Darin had been smiling as Ajoran began his answer. Slowly though the smile fell as look that was a cross between concern and contemplation overtook her face. She had heard words like that before. She hadn’t realized that others said them. Well, they hadn’t been exactly the same, but the man’s words reminded her of her mother speaking of Martin. Suddenly, and without really wanting to, Darin remembered why she had Chained Ridahne to The Seed in the first place. She had thought her like Martin, abandoning Ajoran the way he had abandoned Talia. It hadn’t been long after that that Ridahne had decided that she was going to marry the Taja. Yet now, listening to him, Darin couldn’t help but be struck by how much like Talia Ajoran sounded. Still, Ajoran hadn’t given up like the human woman. He seemed sure that Ridahne would always return to him. Was that the difference? Darin wasn’t sure. She didn’t understand the whole love thing. Well, she didn’t understand the romance thing. Love was different. She thought, she wasn’t sure.

That didn’t keep her from letting a small smile grace her fingers as she told Ajoran, “Good.” She softly kissed his cheek, “If she makes you that happy, and I know you make her happy, I suppose I can allow the marriage.” She let go of his arm as she moved away, “Just treat her right.” She turned her attention to where Ridahne was taking to what looked like a captain, “Taja Torzinei! Have you found us a ship?” After receiving confirmation Darin bowed slightly to the captain, “Thank you for lending us your boat Captain Rheisun.” She entered the boat with a slight step as she pointed out towards the mouth of the harbor, “I need to get out that way. If you wouldn’t mind.”

It wasn’t long before the boat was in motion. Darin use the time to take off her boots and roll up her pant legs. She also shrugged her shoulder to convince Taja to take flight. He flew off and was lost to view as he hurried off to look for a snack or mischief on dry land. Darin waved goodbye with a bright smile as she moved to pull of her leathers. She didn’t know if she would be able to have this conversation with just her legs in the water or if The Sea was going to want her dive down deep. Darin believed in conversing with Astra, not just bossing Astra around. There had been Seed-Bearers that had done that in the past. Those Turns of the Cycle didn’t last very long at all. Darin had been given a head start by both The Gardener and The Tree. She wasn’t going to waste it. Her Turn would last a long time, almost as long as the last Gardener, if not longer.

When they got to a good spot Darin happily called out, “Here’s good!” She took in a deep breath as she moved to the edge of the boat, “It’s perfect.” Sitting on the edge she realized that her toes would barely graze the water so she turned to Ridahne with the smile still on her face as she handed her the trinkets from the children for safe keeping, “I’m going to have to dive in Taja Torzinei! I’ll be back soon.” She laughed, “Well as soon as I can.”

With another laugh Darin took in a deep breath as her eyes slipped closed. The Sky knew what was happening and for a moment The Seed-Bearer seemed to be breathing in light instead of air. She exhaled the light before taking an even deeper breath of yet more light. Then Darin pushed off the side of the boat in fell into The Sea. She kicked down a little bit before turning and opening her eyes. The corners of her eyes wrinkled as she smiled without letting her mouth opening and letting all the air our of her lungs. Darin was always amazing by how wonderful the world looked under water. She nodded as she turned back to kicked herself deeper under the waves. When she was at what she felt was an acceptable depth she let The Sea carry her to where It wanted her to be. Then, they started to talk.

It wasn’t a conversation with words. For one thing Darin couldn’t talk with releasing the air, or rather, light, in her lungs. For another it wasn’t like The Sea spoke common. That didn’t mean The Seed-Bear couldn’t ask The Sea what It thought it was doing by being all excitable and keeping people from an honest day’s work. The Sea responded with amusement and asked The Seed-Bearer how she thought It shouldn’t be excited. The Seed-Bearer wasn’t in hiding. Not that hiding was a bad thing. Safety was good. But now The Seed-Bearer was known! This was incredible! It needed to be celebrated! The Seed-Bearer laughed in response. Alight, fine, being excited was understandable, but not at the expense of good people’s living. The Sea had to reluctantly concur, but still wanted to dance and sing. Well, could The Sea at least give The Seed-Bearer some warning next time so she could warn people? Well, that was fair. In fact, The Sea could give her plenty of warning, a day’s worth. At least, but It would get to plan something big! Something grand! Something with The Sky and The Stone. Something that would be talked about and sung about for ages. The Seed-Bearer took a moment to call out to The Sky and The Stone. They were agreement, One more grand moment! They would give The Seed-Bearer a day’s notice. A solem promise. The Seed-Bearer laughed in agreement, but not the day of the wedding. Oh no! Of course, not the day of the wedding! It would before they left Tasen. The Seed-Bearer nodded once. The discussion was concluded just in time. The Sea seemed to pull back for a moment and the human braced herself.

Darin was practically flung out of the water and into the air on a geyser of water. She exhaled with a laugh as the water dropped down, leaving her high enough in the air that the boat that Ridahne was on seemed small. She laughed again as The Sky took over for The Sea. Darin dropped down in a spiral of air that simultaneously dried her off and guided her to the boat. She landed with a gentle thump and a twirl that brought her face to face to with her sister. There was no way that most of Tasen hadn’t seen that stunning display of her exiting the water, but Darin really couldn’t care. She felt so alive. She always did after taking to Astra. That was her job, well, at least an important part.

She smiled at Ridahne before turning back to the Captain, “Thank you Captain. Let’s head back to shore.” She turned back to the warrior, “It’s time to spread the word that it’s safe to sail, at least for now.” She looked up at the sun, “I was under the waves for longer than I thought, “An hour, and we still have so much to do today.” She linked arms with her partner, “Isn’t that right Taja Torzinei?”