Ridahne smiled at Darin. "Don't worry. He's not so prickly and sharp as me, but he is made of steel just the same. You'll see." She kissed Ajoran's forehead and went off in search of a good vessel and, more importantly, the kind of person she could convince to take them out. They wouldn't have to go far, but she needed to make it worth a captain's while. A younger, more inexperienced captain would not deign to take orders from her, no matter what her perceived rank in society. But an older one, she might bargain with. After walking down the wharf a bit, she found two men seated on some crates and hunched over mugs of coffee. Must have been spice traders, not fishermen, she thought. 

"Good morning. Which vessel is yours?" Ridahne grew up around ships and knew it was polite to ask about a captain's ship, first, before anything else. This was not commonly known, even among the Azurei, and the question immediately marked her as someone who knew the ways of sailors. 
The men studied her, looking first at her face and then at the rest of her, as if they hoped that would give her more clues as to who this person was. "This one." The elder of the two gestured at a slim boat built for carrying cargo, bobbing up and down in the waves just beyond them. "[I]Sun among Rain[/I], she's called. You ever seen sun shine through a rainstorm?"
"Aye, I have. Tell me, Rheisun," she said, looking at his blue stone ku'o in his ear, "Are you voyaging today?"
"Voyaging!" The second man said--he likely was the first mate. He snorted and laughed bitterly. "And here I had a guess you knew what you were talking about, maiden! Ain't you seen the waters? I don't trust it. My cargo is too valuable to risk getting dashed among the waves, not to mention my crew!" 
The first man, who Ridahne took to be the captain, shook his head slowly. "Aye, I don't think we'll be setting sail today, Torzinei. Why'd you ask?"
"Because," Ridahne said, as if this information seemed obvious. "I want to book passage on your ship."

The captain's eyes narrowed at her. "We don't take passengers, Torzinei." 
"Not usually. But today, I'm asking you to. I don't need to go far, just the mouth of the bay." 
That made both of them look at her with hard expressions, wondering what sort of business she had going to the mouth of the bay and back... And then Ridahne saw something click, the revelation showing on their weathered faces. But they were older men, though their dark hair did not yet show gray like Amaiera-Sol's. And they knew how to navigate troubled waters. "Who are you?"
Ridahne leaned in close, her tone gaining an edge. "Someone who should not be ignored."

The younger of the two cowered a little, but the elder stayed firm and kept studying her ojih. Finally, he said, "You're her, ain't you? The one they talk about. The Sol-Slayer?" 
Ridahne allowed a small smile. "And so much more..."
"I ought to turn you over to the Sols..."
"A lot of good that would do. I've spoken to them already. Where do you think this came from?" She pointed to the nimarih on her brow. 
"What do you want, Betrayer?" The captain asked, unable to argue with her and yet unwilling to cooperate just yet. 
"As I said. Take me and my two companions to the mouth of the bay, and when we have conducted our business, we return here. I can offer you a small sum in exchange..." She put a few gold coins down on one of the crates between them. 
The captain frowned. "My soul can't be bought. Can you say the same, Torzinei?"
Ridahne just sighed and scooped up the coins. She tossed her dark hair and said with a sigh, "Well, that's fine. You looked like you could use the business today. And it's not every day you get to aid Astra-Sol and her Guardian...but evidently you have no desire to do business with the likes of [I]me,[/I] so perhaps I'll find someone who--"
"Wait...did you say Astra-Sol?" he spoke the words quietly, almost a whisper so no one else could hear. "You're...her...?"
"Guardian, yes." Ridahne waved a dismissive hand. "I did tell you I was not one to be ignored..." Normally Ridahne would not reveal that kind of information to just anyone, and not without Darin's permission. But they'd surely find out as soon as they went out, anyway, so Ridahne saw no harm in telling them. Sailors were a superstitious lot anyway, so it was best to prepare them for what was to come. 

The captain knew no servant of the Tree could be wicked. It was hard for him to reconcile the image of the Betrayer with a servant of the Tree, much less [I]her[/I]. But then, it did add up. Why else would the Sol's spare her, and near pardon her? "My apologies, Guardian. I seem to be...lacking in the details of your story." He eyed her ojih again, specifically the newer markings he was unfamiliar with. He decided she must be a person of great destiny if she had penned new marks in the Book. He made a mental note to find out what they meant as soon as he was able. 
"Yes, you and most people. No matter." She offered up the coins again. "What say you?"
"I would be honored to serve the needs of Astra-Sol."
Ridahne smirked. "That's what I thought."

--

"Taja Torzinei!" He chuckled as his eyebrows shot up, wrinkling his ojih. "Ah, but I suppose you're right. If you are Astra-Sol, then she is taja. Though I hope you understand the significance of those three words. [i][b]She[/b] is taja.[/I] She'd be the first." He seemed to be chewing that over for a moment in his head before a soft smile touched his lips and he repeated, "Taja Torzinei...yes. Yes, that fits. And soon you'll have two of those!" He ribbed her lightly with his elbow. Soon they would both be Taja Torzinei, and he would no longer be Taja Teleisun. 

"Do I love her?" Ajoran laughed. "Oh boy...what a question." He smiled at her. "I could tell you yes, and it would be an honest answer, but it would not do the full answer justice. Ah, have you ever stood out in a really nasty storm? And just let the rain pelt your face and the wind whip your loose hair, and there's a crack of thunder some ways off and you realize the world is so much bigger than you? And you just feel alive, standing there in the middle of Astra's fury?" He sighed, almost dreamily. "She is my storm, Darin. And I am a small ship, helpless in its wake...Yes, I love her. I'd give her the moon, if that was possible. And I intend to spend my long life by her side. I know she'll have to go when you do, and she'll be gone again for some time, still. I've understood this since she came. But I am content. To know that she loves me enough to make me hers is enough for my heart until the day she returns to me. And if she cannot return someday for some reason? Then I shall track her down and follow wherever she goes. There was once a time when she tried to push me away to try and distance me from her sins, and would not relent no matter how much I protested--and oh, I did. But she couldn't keep me away. Not really." He smiled. "I am very proud to know that my Isfahan will be off serving Astra, and you also. It's more than I could have hoped for."