a wind picked up to blow around the room. It ruffled Darin’s nondescript brown hair. A shriek was heard as Darin instinctively lifted her arm. From somewhere Taja flew into land before letting out another shriek. The wind picked up as all the lanterns in the room went dark. The uloia that had suddenly swarmed around Darin kept the room from going entirely dark. They lit her up with a type of eerie glow that reflected in her eyes. Cats slinked in. Trees rustled. Other animals followed as thunder could be heard to crack across the sky. The Seed-Bearer was speaking, and Astra was listening.

The Seed-Bearer finished her statement as The Seed burned almost red hot against her skin, “Swear by The Seed or not at all. Everyone in this room will swear that nothing said here tonight will be spoken of with someone not present. This will remain secret until such time as I choose to reveal it.”

They stared at Darin in shock, alarm and silence. Then one of the two guards fell into a bow that Darin didn’t quite recognize, “I am Mrixze Janeel, and I swear to you Darin Seed-Bearer on both my honor and on The Seed that nothing discussed here will escape my lips or my hand. I take these secrets to the grave. May the trees and the stars bare witness of this oath and know of my sincerity. May you bear witness to this oath and know of my sincerity. Please accept this promise and know that I mean no harm.”

The bow was deep. The guard was bowing at his waist in an almost perfect right angle. His left fist was placed on his forehead. His right palm was over his heart. He maintained eye contact with Darin the entire time he spoke. It was clear that everyone in the room was waiting for something from Darin. She figured it was an acceptance of the oath, and she was willing to give it. She just wanted to do it right and she wasn’t 100 percent sure how to do that. She didn’t know what this bow meant, and she wasn’t she what the correct response bow was. 

So, she found herself asking, “What is the meaning this bow?” The president started to speak only to be cut off with a swift look from Darin, “Mr. Armin?”

Mr. Armin took the request in stride, “It serves only one purpose Seed-Bearer. It is the bow that the Eluri use to show honor and respect to The Gardener. It is fitting that the honor is extended to his heir as well. The words are a modified version of the second highest oath an Eluri can give. Only swearing on The Tree is higher.”

Darin couldn’t help letting out the short cutting laugh that escaped her as she side-eyes Ridahne, “It would have been nice if Ravi had taught us useful things instead of causing fights.” She then turned her attention back to Guard Janeel, “Tell me Mr. Armin, what are the correct words and bow to accept such an oath.”

Mr. Armin shook his head, “There is no bow to give in response. But the words would be, ‘The stars and the trees bear witness. I bear witness. I will hold you to your word and honor. I accept this oath.”

Darin found herself modifying the words, “The Seed bears witness of this oath. I bear witness of this oath. Hold yourself to your word. Choose right over honor. I thank you Mrixze Janeel, for your oath, for your courage, for your heart. I accept this oath.”

When Darin was done the guard rose from his bow and other followed suit. The words the Eluri said only changed when they gave their name. Darin’s words held the same modifications. President Silen was second to make her oath, and she seemed slightly upset that the guard had beaten her to saying it first. No one was reluctant to make such heavy promises. The Seed and Darin could feel the goodness of the people in this room. They weren’t pure and Darin had a feeling that they had made some less than ideal choices in the past. Still their hearts were good, and Darin found herself willing to accept that.

Soon Darin had accepted the last oath and The Seed-Bearer turned to her Seed-Chained with a soft smile on her face, “Ridahne, my beautiful Seed-Chained.” She found herself reaching out to run a quick and gentle finger over the Azurei’s cheekbone before dropping her hand, “We cannot ask for what we will not give. I have asked for so much from you my marvelous warrior and I will ask for more yet that I will not ask from others. Now I ask for oath of silence as I have asked of them. Will you give it for me?”

The room was still only lit by uloia. The wind still blew though as all the trees of Lihaelin swayed lightly. Mitaja had come from somewhere and pressed against Darin’s legs with an arched back and a deep purr. The arm holding Taja was just about to start going numb as she hadn’t dropped once. That changed as the hawk hopped from Darin’s arm to Ridahne’s shoulder to run his beak though Ridahne’s hair. Darin wasn’t sure what message she was trying to convey. She thought she might be trying to tell the people here that she wouldn’t ask for what she couldn’t give. She thought she might be trying to say that no matter what The Seed-Chained had done in the past that The Seed-Bearer loved her and would defend her. Maybe it was both. Maybe it was neither. Darin still felt a peace like she had never known before. So did The Seed. Whatever she was doing it was right.