Darin dropped into a seat as she listened to Ridahne hum. The human couldn’t help the smile that graced her features. She didn’t want to help it. Ridahne humming was officially one of the best sounds in the world. She sprawled her torso across what little of the table was bare to soak in the sound and atmosphere. This place was peaceful, and Darin knew that she would grow to cherish happy little memories like this one. She did rise up a little as the Azurei mentioned the guardians that would come after her. That wasn’t quite right. It wasn’t wrong, but Ridahne would be the only one to wear the Guardian mark that she was designing. It was the Seed-Chained mark that others of all races and creeds would wear.

Darin’s voice desperately kept her voice light so she wouldn’t sound accusatory, “You know The Gardener had a Guardian, right?” She gave her head a shake as she pointed out, “And none of the Children of Astra remember them.” The Seed-Bearer gave a half shrug, “The only ones who carried the memory of them though the countless years were The Gardener and The Tree. I never learned their name, but The Tree told me a little about them.” Darin held up to fingers, “There should be two marks. The mark for Guardian is one you and you alone will wear. The mark for Seed-Chained is one that you are only the first to bear. There will be others, of all the Children of Astra.”

That lead Darin to a thought she hadn’t thought about. Seed-Chained wasn’t the only title and responsibility that The Seed-Bearer had to give. In fact, she had already given one to one man and planed to give it to others, Seed-Friend. To be a Seed-Friend was a lighter burden than that of Seed-Chained, but there was less, well, less potential honor. To be Seed-Chained was to have a chance to become Seed-Honored. Then there was the one that Darin hoped she never had to use, Seed-Cursed. There were two titles and two half titles that Darin had the power to give and there was a whole hierarchy that Darin had problems explaining even inside of her own head. Then her heart skipped a beat as she remembered that she had missed a title. She was The Seed-Bearer. That didn’t even account for the fact that when she inevitably became The Gardener the titles would shift to, Tree-Chained, Tree-Honored, Tree-Friend, and Tree-Cursed.

She gave her head a shake as she tried to explain to Ridahne, “And that is only half a title. To be Seed-Chained is to have the potential to be Seed-Honored. The mark for Seed-Chained needs to be white so it can be gone over in black.” She was insistent, “If it is possible for a tattoo to be completely covered the mark for Seed-Chained and Seed-Honored need to be exactly the same, save one in white and one in black. Seed-Honored needs to cover Seed-Chained completely. When you are finally redeemed you sin will be forgotten.” She looked RIdahne dead in the eyes, “It will not be allowed to be remembered by anyone.” She slumped back down, “Both titles belong to a family. There is also Seed-Friend and Seed-Cursed.” She swallowed nervously as she finished the family, “And of course The Seed-Bearer.” She didn’t seem so sure, “We need to come up with marks for those as well; all black. Yet it can’t just be for tattoos. There is one Seed-Friend right now. They are Eluri. I plan on making at least one human a Seed-Friend. Black is universal though. The marks should still be wearable.” Her next statement was barely a whisper, “The Seed-Bearer’s mark.” She swallowed drily before starting again, “My mark should be green. I know that it is not an Azurei color, but it is an Astran color.”

Darin couldn’t look at Ridahne anymore. What would the Azurei think of those declarations? Darin had just turned the task of crafting a new Oijh mark into crafting symbols for what basically amounted to, for lack of better words, her court. Yet Darin had no one else she could trust with this. She had no one who understood the importance of symbols. She wasn’t putting the task solely on Ridahne though. Darin wanted to help. She just wasn’t sure how. She finally forced herself to look at Ridahne. Darin couldn’t help but feel like she was being completely unfair. Yet there was a task to be done. Ridahne was already doing part of it. Darin could, and wanted to, help.