It really did feel good to get all that off her chest, and Ridahne imagined it was the same for Darin, too. And so it was with some measure of peace that Ridahne was able to listen to Darin's continued playing. And for a moment she was able to forget all that had gone on that day, all the fears and anxieties and apologies and admissions and the anger, and for now she was able to focus on the fact that she was sitting on the tallest building in Tasen--in Azurei, probably--looking at the moon softly illuminating her beautiful homeland with her adopted sister and her future husband at her side. Thinking of the moment that way, she could have burst. 

So Ridahne stood suddenly in the middle of Darin's song and dragged Ajoran up with her. "Come! I will show you how they dance in the human lands! Dance with me!"
Ajoran laughed. "But I don't know how!"
Ridahne put one cool hand on his cheek, and he shivered, melting into her touch. "Guess you'd best improvise, then..." Ridahne smiled wolfishly and threw her hands in the air as her feet worked to the rhythm of Darin's song. It was not a perfect rendition of human dance, and any seasoned veteran would have wondered at her unique take on it. But it was altogether different to Ajoran, who watched her for a moment as if gathering the beat in his soul before moving with her in a more Azurei style, though it worked in harmony with Ridahne's dance. He couldn't help but admire her and the way the extra fabric pinned at her shoulder swished around her as she spun, and the way her dark and now very silky post-bath curls bobbed and swayed. And how light her feet were! She was a tempest, a firestorm, a hurricane, and yet she was his to hold, if not to contain. How wonderful that this storm of a woman had chosen him. Of that, he would forever be in awe. 

The song ended and the two of them laughed as they panted for air. "Thank you, Darin, that was wonderful," Ridahne said, practically glowing. "Go and enjoy your bath, it's well earned. We'll find you in the morning."  
"Aye, I'll keep an eye on her for you," Ajoran promised. 

They stayed up there for some time after Darin left, watching the moon rise higher into the sky as they spent more time catching up. But soon the chill of desert night set in, and the two left for the barracks. It was just as Ridahne remembered it. There was a large common room, and beyond it was a small, humble washing area with small clay basins for washing feet, hands, or faces that separated the common room from the sleeping quarters. There were many uniformed and un-uniformed people milling about the common room, most with some kind of drink in hand, lounging in long sofas, playing cards around tables, or cleaning and sharpening weapons of varying types. The room went horribly quiet as Ridahne entered. There was likely a mix of emotions in the room, but everyone was evidently still processing them, because no one moved as the former pariah marched in like she owned the place, grabbed a little tin cup, filled it with a clear juniper and citrus liquor from a glass decanter, and pounded the whole thing back in one swallow. She poured another, but this one she sipped slowly and savoringly. Ajoran stood behind her in support but ultimately let her handle this. 

Ridahne shrugged at them nonchalantly. "What are you looking at?"
Some of them seemed to realize, as if for the first time, that they were staring and slowly went back to their games or conversations. A few others still stared at her, though their expressions ranged from bewilderment to obvious distaste. Someone finally spoke up. "Takhun's murderer." The man who said it held his own cup with white knuckles. 
"If you knew what I knew, you'd have done it too." 
"I wouldn't betray my partner. [I]Never.[/I] Takhun was my friend, I knew him. You killed my friend, Torzinei."
She looked unblinkingly back at him. "And you think he wasn't mine? I loved Takhun. I trusted him with my life. But I wasn't going to let him take an innocent mother's life." 
"He wouldn't--"
"He would have if I let him. He'd geared up to go without me to kill a woman who did nothing wrong, after we both saw that Khaltira lied to us. I saved lives that night. I regret nothing." That was both true and untrue, as Ridahne wouldn't have taken back her actions, but she regretted needing to do them in the first place, especially to Takhun. This was too much for the other eija, and he crossed the distance between them with one fist primed and ready to throw. Just before he could bring it up to strike at Ridahne, a pair of hands clamped around his wrist and held him back. 

"Wouldn't recommend that, Venatten." Salei looked to Ridahne. "Good to see you again. Though you lied to me about your apprentice..." 
Ridahne shrugged with a smirk. "It was necessary." 
Salei smiled too. "That it was." She turned her attention back on Venatten. "If you knew what she'd sacrificed to keep your sorry hide safe, you wouldn't be so bitter. I watched her come nearly to death so that the Seed Bearer of Astra could live to plant your future. The Red Hand fell by her sword and her blood. Can you say as much, Venatten?" When he could not, the elf growled and stomped away. He might have challenged her, but Ajoran was with her, and he knew he couldn't take them both. Salei sighed, then addressed the room. "Anyone else got a problem? The Sols have vouched for her, and I will too. Come, tell me I'm wrong..." When no one answered her challenge, she relaxed a little. It wasn't that nobody in the room had a problem with Ridahne--several did. But evidently they all decided their beef wasn't worth fighting over, or at least not for the moment. Ridahne couldn't blame them for that, as she did kill one of their own. How could they not be upset with her?

Generally though, many accepted the version of events Ridahne presented to them, and trusted the judgment of the Sols and their current pardoning of the traitor, though several had many questions to ask before they were satisfied. Before long though, she and Ajoran were invited into a card game, which devolved into contests of arm wrestling, knife throwing, reflex, and other games. It felt good to be among her colleagues again, though it was different now. That was alright by her. She was different now, anyway. It also felt good to sink into a real bed at the end of the night, and to have Ajoran by her side made it all the better.